Ijaz Ahmed (cricketer, born 1968)
A ferocious middle-order batsman whose aggressive style and electric fielding were vital to Pakistan's 1992 World Cup triumph.
Born 1968 (age 58)·Pakistani cricketer·Birthday: September 20·Generation X
Biography
Ijaz Ahmed was a cricketing warrior for Pakistan in the 1990s, a stocky right-hander who played with a pugnacious attitude that belied his gentle off-field demeanor. Coming into a team laden with legendary talents, he carved his niche as a fearless hitter in the middle order, capable of dismantling bowling attacks and shifting momentum in One-Day Internationals. His career pinnacle was being a member of Imran Khan's 'cornered tigers' that clinched the 1992 World Cup in Australia, where his contributions with the bat and his livewire fielding were invaluable. While his Test career had peaks, including a monumental 211 against Sri Lanka, it was in the colored clothing where he truly flourished, forming a devastating partnership with Inzamam-ul-Haq. After retiring, he transitioned into coaching, applying his deep experience to guide future generations of Pakistani cricketers.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ijaz was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ijaz Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Ijaz's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a member of the Pakistan national team that won the 1992 Cricket World Cup under Imran Khan.
- Scored 12 centuries in One Day Internationals, showcasing his power-hitting prowess.
- Played 250 ODIs for Pakistan, a significant number for his era, scoring over 6,000 runs.
Did You Know?
He was known for his exceptional fielding, particularly in the cover-point region, which was rare for Pakistani players of his time.
Ijaz Ahmed scored a double century (211) in Test cricket against Sri Lanka in 1999.
He served as a fielding coach for the Pakistan national team after his playing career ended.
“I never thought about records; I just wanted to win the match for Pakistan.”
