As Javed Miandad celebrates his 64th birthday today; we take a look at his five spectacular innings from the past. The former Pakistan skipper played 124 Tests and 233 ODIs for his country.

Javed Miandad is the greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced. There was little doubt in the mind of Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Pakistan’s first Test captain and influential administrator, when he first laid eyes on him as a youngster in the early 70s and famously predicted Miandad “the find of the decade.” He wasn’t wrong, as a stupendous debut series against New Zealand in 1976 started to prove.

A 19-year-old Miandad etched his name in the history book by scoring a Test century against New Zealand in his debut match and in the process, became the youngest debutant to smash a hundred. Javed walked to bat at number five when Pakistan was reeling at 44/3. He also stitched a 281-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Asif Iqbal. He was eventually dismissed at 163. Pakistan won the match by six wickets.

The 1992 World Cup match between India and Pakistan saw a memorable moment take place involving wicketkeeper Kiran More and Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad. The two cricketers were involved in heated banter in the middle of the match. Following which a frustrated Miandad was seen imitating More’s jump behind the stumps.

The incident is etched in the minds of millions of cricketing fans and is regarded as one of the best moments of the India-Pakistan cricketing rivalry. But in a recent interview, More revealed that there is no heat between him and Miandad, and in fact added that the two are friends.

“Javed is a good friend of mine. But that match, we were playing for the first time in the World Cup in 1992. So there was a lot of build-up from India and everywhere. It was not packed, but the crowd was making a lot of noise and we were under pressure. It was difficult for us to go back to India,” Miandad said on Youtube’s The Curtly & Karishma Show.