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The Unquiet Ones: A History of Pakistan Cricket
The definitive history of a cricket team the world loves to watch, but is at a loss to explain The story of Pakistan cricket is dramatic, tortured, heroic and tumultuous. Beginning with nothing after the Partition of 1947 to the jubilation of its victory against England at the Oval in 1954; from earning its Test status and competing with the best to sealing a golden age by winning the World Cup in 1992; from their magic in Sharjah to an era-defining low in the new millennium, Pakistan's cricketing fortunes have never ceased to thrill. This book is the story of those fortunes and how, in the process, the game transformed from an urban, exclusive sport into a glue uniting millions in a vast, disparate country. In its narration, Osman Samiuddin captures the jazba of the men who played for Pakistan, celebrates their headiest moments and many upheavals, and brings to life some of their most famous - and infamous - contests, tours and moments. Ambitious, spirited and often heart breaking, The Unquiet Ones is a comprehensive portrait of not just a Pakistani sport, but a national majboori, a compulsion whose outcome can often surprise and shock, and become the barometer of everyday life in Pakistan, tailing its ups and downs, its moods and character.
545 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2014
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September 15, 2025
This book has been on my radar for a while. I finally ordered it after Pakistan won the final test against England last week - another mercurial display in a highly anticipated series where they won a closely fought first test, got blown away in the next two and then came back from behind to win the final game.
Like the Pakistani cricket establishment, the book's structure is quite haphazard. I am sure this was deliberate. It begins with an almost cinematic account of Pakistan's first test win over England in the early 1950s. For a while, Samiuddin sticks to the chronological order of events after this first chapter, but there are many jumps back and forth in time throughout the book.
He dedicates a chapter each to the great cricketers who shaped Pakistani cricket - Abdul Hafeez Kardar (first captain and able administrator), Fazal Mahmood (the dashing fast bowler), Imran Khan (Pakistan's greatest all-rounder), Javed Miandad (Pakistan's greatest batsman who typified the Pakistani spirit) and Wasim Akram (great fast bowler and match fixer). There are detailed accounts of the two great Pakistani cities - Lahore and Karachi which contributed most of its great cricketers and the gradual spread of the game into the smaller towns and villages. The advent of radio as a propagator of the game first through English commentators and then Urdu ones. The corporatization of the game that was once financed entirely by Nawabs and prominent businessmen. The emergence of cricket as a full time career. Samiuddin provides a riveting account of the whole match fixing saga. He ties important political events to the country's fortunes in cricket. Samiuddin also reveals the secret behind the abundance of quality Pakistani fast bowlers.
Samiuddin's tone shifts from veneration for the pioneers of Pakistani cricket to a grudging respect for the flawed men who took the Pakistani team to great heights and finally despair and even anger at the decline in the absence of mentors and gatekeepers. But mostly, Samiuddin the Pakistan fan takes a backseat and presents the facts to us, occasionally stepping in to give his opinion about a particular event.
I strongly recommend this book, especially for fans of cricket. There is never a dull moment, it is full of information and most importantly very very entertaining.
Like the Pakistani cricket establishment, the book's structure is quite haphazard. I am sure this was deliberate. It begins with an almost cinematic account of Pakistan's first test win over England in the early 1950s. For a while, Samiuddin sticks to the chronological order of events after this first chapter, but there are many jumps back and forth in time throughout the book.
He dedicates a chapter each to the great cricketers who shaped Pakistani cricket - Abdul Hafeez Kardar (first captain and able administrator), Fazal Mahmood (the dashing fast bowler), Imran Khan (Pakistan's greatest all-rounder), Javed Miandad (Pakistan's greatest batsman who typified the Pakistani spirit) and Wasim Akram (great fast bowler and match fixer). There are detailed accounts of the two great Pakistani cities - Lahore and Karachi which contributed most of its great cricketers and the gradual spread of the game into the smaller towns and villages. The advent of radio as a propagator of the game first through English commentators and then Urdu ones. The corporatization of the game that was once financed entirely by Nawabs and prominent businessmen. The emergence of cricket as a full time career. Samiuddin provides a riveting account of the whole match fixing saga. He ties important political events to the country's fortunes in cricket. Samiuddin also reveals the secret behind the abundance of quality Pakistani fast bowlers.
Samiuddin's tone shifts from veneration for the pioneers of Pakistani cricket to a grudging respect for the flawed men who took the Pakistani team to great heights and finally despair and even anger at the decline in the absence of mentors and gatekeepers. But mostly, Samiuddin the Pakistan fan takes a backseat and presents the facts to us, occasionally stepping in to give his opinion about a particular event.
I strongly recommend this book, especially for fans of cricket. There is never a dull moment, it is full of information and most importantly very very entertaining.
May 20, 2015
Disclosure: I've always been fascinated by Pakistan, the cricket team and also, the country. Even though I live in a neighbouring country, quality and unbiased reporting on Pakistan has been scarce in the Indian media, print or electronic. The extreme stereotypes have always been pushed to the front, as is usual, and it needs some effort on your part to learn about the average Pakistani and the society in general.
This book brings together two of my favorite book genres, Sports and History. But to call it a book on "Sports History" would be doing a great disservice to it. Through this book, Osman Samiuddin provides us a window into the various phases of Pakistani society, via the sport of Cricket. Sure, Cricket remains the central theme, but the larger, societal view remains a constant - even if peripheral - feature. And it should be no different, for Cricket in the subcontinent is a microcosm of the Country's prevailing conditions. Maybe it is even more true in Pakistan, where the cricket board has always operated under the control of the government, military or civilian. Thus, it is fair to expect Cricket and society to be inextricably tied to each other.
The book is a fairly long read, but for a book that aims to chronicle close to 65 years of Pakistani Cricket, the author has done a very good job. The rigour is notable, esp coming from a young author whose lifetime perhaps only covers about 60% of the period he has written about. He has covered all major phases of Pakistan cricket and done justice to each one of them with fairly detailed accounts.
The charm of the book, however, lies in the anecdotes and the relaxed writing style, with a liberal usage of quotes and phrases in contemporary urdu. Historical accounts always seem to bring with them a rather pedantic style of writing, with measured strokes of the pen/keyboard from seasoned pros. Samiuddin, while not being a beginner by any means, brings a certain desi kind of flair to his writing, much as Wasim Akram did to fast bowling. This is where the book scores, in my mind. Books have been written about the subcontinent by Western authors before, but despite their best efforts, it is hard for them to invoke a desi state of mind, to best capture the vagaries of the east. Samiuddin has performed a stellar role in this regard. Separate chapters are reserved for some of the biggest superstars, such as Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram. Intermittent commentary on the Lahore-Karachi equation is fascinating to read as well, embodied by the Imran-Javed relationship.
The book takes flight, much like batsmen in the last 10 overs, in the last few sections, covering the period from the 1992 world cup to the present. Some of the passages in those sections are truly unputdownable . I went through a marathon 7-hour reading session, interrupted only by Dinner, and never once did it feel laboured. It helped that the stories being told were as captivating, if not more, as the writing style. The 1990s were a time when Pakistan team illuminated the cricket field with their performances and in equal measure were marred by corruption scandals off the field. Perhaps only Pakistan can exist in such a dichotomous universe. There's also a chapter on how/why Pakistan has become an assembly line of fast bowlers, and that most of them have been plucked out of relative obscurity and at a young age. Even if you don't read anything else in the book, the coverage of the 1990s and later is worth your time/money.
In summary, a truly compelling read, possessing both a breadth and depth of coverage. For an outsider like me, it is a great account of the enigma that is Pakistan. It wouldn't be wrong to call it a labor of love, and Osman Samiuddin has provided a great insider's view of how Cricket went from being an urban, elitist pursuit to a behemoth that truly pervades Pakistani society and is one of the few unifying factors in a country with rich diversity, but also plagued by internal troubles for a large part of its existence.
I wish someone would take inspiration and write something similar on Indian cricket!
This book brings together two of my favorite book genres, Sports and History. But to call it a book on "Sports History" would be doing a great disservice to it. Through this book, Osman Samiuddin provides us a window into the various phases of Pakistani society, via the sport of Cricket. Sure, Cricket remains the central theme, but the larger, societal view remains a constant - even if peripheral - feature. And it should be no different, for Cricket in the subcontinent is a microcosm of the Country's prevailing conditions. Maybe it is even more true in Pakistan, where the cricket board has always operated under the control of the government, military or civilian. Thus, it is fair to expect Cricket and society to be inextricably tied to each other.
The book is a fairly long read, but for a book that aims to chronicle close to 65 years of Pakistani Cricket, the author has done a very good job. The rigour is notable, esp coming from a young author whose lifetime perhaps only covers about 60% of the period he has written about. He has covered all major phases of Pakistan cricket and done justice to each one of them with fairly detailed accounts.
The charm of the book, however, lies in the anecdotes and the relaxed writing style, with a liberal usage of quotes and phrases in contemporary urdu. Historical accounts always seem to bring with them a rather pedantic style of writing, with measured strokes of the pen/keyboard from seasoned pros. Samiuddin, while not being a beginner by any means, brings a certain desi kind of flair to his writing, much as Wasim Akram did to fast bowling. This is where the book scores, in my mind. Books have been written about the subcontinent by Western authors before, but despite their best efforts, it is hard for them to invoke a desi state of mind, to best capture the vagaries of the east. Samiuddin has performed a stellar role in this regard. Separate chapters are reserved for some of the biggest superstars, such as Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram. Intermittent commentary on the Lahore-Karachi equation is fascinating to read as well, embodied by the Imran-Javed relationship.
The book takes flight, much like batsmen in the last 10 overs, in the last few sections, covering the period from the 1992 world cup to the present. Some of the passages in those sections are truly unputdownable . I went through a marathon 7-hour reading session, interrupted only by Dinner, and never once did it feel laboured. It helped that the stories being told were as captivating, if not more, as the writing style. The 1990s were a time when Pakistan team illuminated the cricket field with their performances and in equal measure were marred by corruption scandals off the field. Perhaps only Pakistan can exist in such a dichotomous universe. There's also a chapter on how/why Pakistan has become an assembly line of fast bowlers, and that most of them have been plucked out of relative obscurity and at a young age. Even if you don't read anything else in the book, the coverage of the 1990s and later is worth your time/money.
In summary, a truly compelling read, possessing both a breadth and depth of coverage. For an outsider like me, it is a great account of the enigma that is Pakistan. It wouldn't be wrong to call it a labor of love, and Osman Samiuddin has provided a great insider's view of how Cricket went from being an urban, elitist pursuit to a behemoth that truly pervades Pakistani society and is one of the few unifying factors in a country with rich diversity, but also plagued by internal troubles for a large part of its existence.
I wish someone would take inspiration and write something similar on Indian cricket!
Want to read
August 29, 2020I have read a couple of chapters online and this looks like an excellent cricket book.
The Miracle of '92
This chapter is an account of Pakistan's miraculous victory in the 1992 World Cup.They had won just one of their first five matches.Rain had earned them a point against England and saved them from elimination.
Till then,no one in the team was performing.Batsmen like Malik and Ejaz were not laying bat on ball.Imran had a shoulder injury.Miandad had initially been left out of the team (he blamed Imran)and only included later.Wasim Akram was out of sorts.Waqar Younis,then the quickest and most dangerous bowler in the world was injured,prompting Imran to ask,"what will we do now?"
And then,as if by some miracle,that ramshackle bunch began to get their act together.They still needed Australia to beat the West Indies to qualify for the semi finals.That too happened.Wasim Akram signed a note to a taxi driver,"Pakistan will win this World Cup."
Much is made of Imran's "Cornered Tigers" motivational speech.Some players don't even recall it.But Imran did wear a Tiger T shirt.
The miracle of '92 is celebrated in Pakistan each time a new World Cup starts,but few remember how much of a roller coaster ride it was.It was also the end of an era when Pakistan sides were consistently good.
Javed Miandad
The chapter on Javed Miandad is interesting,too.While acknowledging his considerable talent,Samiuddin contends that Miandad always wanted greater respect for himself and his sides.
He sledged opponents and got under the skin of the likes of Dennis Lillee.Cricket to Miandad was war.Rather immodestly,he likened his cricket brain to a computer,while patting himself on the back.
For all his achievements and stature,Miandad considered himself a victim of injustice.His relationship with Imran was difficult,and he always had to relinquish the captaincy when Imran wanted to play.
Both these chapters were great fun to read.Hopefully,the rest of the book is as good,too.
The Miracle of '92
This chapter is an account of Pakistan's miraculous victory in the 1992 World Cup.They had won just one of their first five matches.Rain had earned them a point against England and saved them from elimination.
Till then,no one in the team was performing.Batsmen like Malik and Ejaz were not laying bat on ball.Imran had a shoulder injury.Miandad had initially been left out of the team (he blamed Imran)and only included later.Wasim Akram was out of sorts.Waqar Younis,then the quickest and most dangerous bowler in the world was injured,prompting Imran to ask,"what will we do now?"
And then,as if by some miracle,that ramshackle bunch began to get their act together.They still needed Australia to beat the West Indies to qualify for the semi finals.That too happened.Wasim Akram signed a note to a taxi driver,"Pakistan will win this World Cup."
Much is made of Imran's "Cornered Tigers" motivational speech.Some players don't even recall it.But Imran did wear a Tiger T shirt.
The miracle of '92 is celebrated in Pakistan each time a new World Cup starts,but few remember how much of a roller coaster ride it was.It was also the end of an era when Pakistan sides were consistently good.
Javed Miandad
The chapter on Javed Miandad is interesting,too.While acknowledging his considerable talent,Samiuddin contends that Miandad always wanted greater respect for himself and his sides.
He sledged opponents and got under the skin of the likes of Dennis Lillee.Cricket to Miandad was war.Rather immodestly,he likened his cricket brain to a computer,while patting himself on the back.
For all his achievements and stature,Miandad considered himself a victim of injustice.His relationship with Imran was difficult,and he always had to relinquish the captaincy when Imran wanted to play.
Both these chapters were great fun to read.Hopefully,the rest of the book is as good,too.
March 14, 2015
A really compelling and colourful read on the origins of cricket in Pakistan, covering everything from how stadiums were built and live commentary was introduced in a young, passionate nation to the captains that would shape various leadership styles and the politicking that would come to dominate the administration of the game. Highly recommended to anyone who has ever enjoyed watching Pakistan play cricket, or been fascinated by how the sport has dominated the country and the region.
March 5, 2015
It was a joy to read this book. He has covered all aspects of the game - The club competitions in d beginning, d Radio/Television broadcasting, sponsorship and player remunerations, corruption, player profiles, Infrastructure and ofcourse, the cricket itself. Despite this indepth coverage, the book is a fast-read and there are many suitably placed anecdotes. Also, the author has provided perspectives and context very well where needed.
July 13, 2019
Pakistan is out of cricket world cup , once again, but cricket can never be out of the hearts and minds of Pakistanis. The issue with Pakistan cricket has always been diagnosed as being too unpredictable. Fortunately this uncertainty works both ways. We win when we are set to lose and we lose when victory looks obvious. Why is our cricket like that ? Why can’t we be Australia ? Is it our national character which is reflected in our team ? or Is it how the cricket has evolved over seven decades ? To have answers to these question, this week I picked this book on the history of Pakistan cricket and tried to make sense of the beautiful mess that is the Pakistan cricket.
Osman Samiuddin calls Pakistanis “The Unquiet Ones” and right from the start. While it took teams like New Zealand , Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe years (and often deacdes) to establish as formidable cricketing sides, Pakistan set itself almost immediately. Who can forget the Oval Test of 1954 , or Lucknow test even two years before that. ‘Arrival’ is the first of six sections and ours was arrival with a bang, which was of course followed by ‘Regression’ of sixties. The initial euphoria gave into the lackluster years leading up to early 1970s when the ‘transformation’ finally got ushered. Pakistan started getting use to win. Sydney Test of 1977 was land mark for both Pakistan and Imran Khan. Aside from occasional slips , Pakistan was formidable side culminating into ‘high’ of 1992 world cup. Then came what the writer calls ‘The Unraveling’. There was match fixing , there was musical chairs of captaincy and there was terrorism. It was ugly and it was disappointing but like always there came Misbah, but more about that in the book.
To start with , Cricket has been labor of love for many known and unsung heroes. There were Kardar the first captain and Cornelius the first administrator but there were people like Makhdoom Hasan, Kaikhusroo Collector, Abdul Rehman Dyer and Kafeeluddin. Those who supported young players , paid for the Pakistan team visits and managed grounds when the government was still concerned with other pressing matters. It is also no surprise that Pakistan became nursery of fast bowlers, After all both Kardar and Cornelius diligently looked for over 6 feet plus masculine young men from Mianwali - no surprise how that ended up. The catalyst for the supply line was of course Imran Khan , both his charisma and his efforts. The chain is continued to be unbroken even as recent till Shaheen Afridi.
The book is refreshing because it is not laden with statistics, data and chronology of events. It is a commentary in writing, a story with colorful characters and a drama with many climaxes. When Osman narrates the ball which took away Rahud Dravid’s off stump in Chennai test (1999), he is not talking about just one ball but capturing all the genius of Wasim Akram. When he is dissecting the persona of Javed Miandad as a perpetual victim looking for izzat, Hanif Mohammad as solitary master and Imran Khan as a perpetual transformer working on his own transformation, he is contextualizing the social milieu of Pakistan. And how cricket got into the fixing. How Amir just does not know his own genius and his own blunders , and how he his rising again. The drama never stops.
The book is not just about cricket. It is about everything else around cricket. One gets to know that tape ball was introduced because the rival mohallah teams of Karachi could not handle one Nadeem Moosa and his ‘finger’. How the cricket got voice , through Jamsheed Marker and Omar Kureishi , and how Urdu took over English with Munir Hussian’s forage- both on air waves with ranzain and wiktain and in print with his ‘Akhbar e watan’. Cricket was localized and ruralized. More so with money. Next came the tobacco company with Wills man of the match, followed by Pepsi and Coca Cola. The board also underwent changes from a steel trunk to the glossy corporate headquarters. Overall one feels that we did not do bad institutionally as far as cricket administration is concerned.
In the end , Osman Samiuddin’s writing style has to be the treat. He does not just write but enlivens the pages with live commentary with pen. The delightfulness of his pieces on ESPN Cricinfo comes into full exhibition in the book. The perspectives on politics , ethnicity and society provide the necessary context of what happens on the field. Pakistan cricket will continue to be entertaining to watch. Reading about it does not disappoint either.
Happy reading.
Osman Samiuddin calls Pakistanis “The Unquiet Ones” and right from the start. While it took teams like New Zealand , Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe years (and often deacdes) to establish as formidable cricketing sides, Pakistan set itself almost immediately. Who can forget the Oval Test of 1954 , or Lucknow test even two years before that. ‘Arrival’ is the first of six sections and ours was arrival with a bang, which was of course followed by ‘Regression’ of sixties. The initial euphoria gave into the lackluster years leading up to early 1970s when the ‘transformation’ finally got ushered. Pakistan started getting use to win. Sydney Test of 1977 was land mark for both Pakistan and Imran Khan. Aside from occasional slips , Pakistan was formidable side culminating into ‘high’ of 1992 world cup. Then came what the writer calls ‘The Unraveling’. There was match fixing , there was musical chairs of captaincy and there was terrorism. It was ugly and it was disappointing but like always there came Misbah, but more about that in the book.
To start with , Cricket has been labor of love for many known and unsung heroes. There were Kardar the first captain and Cornelius the first administrator but there were people like Makhdoom Hasan, Kaikhusroo Collector, Abdul Rehman Dyer and Kafeeluddin. Those who supported young players , paid for the Pakistan team visits and managed grounds when the government was still concerned with other pressing matters. It is also no surprise that Pakistan became nursery of fast bowlers, After all both Kardar and Cornelius diligently looked for over 6 feet plus masculine young men from Mianwali - no surprise how that ended up. The catalyst for the supply line was of course Imran Khan , both his charisma and his efforts. The chain is continued to be unbroken even as recent till Shaheen Afridi.
The book is refreshing because it is not laden with statistics, data and chronology of events. It is a commentary in writing, a story with colorful characters and a drama with many climaxes. When Osman narrates the ball which took away Rahud Dravid’s off stump in Chennai test (1999), he is not talking about just one ball but capturing all the genius of Wasim Akram. When he is dissecting the persona of Javed Miandad as a perpetual victim looking for izzat, Hanif Mohammad as solitary master and Imran Khan as a perpetual transformer working on his own transformation, he is contextualizing the social milieu of Pakistan. And how cricket got into the fixing. How Amir just does not know his own genius and his own blunders , and how he his rising again. The drama never stops.
The book is not just about cricket. It is about everything else around cricket. One gets to know that tape ball was introduced because the rival mohallah teams of Karachi could not handle one Nadeem Moosa and his ‘finger’. How the cricket got voice , through Jamsheed Marker and Omar Kureishi , and how Urdu took over English with Munir Hussian’s forage- both on air waves with ranzain and wiktain and in print with his ‘Akhbar e watan’. Cricket was localized and ruralized. More so with money. Next came the tobacco company with Wills man of the match, followed by Pepsi and Coca Cola. The board also underwent changes from a steel trunk to the glossy corporate headquarters. Overall one feels that we did not do bad institutionally as far as cricket administration is concerned.
In the end , Osman Samiuddin’s writing style has to be the treat. He does not just write but enlivens the pages with live commentary with pen. The delightfulness of his pieces on ESPN Cricinfo comes into full exhibition in the book. The perspectives on politics , ethnicity and society provide the necessary context of what happens on the field. Pakistan cricket will continue to be entertaining to watch. Reading about it does not disappoint either.
Happy reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2015
This book is a must read for all cricket lovers. The author does a great job of explaining and demystifying the 'jazbaa' that drives Pakistan's cricket, and the players who have represented them.
Imran, Akram, Miandad, Kardar, Hanif Mohammed, Fazal Mahmood, are all brought alive beautifully, in all their brilliance and their imperfections.
I was actually on the verge of finishing this book on the eve of the India - Pakistan CWC game in 2015. But held back to finish it after the match. The reason was that I had grown to love the madness & chaos that is Pakistan cricket, its unpredictability and its brilliance, its inherent but impulsive nature to explode & implode almost simultaneously.
Watching the game, and the Pakistani cricket team (even if its a shadow of its earlier avatars) was like watching the book come alive. Brilliant & dismal at the same time, not for them the clinical efficiency of India/Australia or S.Africa.
Imran, Akram, Miandad, Kardar, Hanif Mohammed, Fazal Mahmood, are all brought alive beautifully, in all their brilliance and their imperfections.
I was actually on the verge of finishing this book on the eve of the India - Pakistan CWC game in 2015. But held back to finish it after the match. The reason was that I had grown to love the madness & chaos that is Pakistan cricket, its unpredictability and its brilliance, its inherent but impulsive nature to explode & implode almost simultaneously.
Watching the game, and the Pakistani cricket team (even if its a shadow of its earlier avatars) was like watching the book come alive. Brilliant & dismal at the same time, not for them the clinical efficiency of India/Australia or S.Africa.
April 9, 2015
A well researched and fairly unbiased book detailing the history of one of the most enigmatic cricketing nations, Pakistan. Starting from the origins of organized cricket in the country leading upto early 2010, this book covers all the important happenings, characters and milestones of Pakistan cricket. A must read for any cricket buff and more so if you are a fan of Pakistani cricket.
October 3, 2021
Pakistan cricket has always intrigued me. I had read Peter Oborne’s excellent book about the history of Pakistan cricket. So, while I was tempted to read this book by Osman Samiuddin, I thought what was the point. What else will he offer that Oborne’s book didn’t have.
But after becoming a fan of Osman’s writing on Cricinfo, I decided to give it a try. And I am so glad.
I realised it’s one thing to research a subject and write a book like Oborne. And a completely different thing to experience it everyday of your life and then write about it. The latter types offer an emotion which the former can never provide. Especially for a subject which evokes such a range of emotions.
This is a very good book. It’s not a chronological history. It touches upon all the key events and important aspects of the game. It tells you how the game impacts the psyche of the country and how the chaos in the country impacts the game. You feel the spirit and the soul of the game in Pakistan.
One small example to illustrate the point.
Everybody writes about tape ball cricket when they write about cricket in Pakistan. But no one other than Osman explained the big behavioural change it brought about in the game. How it spawned the fast bowling culture in Pakistan. That’s something only an insider can appreciate.
And that is why this book is a must read if you are a fan of Pakistan cricket.
But after becoming a fan of Osman’s writing on Cricinfo, I decided to give it a try. And I am so glad.
I realised it’s one thing to research a subject and write a book like Oborne. And a completely different thing to experience it everyday of your life and then write about it. The latter types offer an emotion which the former can never provide. Especially for a subject which evokes such a range of emotions.
This is a very good book. It’s not a chronological history. It touches upon all the key events and important aspects of the game. It tells you how the game impacts the psyche of the country and how the chaos in the country impacts the game. You feel the spirit and the soul of the game in Pakistan.
One small example to illustrate the point.
Everybody writes about tape ball cricket when they write about cricket in Pakistan. But no one other than Osman explained the big behavioural change it brought about in the game. How it spawned the fast bowling culture in Pakistan. That’s something only an insider can appreciate.
And that is why this book is a must read if you are a fan of Pakistan cricket.
March 1, 2015
One of the best Sports books I have read in a long while. No body has written this well or in such detail as Osman on Pakistan Cricket and its topsy turvy nature. It is a must read for any Cricket fan, never mind Pakistani Cricket followers. Some chapters on Imran Khan, Miandad, Wasim Akram are just such scintillating pieces of writing that I reread those passages. It also helped that I can associate with this Cricket team and its ups and down over the years. Its quite an unforgiving love affair if you happen to follow the highly temperamental and pretty unique Pakistan Cricket team. Thank you Osman for writing this book!
June 19, 2021
Samiuddin is one of my favorite cricket writers and he charts out Pakistan cricket's history quite beautifully. The book plays around with time and pace, with its dramatic characters being themselves.
He never hangs back on his criticisms, in fact there's more of it than praise. With its tumultuous politics not only influencing but dictating cricket, the fact that this team has achieved so much and still produces some of the most entertaining cricket is commendable.
He never hangs back on his criticisms, in fact there's more of it than praise. With its tumultuous politics not only influencing but dictating cricket, the fact that this team has achieved so much and still produces some of the most entertaining cricket is commendable.
August 2, 2015
Osman Saimuddin is a genius. A must read book if you have ever been fascinated by Pakistani Cricket or Cricket in general.
May 1, 2018
If there's one word which can justifiably describe the brand of cricket Pakistan play, it's mercurial. They can lose a test match to Zimbabwe, languish in the lower echelons of the ICC test and ODI rankings and still gather themselves to take the cricketing world by storm by clinching the Champion's trophy and just when you've thought that they've deciphered the enigma called consistency, they turn up and lose to Sri Lanka in Dubai.
A tale that continues to surprise, delight and confound - These are the words used by Micheal Atherton, former English opener and a commentator cum sports journalist to describe the journey of Pakistan cricket. Osman Samiuddin perfectly encapsulates the ebb and flow of a British game which over the course of time has mingled itself so intrinsically with the sentiments of the common Pakistani that effigies are burnt over a match lost and feasts arranged in the aftermath of a grand victory. Vividly describing the struggles of a nation born of a bloodied partition, Samiuddin's account of the history of Pakistan cricket is vibrant with the spirit of Jazba - the never say die attitude which has helped Pakistan carry along in tandem scintillating on field brilliance in the background of tumultuous off field scuffles and intrigues.
From Abdul Hafeez Kardar to Mohammad Amir, Samiuddin weaves a compelling tale carrying within itself the awe and disenchantment of a person who passionately follows team Green.
P.S - It is in cricket that India and Pakistan strike upon a common chord - One priding in its divinely gifted assortment of batsmen who, with equal dexterity scorch the grass with their brute striking power as well as deftly use their wrists to thread the minutest of gaps - the other ebullient of their tall, lanky and rampant fast bowlers, in whose hands the cricket bowl is employed with marvelling ingenuity to show case a vast array of tricks and deceptions leaving the batsman gasping for breath.
In a parallel world one can only imagine the work force that would've taken the field had India not been partitioned.
A tale that continues to surprise, delight and confound - These are the words used by Micheal Atherton, former English opener and a commentator cum sports journalist to describe the journey of Pakistan cricket. Osman Samiuddin perfectly encapsulates the ebb and flow of a British game which over the course of time has mingled itself so intrinsically with the sentiments of the common Pakistani that effigies are burnt over a match lost and feasts arranged in the aftermath of a grand victory. Vividly describing the struggles of a nation born of a bloodied partition, Samiuddin's account of the history of Pakistan cricket is vibrant with the spirit of Jazba - the never say die attitude which has helped Pakistan carry along in tandem scintillating on field brilliance in the background of tumultuous off field scuffles and intrigues.
From Abdul Hafeez Kardar to Mohammad Amir, Samiuddin weaves a compelling tale carrying within itself the awe and disenchantment of a person who passionately follows team Green.
P.S - It is in cricket that India and Pakistan strike upon a common chord - One priding in its divinely gifted assortment of batsmen who, with equal dexterity scorch the grass with their brute striking power as well as deftly use their wrists to thread the minutest of gaps - the other ebullient of their tall, lanky and rampant fast bowlers, in whose hands the cricket bowl is employed with marvelling ingenuity to show case a vast array of tricks and deceptions leaving the batsman gasping for breath.
In a parallel world one can only imagine the work force that would've taken the field had India not been partitioned.
July 30, 2020
The bottom line is this is a must-read book if you are remotely interested in cricket. Osman Samiuddin has achieved something many of us could only wish to do. He has written a well-researched sportsbook which is also a pleasurable read. Not an overdose of statistics but they come to prove a point when they are absolutely required. Like he refers to the innings played by Hanif Mohammad in some matches to show that his natural instinct was to attack. For beginners, Hanif Mohammad still holds the record for the longest Test innings played ever. He starts from the famous oval victory. In some sense, this first chapter is a scaled-down version of the book itself, thereby a smaller version of Pakistan cricket. It has batting collapses, dropped catches, Oxford-educated Captain, individual bowling brilliance, a conflict between match winner and captain. The book has 31 chapters grouped into 5 sections. I jumped instantly to the 29th one before reading the first one, Left Arm God- there is only one in cricket. Then to my utter disgust, Osman gives a two and a half-page insightful description of the dismissal of Rahul Dravid in the 1999 Chennai Test. What is a good cricket book without anecdotes? This one in the second chapter is my favorite one.
There is a chapter on the intensity of the rivalry between Government College and Islamia College of Lahore. Former player Waqar Hasan recalls,
Fazal Mahmood was one of the big starry names at the club though he eventually moved to Universal, and Nazar Mohammad- Pakistan’ s first Test centurion and father of an equally stodgy opener Mudassar- was another. Nazar senior, it is widely claimed, was involved in a suitably glamorous fling with Nur Jehan, Pakistan’s most acclaimed female voice- with a famously wandering eye- and a successful actress. Nazar wasn’t a bad singer himself, and was quite the dasher; the affair, it is said, began when he met Nur Jehan while visiting a film set to meet his elder brother Feroz Nizami, renowned music director. It ended badly. Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, Nur Jehan’s husband, and renowned film director had her followed one afternoon to where she suspected she was meeting Nazar. When Shaukat turned up, the two were in bed. In haste, Nazar jumped out of the balcony and fractured his arm on landing, ending not only their romance but also a promising career in cricket.Osman is a brilliant wordsmith. Take this one for example from the chapter The Soliarty Master.
There is still an obvious air of such blank equanimity around Hanif that it all kind of makes sense- the big score, the concentration, the long hours- Hanif like a buoy in rough seas, bobbing around, essentially unmoved, watching noiselessly, water and air in stern congregation.
There is a chapter on the intensity of the rivalry between Government College and Islamia College of Lahore. Former player Waqar Hasan recalls,
Even compared to the pressure of playing against India, this was more, you know. These were really intense matches. Maa, ki behen ki gaali dete they. These were mostly from spectators, mind you.As he speaks to former players he gets the answer that the basic reason for this was not cricketing supremacy or religion but class. Government college represented elite liberals while Islamia college conservative Muslims from lower echelons of society. But combinedly these two institutes produced eight of the playing XI fielded by Pakistan in their first Test. One chapter is entirely devoted to the art of commentary and pioneer commentators. The first golden rule about commentary agreed by Omar Kureishi and Jamshed is something like this Just imagine, you are sitting next to a very old friend who is blind and loves cricket. Forget about the audience, forget about the mic or radio, just imagine sitting next to him. Take him to the match. Cricket, history, culture, statistics Osman somehow manages to combine all of this, for the completeness of the work only this is worth reading, then there is sheer quality as well.
March 28, 2015
a concise and easy to read history of Pakistani cricket
A well written book, it is a fairly decent book on Pakistani cricket, covering many generations as well as many milestones. It also touches on many contributions, both positive and negative, that Pakistan has made to the field of cricket. Good job by the author.
A well written book, it is a fairly decent book on Pakistani cricket, covering many generations as well as many milestones. It also touches on many contributions, both positive and negative, that Pakistan has made to the field of cricket. Good job by the author.
February 23, 2015
This book is a must read for all the fans of Pakistan Cricket ..From Abdul Hafeez Kardar to Misbah-ul-Haq...This book will take you to a journey of a lifetime...
March 2, 2020
One of the first Samiuddin articles I read was The Haal of Pakistan, an absolutely brilliant writeup on Pakistan's mercurial genius on the cricket field. I have been looking forward to reading The Uniquet Ones for a long time. And to be honest, compared to the article writer Samiuddin, the book writer Samiuddin disappoints a tad, because the book totally lacks structure and a narrative, often even within long chapters.
However, it is a very informative, well researched and rarely boring read. Would that more cricket books, or sport books in general, which tend to be more about scores and records and "boys played well" level triteness, were like this.
[SPOILERS start]
Samiuddin pulls no punches. It is clearly alluded Wasim Akram was one of the top match fixers and got away scotfree only because of chance and connections. Miandad's personality is described perfectly. Imran's genius is given even more of a legendary turn - if you didnt know Imran was one of the best cricketers and leaders of men ever, you'll know it now. My favourite bit in the entire book was Imran getting a tip that four players have fixed the next game (he doesnt know who), upon which he proceeds to tell the team in the prematch meeting that he'll put the four in jail if Pakistan lose, and has the entire purse bet on Pakistan winning. They do win, and the best performances are from the (alleged) four fixers. This book was written before Imran became prime minister, and Samiuddin basically acknowledges there's nothing beyond Imran's grasp if he puts his mind to it, and you agree.
[SPOILERS end]
Anyway, tldr: read the book if cricket interests you.
However, it is a very informative, well researched and rarely boring read. Would that more cricket books, or sport books in general, which tend to be more about scores and records and "boys played well" level triteness, were like this.
[SPOILERS start]
Samiuddin pulls no punches. It is clearly alluded Wasim Akram was one of the top match fixers and got away scotfree only because of chance and connections. Miandad's personality is described perfectly. Imran's genius is given even more of a legendary turn - if you didnt know Imran was one of the best cricketers and leaders of men ever, you'll know it now. My favourite bit in the entire book was Imran getting a tip that four players have fixed the next game (he doesnt know who), upon which he proceeds to tell the team in the prematch meeting that he'll put the four in jail if Pakistan lose, and has the entire purse bet on Pakistan winning. They do win, and the best performances are from the (alleged) four fixers. This book was written before Imran became prime minister, and Samiuddin basically acknowledges there's nothing beyond Imran's grasp if he puts his mind to it, and you agree.
[SPOILERS end]
Anyway, tldr: read the book if cricket interests you.
November 25, 2020
This was a nice read :)
Most people would agree with me that Pakistan is a cricket team like no other. Consistently inconsistent, erratic, wild but brilliant, captivating and colourful. Controversial.
It was as much this as Osman Samiuddin's writing that led me to the book. Much like many of the writers on Cricinfo, to paraphrase his quote from the book, he makes reading about cricket more interesting than watching it. This is best illustrated in his description of Akram getting the better of Dravid in a test in Chennai in 1999. Samiuddin deconstructs it in great detail, constructing an intriguing and rewarding narrative of two balls. When I sent the extract to a friend, he was thrilled at how good the description was. It makes you see things which you never would otherwise have. The video of the wicket doesn't really seem extra-ordinary either, merely becoming another wicket in a series.
The book also reminded me of Guha's 'Corner of a Foreign Field', for more than half of the book is about things off the field, without which there wouldn't have been the things on it - Pakistan's tumultuous ride with democracy and dictatorship, the cultural milieu of the cities and the times, savvy administrators, passionate coaches, crazy fans, sponsorship deals. The other half is focussed on iconic player like Kardar, Fazal Mahmood, Imran, Akram, Miandad ending with the sad tale of Amir. One wishes there were more anecdotes with some of the more recent players like Afridi, Akthar, Waqar Younus, but it is otherwise a very good read.
Most people would agree with me that Pakistan is a cricket team like no other. Consistently inconsistent, erratic, wild but brilliant, captivating and colourful. Controversial.
It was as much this as Osman Samiuddin's writing that led me to the book. Much like many of the writers on Cricinfo, to paraphrase his quote from the book, he makes reading about cricket more interesting than watching it. This is best illustrated in his description of Akram getting the better of Dravid in a test in Chennai in 1999. Samiuddin deconstructs it in great detail, constructing an intriguing and rewarding narrative of two balls. When I sent the extract to a friend, he was thrilled at how good the description was. It makes you see things which you never would otherwise have. The video of the wicket doesn't really seem extra-ordinary either, merely becoming another wicket in a series.
The book also reminded me of Guha's 'Corner of a Foreign Field', for more than half of the book is about things off the field, without which there wouldn't have been the things on it - Pakistan's tumultuous ride with democracy and dictatorship, the cultural milieu of the cities and the times, savvy administrators, passionate coaches, crazy fans, sponsorship deals. The other half is focussed on iconic player like Kardar, Fazal Mahmood, Imran, Akram, Miandad ending with the sad tale of Amir. One wishes there were more anecdotes with some of the more recent players like Afridi, Akthar, Waqar Younus, but it is otherwise a very good read.
November 4, 2017
When I had a voucher to use from Amazon, I wanted a book on Pakistan cricket and its history. I was torn between Peter Oborne's exhaustive book or Osman Samiuddin's The Unquiet Ones. I decided for the latter and I didn't regret the choice. The book's history takes from pre-Partition to the spot-fixing trial of 2010 but it touches upon moments, notable and significant characters (for good and bad), whilst mixing in the culture of the sub-continent's passion for the game. It captures the high moments of Pakistan cricket (the journey to its Test status; its early stars such as Fazal Mahmood, Hanif Mohammed, Abdul Hafeez Kardar) whilst being honest about its darker sides (corruption, internal conflicts, politics). Pakistan are often described as ‘mercurial’, ‘enigmatic’ and the book covers why they are routinely described in those terms. The players who left a legacy in the sport’s history as noted above, with the additions of Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. The rise of cricket, in the days of pre-partition to just after it, shows how grassroots organisation in cities such as Lahore and Karachi drove the competitiveness that in turn delivered Pakistan its first batch of international players. The book, fittingly finishes on fast bowling as its last chapter: the area which Pakistan has become famous for.
April 17, 2025
The Unquiet Ones offers a profound exploration of Pakistan's cricketing history, intertwining the sport with the nation's political and cultural tapestry. Through 31 essays, the book delves into pivotal matches, iconic players, and the socio-political landscape that has shaped the game in Pakistan.
The narrative is rich with anecdotes and insights, capturing the essence of players like Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, and Wasim Akram, and highlighting the challenges and triumphs of the Pakistani cricket team. Samiuddin's writing is both engaging and informative, making complex histories accessible to readers.
However, some readers have noted that the latter chapters feel rushed compared to the detailed exploration of earlier periods, potentially leaving a sense of incompleteness. Additionally, the absence of coverage on women's cricket has been pointed out as a notable omission.
Overall, The Unquiet Ones is a significant contribution to sports literature, offering an in-depth look at how cricket has shaped and been shaped by Pakistan's tumultuous history.
The narrative is rich with anecdotes and insights, capturing the essence of players like Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, and Wasim Akram, and highlighting the challenges and triumphs of the Pakistani cricket team. Samiuddin's writing is both engaging and informative, making complex histories accessible to readers.
However, some readers have noted that the latter chapters feel rushed compared to the detailed exploration of earlier periods, potentially leaving a sense of incompleteness. Additionally, the absence of coverage on women's cricket has been pointed out as a notable omission.
Overall, The Unquiet Ones is a significant contribution to sports literature, offering an in-depth look at how cricket has shaped and been shaped by Pakistan's tumultuous history.
July 21, 2021
Osman Samiuddin, the foremost cricket author from Pakistan, has done a tremendous job in chronicling the history of Pakistan cricket, a subject that is so rich and varied in both tone and content, adjectives like "colourful" fall woefully short of describing it.
Osman attempts at providing an insider's view at the absolute madcap drama and exhilarating brilliance that has typified Pakistan cricket, and tries to give readers a handle on the inherent unpredictability of the country's mercurial cricketers.
Osman attempts at providing an insider's view at the absolute madcap drama and exhilarating brilliance that has typified Pakistan cricket, and tries to give readers a handle on the inherent unpredictability of the country's mercurial cricketers.
January 11, 2023
Wisden nominated this in their top ten cricket books of all time.
I read why.
The author seemed to have an almost Australian sense of irony on his country's vast cultural idiosyncrasies. Unusual... for anyone (even an Aussie).
This is a cricket team that can play a perfect game and then implode in a most bizarre way... often.
I have been fascinated and following them since Imran Khan was... The Man ...and his Heir Appairent's, Waqar Younis began terrorising the cricket playing world with great mate/mortal enemy Wasim Akram (I even suggested to my wife that we name our son Waqar Akram... she demurred). It not only follows the history/plight of the National team but the political puzzlement of the newly partitioned governments ... juntas and all.
If you have no interest in cricket, but in the politics of Pakistan, or even the Tribal/cultural/religious/cities/provinces rivalries of the land, read this as the marriage of the national team/government of the day/religious fervor that is so close that the lines blur to... what the Jahannam? Very well written, very entertaining, I read it whilst watching Pakistan v. New Zealand series (0/0 draw) in Karachi 2022/2023. Just as the Tests played out... slow, yet compelling, the tome played out... compelling.
I read why.
The author seemed to have an almost Australian sense of irony on his country's vast cultural idiosyncrasies. Unusual... for anyone (even an Aussie).
This is a cricket team that can play a perfect game and then implode in a most bizarre way... often.
I have been fascinated and following them since Imran Khan was... The Man ...and his Heir Appairent's, Waqar Younis began terrorising the cricket playing world with great mate/mortal enemy Wasim Akram (I even suggested to my wife that we name our son Waqar Akram... she demurred). It not only follows the history/plight of the National team but the political puzzlement of the newly partitioned governments ... juntas and all.
If you have no interest in cricket, but in the politics of Pakistan, or even the Tribal/cultural/religious/cities/provinces rivalries of the land, read this as the marriage of the national team/government of the day/religious fervor that is so close that the lines blur to... what the Jahannam? Very well written, very entertaining, I read it whilst watching Pakistan v. New Zealand series (0/0 draw) in Karachi 2022/2023. Just as the Tests played out... slow, yet compelling, the tome played out... compelling.
March 7, 2023
In this terrific account of Pakistan's cricket history, Osman Samiuddin accurately captures the spirit and emotional experience of our de-facto national sport. Liked: Details about Pakistan's sociopolitical history and how it intertwined with the development of cricket; fervent descriptions of cricketing moments; critical portraits of important players. Didn't like: Sometimes the poetic prose seemed to veer into hyperbole; often convoluted chronology; abrupt ending.
December 27, 2024
The book is written in a very good literary language and is based on real facts. It will be useful for anyone who wants to see the other side of professional sports. I give 4 points only because the Indian team is obviously presented in a bad light. This is politics and not sport. To be objective, look for real facts through 1xBet apk India. Such resources objectively evaluate achievements
June 15, 2020
A well written book on the history and evolution on Pakistan`s cricket along with profiles of the ones who left a big mark in the history books. I particularly enjoyed how he also gave the socio political context of whatever was happening in the country during all major cricketing events. Definitely recommended
July 27, 2020
Quite a captivating read! Gives a detailed account across the different eras starting from 50's. I couldn't resist going back and watching youtube videos of individual performances and events side-by-side. Some of those I must have watched live in the late 90s/early 2000s but were not fresh in my memory now. Recommended for those who have been following pakistan cricket over the years!!
June 21, 2025
the modern parts of this history are less interesting but maybe that's bc i'm just familiar with it i liked reading most about school cricket and pre 90s cricket good job osman i appreciate any project of scope and integrity not to mention this is funny and insightful and well structured i ❤️ 🇵🇰🏏‼️
February 13, 2018
A wonderful book for lovers of Pakistan Cricket.
February 12, 2020
Fabulous!
One of the best cricket books you could ever read particularly if you're a Pakistan cricket fan! Osman Samiuddin writes with great passion, intelligence and wit.
One of the best cricket books you could ever read particularly if you're a Pakistan cricket fan! Osman Samiuddin writes with great passion, intelligence and wit.
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