Javeria Khan

One of the sharpest cricketing minds ever to play for Pakistan, Javeria Khan made her international debut in 2008 against Sri Lanka, a team against whom she would go on to have some of her most memorable moments. Hailing from Karachi, the diminutive cricketer had started out as an offspinner before her action was called for chucking in 2010. Forced to concentrate on batting, she reluctantly filled in as an opener but found early success, playing a useful hand in Pakistan's 2010 Asian Games gold medal campaign.

Extremely intense on the field, it was that drive which got her to excel in her secondary skill. Despite being good on playing the cut and the pull shot, she had a few technical limitations - most prominently the drive, a shot she went on to improve on significantly over the years. In the last few years, she has also added unorthodox shot play behind the wicket to her game. Her batting improved enough over the years for her to stand on top of the pile of several records for her country - most runs, most centuries, most fifties and highest individual score. But when results don’t go in her favour, that extreme intensity also leads her to bog down at times.

Her cricketing smarts though has made her a natural captaincy choice in Bismah Maroof’s absence and she led Pakistan on a few ocassions, including the 2018 and 2020 T20 World Cups.

Popular as ‘Jerry’ among her teammates, off the field she is a witty prankster in the pack, who also often entertains her teammates with her musical skill.