Moin Khan
The fiery Pakistani wicket-keeper whose sharp glovework and combative batting were central to his team's most storied triumphs, including a World Cup win.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Pakistani cricketer·Birthday: September 23·Generation X
Biography
Moin Khan played cricket with the passion of a street fighter packed into a wicket-keeper's pads. Bursting onto the Pakistani scene in 1990, he was never the most elegant batter, but he was a devastating one in a crisis, specializing in furious, run-a-ball cameos that could swing a match. Behind the stumps, he was all agility and chatter, a constant source of energy and needle for the bowlers. His career is bookended by two iconic moments: in 1992, he was the young keeper celebrating as Pakistan won its first Cricket World Cup; twelve years later, his final Test match ended with a series-winning, last-ball boundary—a fittingly dramatic exit. In between, he served as captain, leading Pakistan to an Asia Cup title in 2000. Moin's game was defined by its spirit, a relentless competitiveness that made him a fan favorite and a crucial component of Pakistani cricket's golden era.
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.
Moin was born in 1971, 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 Moin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Moin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
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
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was the primary wicket-keeper for the Pakistan team that won the 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
- Captained Pakistan to victory in the 2000 Asia Cup, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
- Scored a Test century against Sri Lanka in 2000, a rare feat for a specialist wicket-keeper of his era.
- Played 69 Tests and 219 ODIs for Pakistan, effecting over 400 dismissals across his international career.
Did You Know?
He and his elder brother, Nadeem Khan, both played Test cricket for Pakistan as wicket-keepers.
Moin famously hit a last-ball four to win a Test match against Sri Lanka in Karachi in 1999, one of the most thrilling finishes in cricket history.
After retirement, he served as the chief selector for the Pakistan national cricket team.
“I just wanted to be the best wicket-keeper in the world.”
