- 6/22/2025
Watch the remarkable Test debut of Pakistan’s technically sound right-hander Ali Naqvi, who stunned a world-class South African bowling attack in Rawalpindi, October 1997. Facing legendary bowlers like Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Brett Schultz, Brian McMillan, and Jacques Kallis, young Ali Naqvi stood tall and delivered a gritty knock of 115 runs off 270 balls in over 5 hours of solid batting.
This was a dream debut — full of composure, elegance, and classical strokeplay — as Naqvi made a strong statement in his very first appearance on the international stage. Despite this incredible start, his Test career was surprisingly short, but this innings remains one of the most memorable debut performances in Pakistan’s cricket history.
📌 Don’t forget to like, share, and comment — Do you think Ali Naqvi deserved more chances in international cricket?
I hope you like the video of Ali Naqvi’s Dream Start in Test Cricket | Century on Debut vs SA 1st Test 1997 Extended Highlights.
#AliNaqvi #TestDebut #PakistanCricket #SouthAfricaCricket #RawalpindiTest #1997Cricket #CricketHistory #DebutCentury #AliNaqvi115 #PakistanVsSouthAfrica #ClassicCricket #CricketLegends
This was a dream debut — full of composure, elegance, and classical strokeplay — as Naqvi made a strong statement in his very first appearance on the international stage. Despite this incredible start, his Test career was surprisingly short, but this innings remains one of the most memorable debut performances in Pakistan’s cricket history.
📌 Don’t forget to like, share, and comment — Do you think Ali Naqvi deserved more chances in international cricket?
I hope you like the video of Ali Naqvi’s Dream Start in Test Cricket | Century on Debut vs SA 1st Test 1997 Extended Highlights.
#AliNaqvi #TestDebut #PakistanCricket #SouthAfricaCricket #RawalpindiTest #1997Cricket #CricketHistory #DebutCentury #AliNaqvi115 #PakistanVsSouthAfrica #ClassicCricket #CricketLegends
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SportsTranscript
00:00Ali Naqvi announced his arrival in Test cricket in style, scoring a magnificent century on
00:05debut against a formidable South African bowling attack.
00:09Facing the likes of Alan Donner, Sean Pollock, Brad Schultz, Brian McMillan, Pat Simcox and
00:15a young Jack Pascalis was no easy toss, but the young right-hander displayed remarkable
00:20grit and temperament.
00:21In the first test at Rawalpindi in October 1997, Ali Naqvi stood tall and composed crafting
00:28a well-earned 115 runs of 270 deliveries.
00:32He batted for nearly six hours, 352 minutes, striking 14 classic boundaries in a knock full
00:38of patience and purpose.
00:40It was a memorable effort under pressure and fans had high hopes from the youngster after
00:45such a solid start.
00:47However, despite that impressive beginning, Ali Naqvi's test carrier never quite took off.
00:52He featured in just five test matches for Pakistan, scoring 242 runs in nine innings at an average
00:59of 30.25.
01:01His overall record included 31 boundaries and one catch, a brief international stint that
01:06left many wondering what could have been.
01:09Was he lucky to miss out in an era packed with top-notch Pakistani batting talent?
01:14Or did he simply not make the most of his opportunities?
01:17Whatever the case, his debut remains one of the most memorable ones in Pakistan cricket
01:22history.
01:23What do you think?
01:24Did Ali Naqvi deserve more chances in the test arena?
01:27Share your thoughts in the comments below.
01:29Now let's enjoy the Ali Naqvi test debut century extended highlights.
01:34This is the youngster I was talking about on debut, Ali Naqvi is in good touch, giving
01:41him opportunity.
01:42They say he's 20 years of age, well, I'm 21, because they all seem to be 20 or 19 when they
01:50start for Pakistan.
01:51Look, that's on the up as well, it's nicely in the middle of the bat, but I don't think
01:58if I was Alan Donald or Hans the captain I would be too bothered.
02:03I'd like him to play his shots, because I think that my ballers have an opportunity to
02:07get him out.
02:08Well, three from the last ball, 12 for no wicket.
02:12And that's beautifully played.
02:16That was full pitch, and he just picked it up off the toes, way through mid wicket for
02:22four.
02:23Sort of half-volley, foolish half-volley, nearly full cross onto the pad.
02:32And a man who played in 57 test matches for his country, toured Pakistan.
02:39Another one.
02:40Now he's way over.
02:42Another one.
02:55I must say, Trevor, I have to laugh, talking to some of the South Africans a couple of days
03:02ago when they looked at this pitch and saw all the grass on, I bet they thought all the
03:06grass isn't come home, you know, seam bowling attack basically.
03:10And then as the groundsman's shaved it, brushed it up, cut the grass off, and it's become a
03:16normal straw-coloured Pakistan pitch, their demeanour has changed.
03:22Yes, their eyes did light up to start with, but I think they should know by now that the
03:29mower is used to good effect as the match day advances.
03:34Now this is a way past that man that was moved in, in the backward short leg position, down to
03:39fine leg.
03:40And get a single.
03:42Oh, this is a beautiful shot, he just lashed that one through the covers for four.
03:53Schultz again, just overpitching a bit there.
03:57He's kept it full most of the time, which is not a bad thing, but that was just too full.
04:03And with great confidence he lashed it through the covers.
04:20Now that's four.
04:23It was outside the off stump, but it was a bit too short.
04:27And he got on top of that one nicely, and eased it away past the gully, between gully and
04:34backward point for four.
04:36So the runs continue to flow, and that moves to 17 now.
04:40Well, you were telling me, Trevor, and all our viewers, that he bowled pretty quick in
04:44Sri Lanka, did Brett Schultz, but he looks about medium pace this morning.
04:48I don't know whether he slept well, or he's had a bad breakfast, but he ain't very quick
04:53this morning.
04:58He was in the air a little bit, but well wired of Schultz with his follow through.
05:03Simcox does the retrieving.
05:05Wasn't that well timed the shot, so just two runs there.
05:09So they're all looking to play shots.
05:12They're in that mould.
05:14That's why I say if you can get enough balls in the good length area, in the good line of
05:19off-stunk just outside, you've got to tease them a bit, so it'll make it difficult for
05:23them to score easily.
05:24I don't mean to reduce your pace and ball sort of negative, but just get it in the right
05:31slot enough times.
05:32It's not enough to get one ball, and then a couple of four balls you give them.
05:36You've really got the ball with a couple of overs at either end, so you get about four
05:40overs in, take 20, 25 minutes, where they find it difficult to score, so they have to go
05:45after a goodish length delivery.
05:48See, that's a perfectly bold delivery.
05:51It's a lucky fall, that.
05:54Well, Schultz will be a little disappointed.
05:58He was so looking forward to this test match.
06:01He's all fired up mentally.
06:03And talking to him two days ago, he said, have you seen the grass?
06:08And I think he really started getting excited, but now he'll be a bit disappointed that nothing
06:12is really happening for him.
06:21Pollock is after this one on his position at backward point, and they'll be able to get
06:26two runs.
06:27South Africa have got a lot of pace in Donald and Schultz, and then, of course, Pollock,
06:33and Brian McMillan standing at the second slip.
06:36But he, like I say, Geoffrey, he's inclined to bang them in, Brian McMillan.
06:46Going nicely eased through the offside.
06:52We'll get a couple of runs comfortably.
06:54Very similar stroke, wasn't it, to the one that he played while Saeed Anwar was still
06:59at the crease, except the one that he played then he hit like a shell for extra cover.
07:03And this one he played with a little bit more caution.
07:06Slightly wider.
07:07Give it that.
07:09But it does indicate that he's aware of his responsibility now.
07:13It's the angle of the ball on a super slow-mo.
07:16No swing involved.
07:18Just push through the covers with timing.
07:25Cut away, slashed at it hard, and it's gone past the man at that right third slip position.
07:32Another banguya for Nakwe.
07:37And the 50 coming up for Pakistan.
07:41Too short, too wide, well played.
07:46One thing nice to see with this young man's cricket is that there are no half measures,
08:00at least up to now.
08:01The ball is there to be hit, he's going to go after it.
08:04Oh, and that's gone away for four more.
08:21Another short one, and it got what it deserved.
08:25Yes, he just let the ball come on to him and use the pace to back cut it.
08:35He didn't try to hit it too square.
08:37There's not much margin for error on this pitch.
08:42Probably half a yard only short of a length.
08:46And I lied to the fact that it was just a little wide of off-stump.
08:49It wasn't that bad a ball.
08:50It was a very good shot more than anything.
08:52But I think that gave a good idea, that particular shot, that there isn't much margin for the bowlers.
08:59You've really got to be on your metal today when you're bowling.
09:02It's another fine looking stroke from Nakbe, but straight there to the fielder and the covers.
09:32Nine off the over so far.
09:35Four slower one, well bowled.
09:37And that deceived Nakbe.
09:40The end of the over, 68 for one.
09:44Pollock continuous.
09:46Immediately struck away back with a square on the off-side.
09:50And there's a man down there now, but he placed it too well.
09:54And that's four more.
10:02The ball a little short, and Nakbe has done the right thing, but cutting it really hard.
10:14Oh, that was the edge, but it's the 50.
10:18And the no ball,
10:21yielded by Donald, the great carry of activity.
10:24And those two runs have taken Nakbe to 51 in his first test innings.
10:32Well, he must be feeling very pleased, although he's not especially showing.
10:37Also, the 100 has come up at the same time.
10:43Full of statistics, Nakbe is 50 of 84 balls with 7 4s in 1.33 minutes.
10:51Jumping through the off side.
10:56A chase for Kroñe.
11:02And another three runs here for Nakbe.
11:06That is a good shot Ravi, head coming over the ball nicely and the foot there for the
11:21ball to be driven through offside.
11:33On the wicket, and he swings it away, it's going to be four runs, but he didn't get to the pitch,
11:41he had to make an adjustment as he came down, but he hit it with that spin, you see him helping
11:47himself to run on the onside.
11:50Much more difficult to do if he'd have been bowling outside off.
11:55Not entirely convincing the stroke, but credit to the batsman having not really got there,
11:59he still went through with it and found the empty area, but Simcox is going to feel some
12:07moral victory there, although of course the right hand column won't indicate that.
12:14Oh, that dropped just short of Bacher, forward short leg.
12:22Oops, good delivery, a little quicker, fuller, aiming for the Yorker, well thought out, didn't
12:30get any good result from that Sean Pollock, but it was well thought out, get up there quicker.
12:37Yes, he's been impressive in the spells Sean Pollock, he's mixed things up a bit.
12:46Edge, there's no second slip, and this will go for four.
12:52There's a moral victory there for the baller.
12:57Gooran's going up.
12:59Gooran!
13:00Well, that's lovely bowling again, that's real sloppy batty.
13:04He's seen himself the previous overplay and miss, it's wide, the foot's miles away from
13:09the ball, a long way away.
13:11He's lucky to get away with it, he sticks his foot down the middle and has a big wipe at it.
13:19And he goes over the top here, and that boundary will take him into the 90s.
13:32He's a 92, and the good thing there for Natui was that he went through with a shot.
13:39Again, right to this Natui said before that there's been no half-measures with Natui.
13:44The goal's there to be hit, doesn't mind having a go at it.
13:49Now then Reddy, now that he's in the 90s, how did you used to approach that situation?
13:55Only one or two players who took ages to get from 90 to 100.
14:01Others that made a concerted effort to play some shots and not want to hang around there.
14:08Well I guess he's done all the hard work here, if anybody would have been in his shoes here,
14:14he would be looking to just treat the ball of a merit, not try and be over-cautious,
14:19because that can bring about your downfall.
14:23At the same time, not to try and be in too much of a hurry.
14:32He's done all the hard work to reach 92.
14:35There's no harm in continuing to be a little patient.
14:40178 for four.
14:43That's another fine stroke, taking him in his way, nearer to 100.
14:48It's going, is that gone? No, it's been stopped there just.
14:52And Simcox down there.
14:55And they've won three.
14:58Nakmi has been impressive is that he hasn't really blocked too many of his deliveries.
15:05He's just been his hard chance there.
15:08Nakmi giving it its full might.
15:10And Simcox just dropping it in the end.
15:20And there it goes. Is that going to be in his 100? I think it is.
15:23Yes, over the rope for four.
15:25And Nakmi has become the fifth Pakistani to score 100 in his first test match.
15:32And look at the Pakistan side and look at Nakmi.
15:36That is real rejoicing.
15:39He must feel a thousand million dollars.
15:42Goodness me.
15:43What a way to bring up his 100.
15:45Brilliant knock indeed.
15:47I mean, that was really a fairy tale story coming to a brilliant ending.
15:52And it should continue really.
15:54I mean, he has really played outstandingly well.
15:57Played with a big heart.
15:59Chose the ball to hit really well.
16:01This time going over the top through mid-wicket.
16:04Just standing there.
16:06Helping the ball to the boundary.
16:09What a way to bring his 100.
16:11So a lot of his temperament, didn't he?
16:13That he is prepared to take the risk.
16:19And Ali Nakfi's 100 came in 319 minutes from 236 balls with his 12th fall.
16:27And his name is now indelibly in the record books forever.
16:36The good thing about his 100 is that he just carried on playing the same way that he came in.
16:44First in when he was here at 10 in the morning.
16:51One here.
16:52We'll have to wait to see if they were off the bat or the pad.
16:57Simcox fielding and two have been scored.
17:01And they are leg bars.
17:09Well, that was one of the very few loose ones that Simcox has bowled.
17:13It was a long hop and he got the treatment.
17:17Ali Nakfi who now must be gaining in confidence that it is.
17:20There it is.
17:21Long hop.
17:22Bang.
17:23Just wide of the square leg fielder to the boundary.
17:25Yes, I think you might have hit that one before.
17:31I think I would have given a catch.
17:36But Henry, in all fairness to the Pakistani batsmen,
17:39they are coming out of 25 one-day internationals.
17:46This is a great many that, isn't it?
17:47It makes one wonder if the people who organize these things have got the balance quite right.
17:52I think now they've realized it and are doing something about it,
17:56that in a year you should play only 25 one-dayers and so many test matches.
18:01I'm sure that's right.
18:06That again was a clever piece of bowling.
18:08Simcox varies his fight so well.
18:10He gave that one rather more air.
18:12You could see him hold it back.
18:13And Nakfi went for it, thinking the ball was on him before it was.
18:18There it is again.
18:23Intelligent piece of bowling by Simcox.
18:27He's bowled well today.
18:28This is going to be four runs
18:29out of the way.
18:47You did not see the signal from the umpire, but that is the new ball.
18:50I mean, it certainly looked like it, it was raced across the turf, played it beautifully, didn't he, just sort of steered it with a slightly open face, tried to hit it and that's forced to change in the field, instead of having three slips to him, they're now taking third slip out and put third man down there, they're not going to give him easy four balls.
19:12And that one goes past the bats, little skip from the wigger keeper Dave Richardson as he took it, knowing that was pretty close to the outside edge, Donald will probably feel he needs that third slip with a gully in there because not only has the third slip been taken away and dropped down to third man, but the gully's gone out into the covers, so it's just two slips in position.
19:42Yes, I don't disagree with you there Trevor, I think I'd risk a third slip and a third man and I'd probably take the man away from where John T. Rose is at backward point.
20:04I think if a nick went to third, three and a half slips probably on this, and I didn't have anybody there, this stage of the game where it's finally balanced, I think I'd be pretty cross.
20:17I mean, especially with the new ball.
20:19Absolutely, I think it's worth the gamble of giving away an odd couple of runs more. You take John T. Rose out of that backward point position, third man's going to cut off the four anyhow there, it usually will be two runs.
20:30Has this gone straight up in the air, it has, it's a difficult catch, but it's very well taken, and that was the most outrageous shot played, and what a great disappointment at this critical stage.
20:48And Gary Thorsten, he's taken these sort of catches before, he's a very fine fielder, and he took a very, very good catch there, and a very important one.
20:59Ali Nakui, a compact and technically sound right-handed best man, was known for his straight bat, and
21:29calm presence at the crease. His rise to international cricket was nothing short of majestic. Without much first-class experience under his belt, he burst on the screen and carved his name into the record books with a century on test debut, a rare feat most players only dream of.
21:45In 1997, after impressing in domestic grade two cricket for Housebuilding Finance Corporation, Ali Nakui was selected for the Pakistan A Tour of England.
21:55His solid performances during the tour caught the attention of selectors. Upon returning home, he was picked to play for the PCB board 11 against the visiting South Africans, a high-pressure match that marked his first-class debut in Pakistan.
22:09Rising to the occurrence, the young best man scored a commanding century and followed it up with a half-century, forcing the selector's hand. At just 20 years of age, he was handed his test cap in the first test at Rawalpindi.
22:21Facing a fierce South African face battery, his test debut century was a knock of maturity well beyond his years, a debut to remember against one of the most intimidating attacks in world cricket at that time.
22:34However, the fairytale star did not last long. In the next seven test innings, spread across home matches against South Africa and an away series in Zimbabwe.
22:43Ali Nakui struggled for runs, managing only 108 runs, his average tip and, with fierce competition in Pakistan's star-stubbed batting lineup, he was soon dropped from the national side.
22:55In total, Ali Nakui played just five test matches, scoring 242 runs at an average of 30.25.
23:02His brief career leaves fans wondering what might have been had he been given a longer run or found his rhythm sooner.
23:09Was it harsh to let it go of a youngster who had shown so much promise early on?
23:14Or was it simply a case of Pakistan bench strength being too strong to weight?
23:19One thing is certain, Ali Nakui's debut innings remains a shining memory for cricket lovers.
23:24What do you think? Did he deserve more chances in test cricket? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
23:29In first-class cricket, Ali Nakui featured in 115 matches, amassing 5,898 runs in 179 innings, at an average of 35, including 14 centuries and 24 fifties, with a higher score of 180.
23:45With the ball, he delivered 6,484 balls, claiming 102 wickets at an average of 28.50, including one five-wicket haul, with the best figure of 5 for 65, and he took 48 catches.
23:59In List A Games, he appeared 64 matches, scoring 2,423 runs at a fine average of 43.27, boosting 8 centuries and 13 fifties, with 248 fours and 26 sixes.
24:13He also took 24 wickets from 1,467 deliveries at an economy rate of 5.10, with the best of three for 17, and he held 18 catches.
24:24In the shortest format of cricket, 320, Ali Nakui played 5 matches, scoring 183 runs at a striking rate of 159.13, including one half century.
24:36With 18 fours and five sixes, he also bowled 102 balls, taking two wickets at an economy rate of 8.12.
24:43While he may not have had a long stint in the Pakistan national team, Ali Nakui's calm technique, solid temperament, and memorable debut have etched his name into cricketing conversation.
24:54This story reminds us that talent sometimes shines briefly but leaves a lasting impression.
25:03If you liked this video, please comment, share, and subscribe.
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