The article investigates the cases of 17 Pakistani cricketers who, after a brief moment in the spotlight of international cricket, disappeared from the game. The piece contrasts the announcement of the Asia Cup 2025 team with a reflection on players who never realized their full potential on the international stage. The main part focuses on these players and their stories, highlighting their truncated careers. The article describes their disappearances with the term, “vanished as if they never existed,” and emphasizes the short-lived nature of their appearances.
The first cricketer presented is Abdur Rauf. The article also discusses Adnan Akmal, the third of the Akmal brothers, who vanished from the scene in 2014. The article gives details of players such as Asad Ali, whose international career lasted only a few months, and Awaiz Zia, who played only five T20 matches. Furthermore, it delves into players such as Ayub Dogar, Imran Khan Jr., Kamran Hussain, Mansoor Amjad, Mohammad Khalil, and Mohammad Salman, who had limited international opportunities. The article also mentions Nauman Anwar, Mukhtar Ahmed, Rameez Raja Jr., Riaz Afridi, Saad Ali, Shakeel Ansar, and Waqas Maqsood, whose international careers were cut short after only a few appearances for Pakistan.