In the long and storied history of Pakistan cricket, there are players whose careers were short-lived but carried immense promise. One such cricketer is Atiq-uz-Zaman, a right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper, who made his debut in the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka at Peshawar in March 2000.
In his first innings, Atiq managed only 1 run off 15 balls in 17 minutes, but in the second innings, he showed grit and determination, scoring 25 off 36 balls with three crisp boundaries in 59 minutes. His performance behind the stumps was equally impressive, as he claimed five catches in the match—an indication of his sharp skills as a wicketkeeper.
Unfortunately, Atiq’s international career coincided with the era of Moin Khan and Rashid Latif, two legendary wicketkeepers who dominated the Pakistan side from 1991 to 2003. As a result, Atiq’s opportunities were limited, and he played only one Test and three ODIs for Pakistan.
Yet, his domestic record speaks volumes about his talent. In the 2000–01 season, he broke the longstanding record for the most dismissals in a season with 76 victims and also set a domestic limited-overs record by claiming six dismissals in a single game. He later had three successful league cricket seasons in England before returning to domestic cricket with Sui Southern Gas Company in 2007–08.
Today, Atiq-uz-Zaman resides in England, continuing his involvement in cricket as a coach, carrying forward the passion that once earned him the green cap. His story is one of talent, timing, and the challenges of competing in a golden era for Pakistan’s wicketkeeping.
📺 Watch this rare footage and relive the story of Atiq-uz-Zaman’s only Test match for Pakistan.
