Opening the batting is a vital art of batting & a difficult one. The openers have a duty to provide a strong start & a base from where the rest of the order can capitalise from. Openers come in all different types nowadays defensive or attacking. They set the tone for the rest of the innings. The start is crucial to lifting the confidence, spirit in the dressing room & winning the first tussle with the opposition always provides an important edge going into the rest of the match. It is very much a specialist job. Here we look at some of Pakistan's finest.

Saeed Anwar
A role model for many a left hander Saeed Anwar was a stylish genius full of grace, elegance & magical touch. Saeed dominated bowlers  & more often than not got the innings off to a flying start, but more importantly & effectively converting the starts that he got into bigger more meaningful scores for the team cause. Saeed held the highest score in an ODI for approximately a decade. Saeed was the leading run scorer for the Greens in 1996, 1999 & the 2003 World Cup. Saeed also claimed 28 man of the match awards in his career in the one day format which was the highest by anyone from his country, a record which has just been over taken this year by one of his former  opening partners. Saeed was an educated player too so a well polished individual in different walks of life. One of the first names when putting pen to paper in a Pakistan all time XI.