Imran Farhat

Imran Farhat is a former Pakistani cricketer and current coach who represented the national team between 2001 and 2013. He primarily functioned as an opening batsman during his international career. After playing in the group stage of the 2020–21 Pakistan Cup, he retired from professional cricket in January 2021.

Early life and education

Farhat was born on 20 May 1982 in Lahore. He attended the Beaconhouse School System during his formative years. His early exposure to the sport led to a rapid rise through the ranks of local cricket.

Career

Domestic career

Farhat made his senior debut at the age of 15. He played a one-day match for Karachi City against Malaysia alongside Taufeeq Umar, Bazid Khan and Kamran Akmal. This debut featured three other players who eventually reached Test status. He maintained high scoring rates in domestic competitions for many years.

A century scored during a practice game against the visiting Indian team earned him a place in the national squad for the 2006 Test series. During the 2012–13 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, he recorded 303 runs for Lahore Ravi against Peshawar. His performance for Habib Bank Limited remained consistent across several seasons. He was the leading run-scorer for the club in the 2017–18 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with 494 runs in 10 matches. In the 2018–19 season, he scored 744 runs in 11 matches to lead the team again.

He captained Habib Bank Limited to a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title in 2018–19. Later, in September 2019, he joined the Balochistan squad for the 2019–20 tournament. He served as the captain of Balochistan during the 2020–21 Pakistan Cup.

International career

Farhat made his One Day International debut in February 2001 against New Zealand in Auckland. He scored 20 runs during a successful chase of 150. After playing three Tests and three ODIs on that tour, he returned to domestic cricket. He rejoined the national side against Australia in the third Test of the 2002–03 series. He recorded scores of 30 and 22 during an innings defeat.

The 2003–04 home series against South Africa saw him score 235 runs. This total included his maiden Test century, which was the second-highest score in that 1–0 series win behind Taufeeq Umar. A month later, he participated in an ODI-only series against New Zealand. He recorded three fifties and his second international century during that period. His total of 348 runs resulted in a batting average of 69.60. This was the second-highest run tally in the series behind Yasir Hameed.

He scored another century against India to help Pakistan secure a 202-run first-innings lead. Pakistan won that match by nine wickets, though they lost the series 1–2 after Farhat tallied 81 runs in the other two matches. His performance dipped during the following season. He only passed fifty twice in four Tests against Sri Lanka and Australia. He ended that season with 199 runs at an average of 24.87. Selectors subsequently dropped him from the third Test against Australia.

He was removed from the ODI side in September 2004 following the Champions Trophy. This decision followed a period where he failed to pass 40 in his last 10 innings. Those scores included 38 not out against Kenya, 20 against Hong Kong and 24 against Bangladesh. He eventually returned to Test cricket with a half century against India in Karachi. He later recorded an unbeaten century in the final Test against New Zealand in 2009.

Coaching career

Farhat began level 2 coaching courses with the Pakistan Cricket Board in February 2021. He was appointed as the batting coach for the Bahawalpur Royals in September 2022. This role was for the inaugural season of the Pakistan Junior League. He started level 3 coaching courses with the PCB in November 2022.

His coaching experience expanded to the international level in February 2023. He was appointed as the batting coach for the Afghanistan team. He continues to work within professional cricket structures.

Personal life

His brother, Humayun Farhat, also played international cricket for Pakistan. Farhat is the son-in-law of Mohammad Ilyas, who was a former Pakistani Test batsman.