Moin Khan was born in Karachi on 23 September 1971. From 1990 to 2004, he served as a member of the Pakistani national cricket team as a wicketkeeper and batsman. Against the West Indies, he made his international debut at Multan in 1990. Over 100 catches were made by him in Test cricket. Over 3,000 ODI runs have been scored by him, and he has taken over 200 catches in ODI matches.
Behind the stumps, he was one of the chirpiest keepers and the stump microphone revealed his full repertoire. “Well bowled” and “shabash” were among his favorite soundbites. His combative skills were renowned, and he often competed against Rashid Latif for the keeper’s gloves. He was generally in front due to his batting ability, even though Rashid Latif was a better keeper. He coined the name “doosra”, which means from leg to off, for Saqlain Mushtaq’s mystery delivery. It refers to the “other one”.
He struggled to find a place in the national team after 2003. After Kamran Akmal emerged on the scene, and staked a strong claim, Moin’s days as an international cricketer drew to an end in 2004.
As a wicketkeeper, Moin Khan kept wickets at the 1992 Cricket World Cup, which Pakistan won, and at the 1999 Cricket World Cup, where Pakistan finished runner-up. During the 1996 and 2003 Cricket World Cups, Rashid Latif was a wicketkeeper. He took 128 catches and 20 stumps in 69 Test matches, and 214 catches and 73 stumps in 219 ODIs.
Rather than being a stylish batsman, Moin excelled in crisis situations and held Pakistan’s lower order together repeatedly. He scored at a brisk pace in one-day cricket with his quick feet and improvisation. In 2000, England had an incredible victory in Karachi, thanks to Moin Khan’s incessant infighting and too much defensiveness. Aside from two Tests against India, Moin played most of the 2003-04 season.
As soon as he finished his first-class career in 2005, he took up coaching and joined the Hyderabad Heroes in the ICL as a coach in 2007. Afterward, he coached Lahore Badshah in the ICL.
After Dav Whatmore’s contract with Pakistan ended in August 2013, Moin became interim head coach for the Asia Cup and the World T20 in February 2014.
It was his younger son Azam Khan who made his T20I debut for Pakistan against England in July 2021 and played for Quetta Gladiators in Pakistan Super League. His appointment as Pakistan cricket team chief selector replaced Iqbal Qasim in July 2013. Before Pakistan’s heavy loss to West Indies in the 2015 World Cup, chief selector Moin Khan was investigated for alleged casino visits before the game. A later apology from Moin Khan reiterated that he only went to the casino for dinner.
A PCB official accepted Moin Khan’s casino explanation in March 2015, saying that he would not be prosecuted. As a captain, he has also led the Pakistani team.
