Meet Muhammad Imran: Oman's 'Shoaib Akhtar' gears up for Asia Cup 2025

In 2024, a video went viral featuring a fast bowler who caught the spotlight for his uncanny resemblance to Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar. From the flowing hair and trademark walk to the long run-up, powerful delivery stride, and even his celebration, Imran mirrored every detail.

Fans were so captivated that some joked he looked “more Shoaib Akhtar than Shoaib Akhtar himself.” Now, just a year later, that same bowler, Muhammad Imran, is set to make his maiden appearance in the Asia Cup.

Imran is part of the squad that Oman announced on Tuesday, August 26, for the eight-team tournament scheduled to begin on September 9.

The viral video originated from the Oman D10 League 2024, where Imran starred for the IAS Invincibles, taking 21 wickets in 14 matches at an outstanding average of 10.71 and an economy rate of 8.65.

Earlier this year, the 35-year-old finally made his international debut in a T20I against the United States at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Ministry Turf 1), returning impressive figures of 3.3-0-23-3. Since then, he has featured in one ODI, where he went wicketless, and two T20Is, in which he has picked up four wickets at an economy rate of 7.63.

Muhammad Imran’s journey from KPK to Oman

At just 18, Imran slipped away from his village near the Afghanistan border in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, embarking on a three-day truck ride to Karachi without telling anyone—rejecting family pressure to join the army.

His risk was rewarded when he dazzled in Karachi’s U-19 trials, bagging 21 wickets in six matches. Known for raw pace—143 km/h at a national trial—and admired by Wasim Akram, his rise was blocked by cricket bureaucracy in Pakistan.

A turning point came in 2019, when a friend uploaded his bowling clips on YouTube. An Oman T20 franchise took notice, arranged his passport, and soon he was in Muscat. To survive, he worked 12-hour CCTV installation shifts, dedicating the rest of his time to training.

Eventually, Oman’s national camp called him up, with coach Duleep Mendis and deputy Mazhar Salem Khan shaping his growth. Now, Imran prepares to test himself against world-class batters as Oman open their campaign against Pakistan on September 12 in Dubai.