*** Welcome to piglix ***

Azhar Mahmood

Azhar Mahmood
اظہر محمود
Personal information
Born (1975-02-28) 28 February 1975 (age 42)
Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Batting style Right-handed
Bowling style Right arm fast-medium
Role All-rounder
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 146) 6 October 1997 v South Africa
Last Test 31 May 2001 v England
ODI debut (cap 108) 16 September 1996 v India
Last ODI 17 March 2007 v Ireland
Domestic team information
Years Team
1993–2007 Islamabad
1995–1997 United Bank Limited
1998–2005 Rawalpindi
2001–2002 PIA
2002 - 2007 Surrey
2006–2007 Habib Bank Limited
2006–2010 Islamabad Leopards
2008–2012 Kent
2011 Auckland Aces
2012 Dhaka Gladiators
2012-2013 Kings XI Punjab
2013 Sydney Thunder
2013 Barisal Burners
2013 Cape Cobras
2013 Barbados Tridents
2016-present Islamabad United
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 21 143 176 319
Runs scored 900 1,521 7,703 4,555
Batting average 30.00 18.10 31.83 22.00
100s/50s 3/1 0/3 9/42 2/19
Top score 136 67 204* 101*
Balls bowled 3015 6,242 29,798 13,952
Wickets 39 123 611 348
Bowling average 35.94 39.13 25.10 31.37
5 wickets in innings 0 3 27 5
10 wickets in match 0 –/– 3 n/a
Best bowling 4/50 6/18 8/61 6/18
Catches/stumpings 14/– 37/– 142/– 95/–
Source: ESPNCricinfo, 22 January 2016

Azhar Mahmood Sagar (Punjabi: اظہر محمود ساگر; born 28 February 1975) is a Pakistani-born cricketer who became a British citizen in 2011 and is now a fully qualified English cricketer. Originally his father objected to his interest in cricket, but later started to appreciate it seeing his accomplishments. As a teenager, Azhar was mentored by Irfan Bhatti who played a One Day International for Pakistan in the early 90’s. When not doing net practice, Azhar would fancy himself playing tape ball cricket on the cemented pitch in the cricket ground in front of his home. He loves watching Hindi movies and considers Amitabh Bachchan as his idol.

Azhar made his One-Day International debut against India in 1996 at Toronto Cricket Club, Toronto, but did not gain major recognition until his Test debut against South Africa the following year at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi when he hit a century and a half-century without being dismissed. He later went on to score two more centuries against the South Africans.

He joined the Pakistani team primarily as a medium pacer but he has surprised many by his batting powers. His hard hitting but orthodox batting skills have also been extremely useful in the one-day game. Unlike most Pakistani pacers who are swing bowlers, he is a useful English-style seam bowler, who can chip in with wickets in time of need.


...
Wikipedia

...