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Born: 20th Dec 1982, Sheikhupura, Pakistan
Age: 24
Role: Left Hand Bat / Right Arm Fast Medium
Major Teams: Pakistan, Khan Research Labs, Lahore Division, Leicestershire, Sheikhupura Cricket Association
Test Debut: Australia v Pakistan at Sydney - Jan 2-5, 2005
ODI Debut: Pakistan v England at Rawalpindi - Dec 21, 2005
Little did anyone know that Mohammad Asif would be the spearhead of the Pakistani bowling attack in just over a year when he made his debut against Australia at Syndey in January 2005 - he had gone wicketless and cost plenty. He did show amazing guts, while batting for more than 100 minutes, and that probably helped him in getting further opportunities to prove his worth.
And prove his worth, he did. He picked up 10 wickets in a warm-game against England, thus being drafted into the final Test of the series late last year, and just recently took 17 wickets in the two-test series against Sri Lanka, winning the Player of the Series award. His ODI debut, in December last year, was impressive, as he picked up two wickets for only 14 runs off seven overs. He has since followed it up with a couple of really good performances as well.
Tall and lanky, Asif has enough muscle and power to generate pace into the 140kmh zone, and with his discipline in line and length, it is no wonder that he is now being described as the latest sensation in Pakistan cricket, and one with a promising future
2007 Cricket World Cup:
Star Players:Full Name: Andrew Flintoff
Born: 6th Dec 1977, Preston, Lancashire
Age: 29
Role: Right Hand Batsman / Right Arm Fast Medium
Major Teams: Lancashire, England.
Test Debut: England v South Africa at Nottingham, 4th Test, 1998
ODI Debut: England v Pakistan at Sharjah, Coca Cola Cup, 1998/99
From the moment the big Lancastrian made his debut for England against South Africa in 1998 at the age of 20, Andrew Flintoff's name became inexorably linked with that of England's greatest-ever all-rounder, Ian Botham.
It was obvious from the start that here was a player with natural talent to match his immense frame - equally there appeared to be the same propensity for self-destruction. A bad back and a diet that was questionable to say the least led to him losing his place two years later, but when he found the motivation to put the pieces back together, a place in the England side was assured once more.
A good Ashes series was all that was required for the Botham millstone to be cast from Flintoff's neck, and an excellent 2002 meant that the signs were good. Unfortunately, the body couldn't take the huge workload that was thrust upon him and a hernia operation meant that the winter tour of Australia would see Andrew travelling as a patient rather than as a player. A decent World Cup in 2003, when he was the most economical bowler on show, followed by a quite breathtaking century and a match-turning 95 against South Africa were merely the hors d'ouevres.
Full Name: Brian Charles Lara
Born: 2nd May 1969, Cantaro, Santa Cruz, Trinidad
Age: 37
Role: Left-Handed Batsman / Right-Arm Leg Break
Major Teams: Trinidad & Tobago, Warwickshire, Northern Transvaal, West Indies, ICC World XI
Test Debut: West Indies v Pakistan at Lahore, 3rd Test, 1990/91
ODI Debut: West Indies v Pakistan at Karachi, 1st ODI, 1990/91
Over the course of his career, Brian Lara has firmly established himself as one of the greatest West Indian batsmen of all-time. The leading runscorer for the region in Tests and one-day internationals, Lara also holds the mark of most Test centuries by a West Indian.
When he surpassed Allan Border as the highest Test runscorer of all-time, discussion shifted further to his place on the list of cricketing legends.
His crisp yet brutal stroke play is marked by sublime timing and dissecting the field. Indeed, you have not truly experienced cricket until you have seen an innings by an in-form Brian Lara.
For two months in 1994, Lara displayed some of the finest batting form in the history of the game. First, he dispatched the English bowling attack for a Test record 375 runs at the Antigua Recreational Ground, then he scored an unbeaten 501 for Warwickshire to add the highest first-class score on his resume. At that time, Brian Lara had gained a massive following around the world and was even estimated to be one of the most photographed figures in the world.
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