One of the most renowned fast bowlers in cricket history, Waqar Younis, is known for his deadly pace, devastating reverse swing, and ability to destroy batting lineups precisely. Waqar Younis is among the most legendary fast bowlers in Pakistan and he is known as an individual with a superb speed, lethal reverse swing and he can destroy the stump with unrivaled accuracy.
Waqar was born on 16 November 1971, in Vehari and entered the international field of cricket as a teenager and proved to be a fierce competitor with lethal yorkers. He was in a partnership with Wasim Akram, one of the most dreaded fast-bowling combinations in the history of cricket, which terrorized batsmen across the globe in the 90s.
Waqar was a unique performer, whose sling-arm action enabled him to create a high rate of speed and late movement and made him an ever-present threat to take a wicket. He ruled the Tests and One-Day International, and frequently changed the fortunes of Pakistan by his bombs. His impressive record in the number of wickets and more so bowled and leg-before, indicate his unsurpassed expertise in the area of reverse swing.
Waqar Younis was also a coach and mentor beyond his time as a player and worked as a coach with the pace attack of Pakistan in several coaching positions, both as the head coach of the national team and as the bowling coach of the bowling. Being a towering figure in the world of cricket and an idol to fast bowlers around the world, Waqar Younis is admired with his passion, discipline and cricketing intellect.
With his toe-crushing yorkers and late swing that surprised even the finest batsmen, he transformed fast bowling and earned the nickname “The Burewala Express.” Alongside his legendary bowling partner, Wasim Akram, he made his debut as a teenager and soon became well-known worldwide. Waqar has made a substantial contribution as a coach, mentor, and cricket analyst in addition to his playing career. His legacy has greatly influenced generations of pace bowlers worldwide.
Biography of Waqar Younis
- Real Name: Waqar Younis Maitla
- Full Name: Waqar Younis Maitla
- Nickname: Burewala Express, Toe-Crusher King
- Profession: Former Pakistani Cricketer, Fast Bowler, Coach, Commentator
- Famous for: Reverse swing mastery, toe-crushing yorkers, and being one of the youngest bowlers to take 200 Test wickets
- Best Performance: 7/36 vs England (1992), 6/26 vs Sri Lanka (2000), and several match-winning ODI spells
- Salary: Not publicly disclosed (varied across playing era, coaching roles, commentary)
- Monthly Income: Not publicly disclosed
- Website URL: Not Available
- Instagram Handle: Not Officially Available
Physical Status
- Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
- Weight: Approx. 85 kg
- Body Measurements: Athletic build (exact statistics not publicly disclosed)
- Eye Colour: Dark Brown
- Hair Colour: Black
Personal Life
- Date of Birth: November 16, 1971
- Place Of Birth: Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan
- Nationality: Pakistani
- Hometown: Burewala, Punjab
- School: Government High School, Burewala
- College: Later studied in Sharjah after moving with the family
- Highest Education Qualification: Higher secondary (focused on cricket career early)
Family Statistics
- Marital Status: Married
- Wife: Dr. Faryal Waqar
- Children: Three – two daughters and one son
- Parents: Father – Muhammad Zaman (passed away), Mother – Not widely known publicly
- Siblings: Several (exact number not publicly disclosed; comes from a large Punjabi family)
- Religion: Islam
- Other Hobbies: Swimming, fitness, travel, cricket commentary
Early Life of Waqar Younis:
Waqar Younis was born on November 16, 1971, in Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan. He grew up in humble beginnings and spent most of his early life in the United Arab Emirates. His father was employed in that country during his childhood. Waqar spent much of his early years in Sharjah, playing tape-ball cricket on its streets and beaches, where he developed an abiding love for the game.
After his return to Pakistan as a teenager, Waqar had many people watching him, who saw his speed with little effort. Waqar kept learning fast bowling without resources. His combative spirit and fearsome pace provided the structure on which his epic career as a fast bowler would be built.
Education of Waqar Younis:
Waqar Younis’s education spanned his early years in the Emirates and then in Vehari, followed by Lahore, where he excelled academically; still, cricket remained his greatest passion. When he began practice sessions, he ultimately took a back seat to cricket, and before he knew it, it had taken over it all. By the time he was a late teenager, his remarkable bowling ability had doused any receptiveness to any academic goals.
Even then, his peers and teachers who had mapped his academic trajectory considered him an amateur athlete. His education infused him with self-confidence and discipline to tackle international cricket, one of the most brutal and cruelest environments in the world.
Waqar Younis: Cricket Journey
Waqar Younis became the object of attention of former Pakistani skipper Imran Khan when he observed him during a domestic match, making his debut. Imran instantly pulled out all stops so that the fast bowler could make his entry into the national team in view of his sheer speed and swing attack. Waqar started terrorizing batters with his powerful yorkers and reverse-swing performances in no time.
It was with the likes of Wasim Akram that he formed the most storied duo, a bowling battery, terrifying batting orders globally. The early 1990s were when Waqar earned his reputation as the man who won games for Pakistan and was exceptional with the ball, particularly in ODIs, where he excelled at making breakthroughs in the last overs. The aggressive attitude of Waqar, fast and athletic run-up, and the ever-difficult art of reverse swing have etched him in the annals of cricket history.
Journey in the IPL and Domestic
The imprint of Waqar Younis on local cricket and coaching was persistent, although he missed out on the IPL when the league was launched after he completed his playing career. In all formats, Waqar used to play for the United Bank Limited and Lahore Division teams in domestic cricket, thereby strengthening his selection.
The strength he acquired from healthy on-field domestic performances enhanced his fitness and skills. As a retired cricketer, he taught the T20 and franchise leagues worldwide as a bowling coach, indirectly contributing to the fast-bowling phenomenon of the IPL era. Many young fast bowlers in modern cricket have benefited from Waqar’s insights and wisdom, particularly in reverse swing and the execution of yorkers.
International Career of Waqar Younis:
In his debut Test against India in 1989, Waqar impressed everybody with his remarkable pace. Just a year later, he did not disappoint after being introduced to One-Day Internationals. For ten years starting in the 1990s, he established himself as one of Pakistan’s biggest match-winning heroes. Waqar succeeded in being one of the fastest bowlers to claim over 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400 wickets in both forms, leaving him with 373 Test wickets and 416 ODI wickets.
He also gained the captain’s trust for brief periods of time in both formats while leading his nation. Several devotees in cricket circles paint Waqar as a compelling figure, with devastating spells that have come about almost instantly, especially from 1992 to 2002, due to bowling brilliance that completely broke the regular swing pattern followed for decades in cricket.
Injuries and Comebacks of Waqar Younis:
Injuries became an unavoidable hindrance throughout Waqar’s career due to the strain he placed on his bowling action. He lay low once or twice for almost a year or two, the first couple of times with a stress fracture, which made everyone sceptical about his comeback. But then, through his devotion and human perseverance, he turned those great things into a highly successful rehabilitation routine.
In the 1990s, he suffered from many hamstring and back problems, but through fierce determination, he emerged from them even stronger. His inspirational comeback came in 1996 and again in the early 2000s. He remained ready to take on any challenges and continue to keep impeccably fit in the face of difficulties. Back-to-back comebacks greatly enhanced his fighting spirit, dedication to Pakistan cricket, and love of fast bowling.
Personal Life of Waqar Younis:
Besides some very minor inspirations, Waqar Younis’ life really boils down to cricket and family. In the year 2000, Dr. Faryal Waqar married his wife, and their children are his pride and joy. Waqar is modest to a fault and leads a remarkably low-key life away from the glare of an ever-vigilant media that otherwise reads much about his fellow players. He has been a cricket commentator and coach in Australia for a few years now.
Packed with his true Pakistani sentiments and lots of foreign-borne days, he misses home, where he frequently returns to fulfill his cricketing obligations. In all his spare time, Waqar loves hitting the gym, tutoring young bowlers, and helping with charity through cricket.
Career Statistics
Test Debut:
One of the finest fast bowlers in cricket, Waqar Younis, made his Test debut against India on November 15, 1989. Despite his youth, he showed incredible speed and self-assurance, instantly gaining international recognition. Playing alongside fellow rookie Sachin Tendulkar made the match historic, making his debut particularly memorable.
Waqar’s renowned Test career began with his early spells, which included reverse swing and unadulterated aggressiveness. His debut, which showcased his exceptional bowling, remains a pivotal moment.
ODI Debut:
On October 14, 1989, Waqar Younis made his ODI debut against the West Indies, one of the best teams at the time. With his arrival, Pakistan’s bowling assault gained a new degree of speed and swing. Waqar showed quick reflexes and bold bowling against elite batters even in his debut game. He didn’t take many wickets at first, but his enthusiasm and talent were evident. His dominating career began with his ODI debut, and he went on to become one of the fastest bowlers to attain numerous wicket milestones.
T20 Debut:
Since the format gained popularity after his retirement, Waqar Younis never made his T20 International debut. Waqar’s playing career was already over by the time T20 cricket made its debut on the global arena in the mid-2000s. Nonetheless, his coaching positions continue to have a significant impact on T20 cricket.
As a bowling instructor, he contributed to the development of tactics centred on reverse swing, yorkers, and death bowling—skills essential in Twenty20 contests. Even though he didn’t play the format, Waqar’s methods and teachings had a significant impact on how contemporary fast bowlers worldwide approach Twenty20 cricket.
IPL Debut:
Since the IPL didn’t start until 2008, a few years after Waqar Younis retired, he didn’t make his debut. Even though he was never an IPL cricket player, several fast bowlers who went on to become IPL stars were indirectly influenced by his bowling style and legacy. His proficiency with yorkers, pace changes, and reverse swing helped shape the techniques that contemporary bowlers use in the competition. Waqar has also been linked to T20 coaching roles, offering advice that helped several IPL players, thereby influencing the league from the sidelines.
Achievements of Waqar Younis:
- Among the youngest bowlers to reach 200 ODI wickets.
- ODI wickets at different stages that are fastest to 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300.
- Throughout his career, he has taken 373 Test and 416 ODI wickets.
- Renowned for mastering toe-crushing yorkers and reverse swing.
- Served as captain of Pakistan before taking on the roles of head coach and bowling coach.
- In 2013, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Here are Some of the Lesser-Known Facts about Waqar Younis:
- Imran Khan saw him during a domestic match on TV, which led to his discovery.
- Waqar spent the majority of his early cricket career in the United Arab Emirates.
- In ODIs, he has the most 5-wicket hauls.
- One of the most lethal bowling duos in cricket was Waqar and Wasim Akram.
- He worked at a fuel station in the United Arab Emirates as a teenager before becoming well-known for cricket.
The transformation of Waqar Younis from a small Pakistani hamlet to one of the world’s most formidable fast bowlers is incredibly motivating. Beyond his playing career, he has influenced generations of cricket players through mentoring and coaching. He reinvented fast bowling and made a lasting impact on the sport.
He is renowned for his discipline, skill, and unwavering dedication. Waqar consistently bounced back from setbacks and injuries, demonstrating his tenacity and commitment. He is now regarded as a guru who continues to influence fast bowling worldwide, in addition to being a cricket great.
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