Taufeeq Umar

Taufeeq Umar
توفیق عمر

Personal information

Full name

Taufeeq Umar

Born

20 June 1981 (age 35)
Lahore, Pakistan

Height

1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)

Batting style

Left-handed

Bowling style

Right arm off break

Role

Opening batsman

International information

National side

Pakistan

Test debut (cap 170)

29 August 2001 v Bangladesh

Last Test

17-21 November 2014 v New Zealand

ODI debut (cap 139)

27 October 2001 v Sri Lanka

Last ODI

30 May 2011 v Ireland

Career statistics

Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	43	22	145	126
Runs scored	2,943	504	8,957	4,431
Batting average	38.72	24.00	37.32	39.91
100s/50s	7/14	0/3	18/48	10/21
Top score	236	81*	236	151*
Balls bowled	78	72	880	1,451
Wickets	0	1	14	34
Bowling average	–	85.00	34.35	36.94
5 wickets in innings	0	0	0	1
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	0	n/a
Best bowling	–	1/49	3/33	5/39
Catches/stumpings	47/–	9/–	142/–	81/–

Source: Cricinfo, 8 February 2012

Taufeeq Umar (Punjabi: توفیق عمر, born 20 June 1981) is a Pakistani cricketer who was a regular Test opening batsman for three seasons, before being dropped ahead of the 2004–05 season. Unusually for a Pakistani player, Umar has played more Tests than ODIs, as he was not given a prolonged run in the ODI side until 2003, when he played eight ODIs in a row. However, he only missed two of 24 Tests played between August 2001 and April 2004, and after 17 Tests his batting average had reached 48.03 after he made four scores above 50 in the two-Test series with South Africa. Possessing excellent temperament, he remains unique amongst Pakistani openers in his ability to concentrate for long periods and his ability to build innings. With exquisite drives either side of the wicket, a formidable cut and pull shot in the armoury and possessing the natural gift of timing, he seemed the very answer to Pakistan's opening problem especially against a full strength South African attack in South Africa (2003). A loss of form against India (2004) resulted in Taufeeq losing his place in the team and a subsequent loss of batting confidence.

He continued to be in the Pakistani selectors' minds, playing for Pakistan against a touring England XI in 2005–06, and continued to play for Lahore Ravi and Habib Bank Limited in Pakistani domestic competitions. It remains to be seen whether he can recover his solid technique and return to Test cricket as the formidable opener he was meant to be.

This is compounded by the fact that he joined the rebel Indian Cricket League and represented the Lahore Badshahs.

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