Patna: Cricket lovers in the city are happy over former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan's party Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerging as the largest party in Pakistan's elections for a special reason: many of them have seen him play cricket in Patna during his 1987 visit.

Imran's party won 119 seats and if he manages to cobble together a a coalition he might perhaps become the first cricketer to head a government in any country.

Imran and some of his team members had visited Patna in March 1987, taking time out from the India-Pakistan one-day international (ODI) that was going on at Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur to play a friendly match between Imran XI and Kapil XI at Moin-ul-Haq stadium.

Imran's team included Saleem Jaffar and Ijaz Ahmad while Kapil's team had, apart from Kapil Dev himself, Sunil Gavaskar, Raman Lamba and Dilip Vengsarkar among many others.

Bihar Cricket Association general secretary Ravi Shankar Prasad Singh, who was a teenager at that time, said: "We still remember it was the month of March when Imran and some Pakistani players had come to Patna. As it was a friendly match, Imran and his team members stayed at the stadium for less than an hour. He bowled a few deliveries and hit some shots," Singh said.

"Despite being a Pakistani player, he had a huge fan following in the country and Patna was not left out. Youngsters liked his style and aggression on the field."

"I have seen Imran play," former Ranji player Amikar Dayal said. "He was very disciplined and aggressive. Because of these traits, he was instrumental in Pakistan winning the first world cup in 1992."

The Pakistanis had visited Patna on the invitation of Hemant Shahi - son of veteran Congress leader late L.P. Shahi.

"Though Imran and his team members stayed for less than an hour, his visit was marred by controversy as his sunglasses went missing and the organisers had to pay for the missing sunglasses," Dayal said.

Lalit Verma, who had done umpiring at different national and international matches, too is happy about the likelihood of Imran becoming the next Prime Minister.

"It is a proud moment for cricketers and sports lovers that a sportsperson is all set to become head of a state," Verma said. "Imran Khan was not only a jewel in the crown of Pakistan cricket but also a great talent hunter. Mustaq Ahmad, Wasim Akram, Abdul Qadir were all discovered by Imran."