Ajantha Mendis - Sri Lanka Player Profile

 JD Ryder Profile

General Information Full name Jesse Daniel Ryder Born August 6, 1984, Masterton, Wellington Current age 26 years 122 days Major teams Ireland, New Zealand, Central Districts, New Zealand A, New Zealand Under-19s, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Wellington Batting style Left-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm medium

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 14 24 14 Innings Played 25 22 14 Not Outs 2 1 0 Runs 1172 695 324 Highest 201 105 62 Average 50.95 33.09 23.14 Balls Faced 2140 752 259 St/R 54.76 92.42 125.09 100's 3 1 0 50's 6 3 2 4's 132 75 33 6's 4 22 14 Catches Taken 8 6 5 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 14 24 14 Innings Played 14 13 5 Balls 480 298 60 Runs 268 318 68 Wickets 5 10 2 Best Inning Bowling 2/7 3/29 1/2 Best Match Bowling 2/15 3/29 1/2 Average 53.60 31.80 34.00 Economy Rate 3.35 6.40 6.80 St/R 96.0 29.8 30.0 4 Wickets 0 0 0 5 Wickets 0 0 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Saeed Anwar Profile & Picture

Saeed Anwar Profile

General Information Full name Saeed Anwar Born September 6, 1968, Karachi, Sind Current age 42 years 92 days Major teams Pakistan, Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore, United Bank Limited Batting style Left-hand bat Bowling Style Slow left-arm orthodox

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 55 247 Innings Played 91 244 Not Outs 2 19 Runs 4052 8824 Highest 188* 194 Average 45.52 39.21 Balls Faced 7265 10938 St/R 55.77 80.67 100's 11 20 50's 25 43 4's 535 938 6's 14 97 Catches Taken 18 42 Stumpings Made 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 55 247 Innings Played 4 13 Balls 48 242 Runs 23 191 Wickets 0 6 Best Inning Bowling - 2/9 Best Match Bowling - 2/9 Average - 31.83 Economy Rate 2.87 4.73 St/R - 40.3 4 Wickets 0 0 5 Wickets 0 0 10 Wickets 0 0

Profile

Majestic timing and placement were Saeed Anwar's hallmarks. He was an opener capable of electrifying starts in all cricket through graceful strokeplay rather than brute force. He loved driving through the off side with minimal footwork. He annihilated any bowler offering width outside off stump although he too regularly guided the ball straight into the hands of fourth slip or gully. He first came to prominence as a one-day player but soon achieved equal success in Test cricket. Anwar's fielding was weak, he was injury prone, and his footwork became less assured as his career drew to a close. Opting to take a break from the game after the death of his daughter in August 2001, he was a lesser force when he came back, though he still managed a hundred against India in the 2003 World Cup. His batting prowess on the wane, Anwar finally announced his retirement just before Pakistan's home series against Bangladesh. He held the record for the highest ODI score till Sachin Tendulkar upstaged him, and on his day he was one of the most gracefully compelling players on the international stage.
CH GAYLE PROFILE & PICTURE

CH Gayle Profile

General Information Full name Christopher Henry Gayle Born September 21, 1979, Kingston, Jamaica Current age 31 years 79 days Major teams West Indies, ICC World XI, Jamaica, Kolkata Knight Riders, Stanford Superstars, Western Australia, Worcestershire Playing role Batsman Batting style Left-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm offbreak

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 91 220 20 Innings Played 159 215 20 Not Outs 6 15 1 Runs 6373 7885 617 Highest 333 153* 117 Average 41.65 39.42 32.47 Balls Faced 10783 9412 427 St/R 59.10 83.77 144.49 100's 13 19 1 50's 33 42 5 4's 936 919 57 6's 75 165 34 Catches Taken 85 95 5 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 91 220 20 Innings Played 99 177 15 Balls 6857 6816 209 Runs 2995 5395 254 Wickets 72 156 12 Best Inning Bowling 5/34 5/46 2/15 Best Match Bowling 6/81 5/46 2/15 Average 41.59 34.58 21.16 Economy Rate 2.62 4.74 7.29 St/R 95.2 43.6 17.4 4 Wickets 2 3 0 5 Wickets 2 1 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Profile

Chris Gayle was born 21 Sep 1979 in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies first player to score a century in Twenty20 Internationals, Gayle is all power and simply brute force.With the ball in hand, he is a very handy off spinner to have, one who doesn't turn the ball much, but one who also delivers the ball on the spot frequently.His full name is Christopher Henry Gayle,he is 30 years 204 days old.CH Gayle has become man of the match 31 times. He is a left hand batsman,right arm off break bowling style. He is 31 years old.He looks tall and imposing at the crease, he loves to carve through the covers off either foot, and has the ability to decimate the figures of even the thriftiest of opening bowlers. His 79-ball century at Cape Town in January 2004, on the back of a South African first innings of 532, was typical of his no-holds-barred approach.He also bowls brisk non-turning offspin, with which he has turned himself into a genuine one-day allrounder.He may not be the most athletic fielder, given his huge built, but he is a safe catcher nonetheless and not too many deliveries can escape his bucket-like hands.

KP PIETERSEN PROFILE & PICTURE

KP Pietersen Profile

General Information Full name Kevin Peter Pietersen Born June 27, 1980, Pietermaritzburg, Natal Current age 30 years 163 days Major teams England, Dolphins, Hampshire, ICC World XI, KwaZulu-Natal, Natal, Nottinghamshire, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Surrey Playing role Top-order batsman Batting style Right-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm offbreak

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 68 104 28 Innings Played 119 94 28 Not Outs 6 15 4 Runs 5576 3332 911 Highest 227 116 79 Average 49.34 42.17 37.95 Balls Faced 8899 3852 643 St/R 62.65 86.50 141.67 100's 17 7 0 50's 20 20 5 4's 666 315 90 6's 54 60 24 Catches Taken 40 32 10 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 68 104 28 Innings Played 39 17 2 Balls 873 274 18 Runs 584 246 36 Wickets 5 6 1 Best Inning Bowling 1/0 2/22 1/27 Best Match Bowling 1/10 2/22 1/27 Average 116.80 41.00 36.00 Economy Rate 4.01 5.38 12.00 St/R 174.6 45.6 18.0 4 Wickets 0 0 0 5 Wickets 0 0 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Profile

Kevin Peter Pietersen, MBE was born 27 June 1980, he is a South African-born English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional off spin bowler who plays for Hampshire County Cricket Club, England, and was the captain of the Indian Premier League team Royal Challengers Bangalore in second season of the IPL. Kevin Pietersen's career has verged on the extraordinary at every turn. From shunning the South African quota system, to returning to his homeland with three ODI centuries and securing the Ashes with his maiden Test ton. After a quiet debut against Zimbabwe he was thrown in during the one-dayers against South Africa in 2005. Undeterred by hostile receptions from the home crowds, he announced his arrival - loudly, of course - with three centuries in five innings, and in doing so demonstrated his peerless eye for the ball and for making headlines, too. After plying his trade successfully in the English county circuit, Pietersen earned the England cap in 2004. From scoring hundreds against South Africa in South Africa, to being part of two Ashes-winning squads, to being appointed captain of the England team, and then relinquishing captaincy in controversial circumstances.

SR WATSON PROFILE & PICTURE

SR Watson Profile

General Information Full name Shane Robert Watson Born June 17, 1981, Ipswich, Queensland Current age 29 years 170 days Major teams Australia, Hampshire, New South Wales, Queensland, Rajasthan Royals, Tasmania Playing role Allrounder Batting style Right-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm fast-medium

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 23 117 20 Innings Played 41 99 19 Not Outs 2 22 2 Runs 1595 3047 379 Highest 126 136* 81 Average 40.89 39.57 22.29 Balls Faced 3150 3613 265 St/R 50.63 84.33 143.01 100's 2 4 0 50's 11 17 3 4's 213 305 28 6's 9 51 21 Catches Taken 18 34 7 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 23 117 20 Innings Played 38 100 15 Balls 2307 4167 249 Runs 1224 3380 347 Wickets 41 121 10 Best Inning Bowling 6/33 4/36 2/23 Best Match Bowling 6/51 4/36 2/23 Average 29.85 27.93 34.70 Economy Rate 3.18 4.86 8.36 St/R 56.2 34.4 24.9 4 Wickets 1 3 0 5 Wickets 2 0 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Profile

Shane Robert Watson (born 17 June 1981 in Ipswich, Queensland) is an Australian cricketer. He debuted for the Australian cricket team in 2002, playing his first one-day international against South Africa. Watson scored an unbeaten century on his debut in a tour match, but did not play in the Tests as the selectors retained the same XI that had swept South Africa 3–0 in the Australian season.Watson injury sidelined him until the 2003–04 Australian season, and during his treatment, he played most of the season as a batsman, allowing himself to improve his batting skills while his back was still healing. During this time he smashed an unbeaten 300* for his club side, Lindisfarne. Watson played in the Indian Premier League for the Rajasthan Royals team.

DA WARNER PROFILE & PICTURE

DA Warner Profile

General Information Full name David Andrew Warner Born October 27, 1986, Paddington, New South Wales Current age 24 years 36 days Major teams Australia, Australia Under-19s, Delhi Daredevils, Durham, Middlesex, New South Wales Playing role Opening batsman Batting style Left-hand bat Bowling Style Legbreak

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 7 23 Innings Played 7 23 Not Outs 0 0 Runs 106 646 Highest 69 89 Average 15.14 28.08 Balls Faced 137 434 St/R 77.37 148.84 100's 0 0 50's 1 4 4's 8 62 6's 3 31 Catches Taken 1 13 Stumpings Made 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 7 23 Innings Played - - Balls - - Runs - - Wickets - - Best Inning Bowling - - Best Match Bowling - - Average - - Economy Rate - - St/R - - 4 Wickets - - 5 Wickets - - 10 Wickets - -

Profile

David Andrew Warner is an Australian cricketer. A quick-scoring left-handed opening batsman, Warner is the first Australian cricketer in 132 years to be selected for a national team in any format without experience in first-class cricket. A diminutive and dangerous opening batsman, David Warner exploded onto the international scene in 2008-09. His breathtaking effort of 89 from 43 balls in his Twenty20 debut against South Africa at the MCG was all the more remarkable as he was the first man to walk out for Australia before playing first-class cricket since 1877. Promoted to the Australian one-day team, he struggled after a strong 69 in his second game and was dropped, but remained in the Twenty20 plans. Despite the attention of the national selectors, he could not convince the state panel that he was worthy of a Sheffield Shield debut until a late reshuffle enabled him to play the final match of the season.

MJ CLARKE PROFILE & PICTURE

 MJ Clarke Profile

General Information Full name Michael John Clarke Born April 2, 1981, Liverpool, New South Wales Current age 29 years 249 days Major teams Australia, Hampshire, New South Wales Playing role Middle-order batsman Batting style Right-hand bat Bowling Style Slow left-arm orthodox

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 66 182 34 Innings Played 108 166 28 Not Outs 12 36 5 Runs 4640 5722 488 Highest 168 130 67 Average 48.33 44.01 21.21 Balls Faced 8720 7348 473 St/R 53.21 77.87 103.17 100's 14 5 0 50's 20 43 1 4's 509 473 29 6's 19 32 10 Catches Taken 67 69 13 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 66 182 34 Innings Played 41 83 15 Balls 1684 2240 156 Runs 809 1888 225 Wickets 21 52 6 Best Inning Bowling 6/9 5/35 1/2 Best Match Bowling 6/9 5/35 1/2 Average 38.52 36.30 37.50 Economy Rate 2.88 5.05 8.65 St/R 80.1 43.0 26.0 4 Wickets 0 1 0 5 Wickets 1 1 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Profile

Michael Clarke came of age in 2006-07, showing he could marry a mature approach with a lifetime desire to entertain, and he has continued to take on more responsibility in preparation for succeeding Ricky Ponting as the country's captain.There is no doubt over his importance to the team, but the next few years will determine how high he finishes in Australia's batting hierarchy.As the vice-captain, Clarke is being groomed to take over the leadership whenever Ricky Ponting retires and over the past year he has shouldered that responsibility.larke was one of Australia's best during the Ashes tour last year and they will be reluctant to shuffle the order during their battle to regain the runs.

SK RAINA PROFILE & PICTURE

SK Raina Profile

General Information Full name Suresh Kumar Raina Born November 27, 1986, Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh Current age 24 years 2 days Major teams India, Chennai Super Kings, India Blue, India Under-19s, Indian Board President's XI, Rajasthan Cricket Association President's XI, Uttar Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh Under-16s Batting style Left-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm offbreak

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 7 105 18 Innings Played 10 88 17 Not Outs 1 18 3 Runs 367 2528 468 Highest 120 116* 101 Average 40.77 36.11 33.42 Balls Faced 636 2804 338 St/R 57.70 90.15 138.46 100's 1 3 1 50's 2 16 3 4's 48 216 42 6's 3 56 18 Catches Taken 9 46 5 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 7 105 18 Innings Played 7 23 3 Balls 288 368 24 Runs 137 332 39 Wickets 6 6 1 Best Inning Bowling 2/1 1/13 1/6 Best Match Bowling 2/1 1/13 1/6 Average 22.83 55.33 39.00 Economy Rate 2.85 5.41 9.75 St/R 48.0 61.3 24.0 4 Wickets 0 0 0 5 Wickets 0 0 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Profile

Suresh Raina - Batsman who has dismantled bowling attacks across the country, the prodigious Raina puts people in mind of Yuvraj Singh. A string of fine performances at the junior levels - where he frequently bullied his way to double-hundreds - landed him a spot in the India Under-19 squad. His 620 runs in six games, in the 2005-06 season, propelled Uttar Pradesh to Ranji Trophy gory and a couple of composed knocks, when given the opportunity in one-dayers, got Rahul Dravid to gush: "Raina has shown what a phenomenal player he can turn into." His electric fielding added zing to the one-day side and it came as no surprise when, even before getting an ODI fifty, he was fast-tracked into the Test side against England in March 2006, and on the subsequent tour to the West Indies.He scored two centuries and two half centuries in that series and thus sealed his reputation as clean striker of the ball. Since then he has been a regular in the ODI and Twenty20 International setup and has delivered on numerous occasions. He did, however, have a disastrous World Twenty20 2009, a series he will be looking to put behind him at the earliest.It is because of inconsistent performances like this that the selectors have not shown faith in him for the longest version of the game. Raina is more of an attacking cricketer that may come across as reckless at times because of his affinity for fast runs. He is a vital member of his Chennai franchise in the IPL and an extremely sharp fielder.

Jh Kallis Profile & Picture


JH Kallis Profile

General Information Full name Jacques Henry Kallis Born October 16, 1975, Pinelands, Cape Town, Cape Province Current age 35 years 44 days Major teams South Africa, Africa XI, Cape Cobras, Glamorgan, ICC World XI, Middlesex, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Warriors, Western Province Batting style Right-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm fast-medium

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 142 307 16 Innings Played 241 293 16 Not Outs 36 53 1 Runs 11449 11002 512 Highest 189* 139 73 Average 55.84 45.84 34.13 Balls Faced 25548 15117 427 St/R 44.81 72.77 119.90 100's 37 17 0 50's 54 80 4 4's 1269 862 40 6's 81 129 17 Catches Taken 161 116 6 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 142 307 16 Innings Played 236 269 12 Balls 18097 10270 186 Runs 8519 8264 229 Wickets 267 259 5 Best Inning Bowling 6/54 5/30 2/20 Best Match Bowling 9/92 5/30 2/20 Average 31.90 31.90 45.80 Economy Rate 2.82 4.82 7.38 St/R 67.7 39.6 37.2 4 Wickets 7 2 0 5 Wickets 5 2 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Profile

JH Kallis is a South African cricketer. As an all-rounder he is a formidable right-handed batsman and fast-medium swingbowler. He is the only cricketer in the history of the game to hold more than 10,000 runs and 250 wickets in both one day and Test match cricket. In an era of fast scoring and high-octane entertainment, Jacques Kallis is a throwback - and an astonishingly effective one at that - to Test cricket's more sedate age, when one's wicket was a commodity to be guarded with one's life, and runs were but an accidental by-product of crease occupation. After a distinctly ordinary start to his Test career, Kallis blossomed into arguably the world's leading batsman, with a defensive technique second-to-none, and the adhesive qualities of a Cape Point limpet.In 2005, he was honoured as the ICC's Test and overall Player of the Year, after a run of performances against West Indies and England that marked him out as the biggest scalp in the modern game. Kallis also played for Old Edwardians for a spell as a teenager, where coaching staff saw potential for him to become a first-class all rounder; later in his first season he was picked for South Africa U-21's as a 12th man. His breakthrough came in 1997 with 61 against Pakistan, but more notably two matches later when he salvaged a draw for South Africa with a fighting century against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Mek Hussy Profile & Picture

MEK Hussey Profile

General Information Full name Michael Edward Killeen Hussey Born May 27, 1975, Mt Lawley, Perth, Western Australia Current age 35 years 185 days Major teams Australia, Chennai Super Kings, Durham, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Western Australia Playing role Higher middle order batsman Batting style Left-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm medium

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 54 150 27 Innings Played 94 125 20 Not Outs 12 40 7 Runs 4080 4448 457 Highest 182 109* 60* Average 49.75 52.32 35.15 Balls Faced 8504 5058 304 St/R 47.97 87.93 150.32 100's 11 2 0 50's 21 33 2 4's 465 316 40 6's 19 63 17 Catches Taken 52 84 18 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 54 150 27 Innings Played 9 12 1 Balls 180 234 6 Runs 103 227 5 Wickets 2 2 0 Best Inning Bowling 1/3 1/22 - Best Match Bowling 1/3 1/22 - Average 51.50 113.50 - Economy Rate 3.43 5.82 5.00 St/R 90.0 117.0 - 4 Wickets 0 0 0 5 Wickets 0 0 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Profile

Michael Hussey was born in 27 May 1975, Morley, Western Australia is an Australian cricketer, a left-handed specialist batsman. Hussey is also widely known by his nickname Mr Cricket.Michael Hussey almost went bust in 2008-09 as the recession hit hard. The man who had gone closest to nudging Bradman's average for three years slid towards his team-mates in a lengthy slump that eventually led to concerns over his place in the side. At the start of 2008 his average was 80.58, a few runs below Bradman's, but by the end of the South Africa series 15 months later his number was almost up - at a distinctly mortal 55.29.After scoring tons of runs in domestic cricket, Michael Hussey earned a belated call to the Australian team in 2004 and attained Bradmanesque heights in his first three years in Test cricket.Michael, the older of the two Hussey brothers in the international cricket scene, is a well-built left-hand batsman. Calm outwardly but strong of mind, Hussey has also grown to become a good fielder and a safe catcher, often plucking some great catches at gully. Hussey earned a Cricket Australia contract in 2004–05 after excelling in the ING Cup. Statistically, Hussey's international career has been very successful, with his career batting average in tests being 55.29 as of April 2009 (and between 2006 and 2008 hovering between 75 and 85) and in ODIs 54.72. His Test average is among the highest of contemporary batsmen. He is currently second on the list of best averages ever in ODI cricket. He was also part of Australia's 2007 ICC World Twenty20 squad which was knocked out in the semi-finals. He played in all of Australia's matches, scoring 65 runs with a best of 37 before injuring a hamstring, which prevented his participation in Australia's tour of India

MS Dhoni Profile

General Information Full name Mahendra Singh Dhoni Born July 7, 1981, Ranchi Current age 29 years 139 days Major teams India, Asia XI, Bihar, Chennai Super Kings, Jharkhand Batting style Right-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm medium

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 50 172 25 Innings Played 76 153 24 Not Outs 9 39 7 Runs 2648 5733 441 Highest 148 183* 46 Average 39.52 50.28 25.94 Balls Faced 4442 6489 393 St/R 59.61 88.34 112.21 100's 4 7 0 50's 18 37 0 4's 286 442 26 6's 47 119 13 Catches Taken 133 170 11 Stumpings Made 25 55 3 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 50 172 25 Innings Played 3 1 - Balls 18 12 - Runs 19 14 - Wickets 0 1 - Best Inning Bowling - 1/14 - Best Match Bowling - 1/14 - Average - 14.00 - Economy Rate 6.33 7.00 - St/R - 12.0 - 4 Wickets 0 0 - 5 Wickets 0 0 - 10 Wickets 0 0 -

Profile

The spectacular arrival of Virender Sehwag was bound to inspire others to bat with the same mindset. But the odds of a clone emerging from the backwaters of Jharkhand, whose state side has consistently scraped the bottom, was highly remote. That was until Mahendra Singh Dhoni arrived.He announced his arrival into the international arena in 2004-05 with a bang. MS Dhoni has come a long way with his strutting and aggressive brand of cricket. He is a destroyer of bowling attacks and often a great finisher. If he is spectacular with the bat, he is secure with the keeping gloves. Dhoni's batting consists of shots and strokes which are anything but orthodox and conventional. His playing style reinforces that one should look at the ball and not the bowler. Born in Ranchi, 'Mahi' displayed wonderful potential of a great leader after he led India to victory in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007. The icing on the cake was the triangular series win against Australia in Australia in 2008.He now plays the role of sheet anchor who holds one end of the fort while the other batsmen make sure the ball finds the fence often. His maturity as a solid batsman was witnessed when India were 82-8 against West Indies. Dhoni and RP Singh put on a 101-run stand as the skipper shielded his tail-ender and made sure runs came from the other end. Another characteristic of Dhoni is that he always seems unfazed by what is happening around him. He is India's 'man with a plan'.  

IMRAN NAZIR PROFILE & PICTURE


Imran Nazir Profile

General Information Full name Imran Nazir Born December 16, 1981, Gujranwala, Punjab Current age 28 years 341 days Major teams Pakistan, Asia XI, ICL Pakistan XI, Lahore Badshahs, National Bank of Pakistan, North West Frontier Province Panthers, Pakistan Reserves, Sheikhupura Cricket Association, Sialkot Cricket Association, Sialkot Stallions, Water and Power Development Authority, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited Batting style Right-hand bat Bowling Style Legbreak

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 8 79 16 Innings Played 13 79 15 Not Outs 0 2 1 Runs 427 1895 324 Highest 131 160 59 Average 32.84 24.61 23.14 Balls Faced 730 2339 235 St/R 58.49 81.01 137.87 100's 2 2 0 50's 1 9 2 4's 63 235 32 6's 4 32 19 Catches Taken 4 26 6 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 8 79 16 Innings Played - 4 - Balls - 49 - Runs - 48 - Wickets - 1 - Best Inning Bowling - 1/3 - Best Match Bowling - 1/3 - Average - 48.00 - Economy Rate - 5.87 - St/R - 49.0 - 4 Wickets - 0 - 5 Wickets - 0 - 10 Wickets - 0 -

Profile

Another of Pakistan's prodigiously gifted players, but the suspicion was that Imran Nazir offers more genuine promise than most. An opener who is particularly strong off the back foot, he loves forcing through the covers. An aggressive approach has had him labelled as a one-day player, but Imran didn't fare badly in his first few Tests.

BB McCullum Profile & Picture

BB McCullum Profile

General Information Full name Brendon Barrie McCullum Born September 27, 1981, Dunedin, Otago Current age 29 years 70 days Major teams New Zealand, Canterbury, Glamorgan, Kolkata Knight Riders, New South Wales, Otago, Sussex Playing role Wicketkeeper batsman Batting style Right-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm medium

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 55 176 40 Innings Played 93 150 40 Not Outs 6 22 7 Runs 3232 3655 1100 Highest 225 166 116* Average 37.14 28.55 33.33 Balls Faced 5210 4137 857 St/R 62.03 88.34 128.35 100's 6 2 1 50's 17 18 6 4's 395 322 112 6's 38 107 39 Catches Taken 165 196 25 Stumpings Made 11 13 4 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 55 176 40 Innings Played 1 - - Balls 36 - - Runs 18 - - Wickets 0 - - Best Inning Bowling - - - Best Match Bowling - - - Average - - - Economy Rate 3.00 - - St/R - - - 4 Wickets 0 - - 5 Wickets 0 - - 10 Wickets 0 - -

Profile

Brendon Barrie McCullum (born 27 September 1981 in Dunedin) is a New Zealand international cricketer. Brendon McCullum has stepped up to the countrywide side as a wicketkeeper-batsman past a dazzling career in international youth cricket. McCullum first made the New Zealand one day side as a batsman, in the 2001-02 tri-series in Australia. Two years later McCullum, by now keeping wicket, compulsory his way past Robbie Hart into the Test side for the 2003-04 series against South Africa. McCullum plays in the side as an opening wicketkeeper batsman during ODIs and middle order in Test Matches. He is usually extremely neat behind the stumps with some marvelous catches to his name. McCullum was buying for US$700,000, the major winner from New Zealand, by the Indian Premier League's Kolkata franchise and launched the tournament. He was describing as a player especially suitable to Twenty20 cricket.

CL WHITE PROFILE & PICTURE

CL White Profile

General Information Full name Cameron Leon White Born August 18, 1983, Bairnsdale, Victoria Current age 27 years 103 days Major teams Australia, Australia A, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Somerset, Victoria Batting style Right-hand bat Bowling Style Legbreak googly

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 4 72 23 Innings Played 7 59 22 Not Outs 2 12 8 Runs 146 1766 513 Highest 46 105 85* Average 29.20 37.57 36.64 Balls Faced 330 2098 355 St/R 44.24 84.17 144.50 100's 0 2 0 50's 0 11 3 4's 15 126 28 6's 1 43 31 Catches Taken 1 33 11 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 4 72 23 Innings Played 8 18 3 Balls 558 325 24 Runs 342 345 25 Wickets 5 12 1 Best Inning Bowling 2/71 3/5 1/11 Best Match Bowling 3/119 3/5 1/11 Average 68.40 28.75 25.00 Economy Rate 3.67 6.36 6.25 St/R 111.6 27.0 24.0 4 Wickets 0 0 0 5 Wickets 0 0 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Profile

Cameron White has long seemed destined to play a significant role in Australia's future. Only the precise nature of that role has baffled his admirers. The Victorian captain has a game perfectly suited to cricket's bite-sized format. In 45 Twenty20 matches, his 1260 runs have come at a staggering strike-rate of 151.62 runs per 100 balls. He was restricted by injury last summer and managed just four games in the KFC Big Bash. He claimed four wickets at the miserly average of 6.75 with his skidding spinners, but managed only 83 runs at 20.75.He bowls a good line and does a neat line in self-deprecation too: "There’s no flipper or anything exciting like that in my repertoire," he professed a while back, "I'm just trying to get my leggie right." What is not in doubt is his cricket sense, nor his maturity. Despite his discomfort at being the No. 1 spinner, he held firm on debut while facing the best players of spin in the business. As the series wore on it became clear he was not the answer to Australia's troubles and after four matches he was shifted aside with five wickets and 146 runs.  

Abdul Razzaq Profile

General Information Full name Abdul Razzaq Born December 2, 1979, Lahore, Punjab Current age 30 years 364 days Major teams Pakistan, Asia XI, Hampshire, Hampshire 2nd XI, Hyderabad Heroes, ICL Pakistan XI, Khan Research Labs, Lahore, Lahore Lions, Middlesex, Pakistan International Airlines, Surrey, Worcestershire Batting style Right-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm fast-medium

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 46 248 23 Innings Played 77 215 21 Not Outs 9 54 8 Runs 1946 4921 297 Highest 134 112 46* Average 28.61 30.56 22.84 Balls Faced 4741 6052 250 St/R 41.04 81.31 118.80 100's 3 3 0 50's 7 22 0 4's 230 367 14 6's 23 123 15 Catches Taken 15 33 2 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 46 248 23 Innings Played 76 238 16 Balls 7008 10461 273 Runs 3694 8235 320 Wickets 100 259 14 Best Inning Bowling 5/35 6/35 3/20 Best Match Bowling 7/155 6/35 3/20 Average 36.94 31.79 22.85 Economy Rate 3.16 4.72 7.03 St/R 70.0 40.3 19.5 4 Wickets 4 8 0 5 Wickets 1 3 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Profile

Abdul Razzaq was once quick enough to open the bowling and remains composed enough to bat anywhere, he is discovering that the lower-order suits him nicely. His bowling - the reason he was first noticed - is characterised by a galloping approach, accuracy, and reverse-swing.He is the youngest bowler who take a hat-trick, against Sri Lanka in 2000, aged 20. But it is his batting that is more likely to win matches. He boasts a extraordinary array of strokes and is particularly strong driving through cover and mid-off off both front and back foot. He has two gears: block or blast. Cut off the big shots and he gets bogged down, although patience is his virtue as he demonstrated in a match-saving fifty against India in Mohali in 2005. After a global amnesty and quitting the ICL, he was welcomed back to the Pakistan crease for the World Twenty20 in England and made an instant impact as Pakistan won the tournament.  

Mohammad Yousuf Profile

General Information Full name Mohammad Yousuf Born August 27, 1974, Lahore, Punjab Current age 36 years 98 days Major teams Pakistan, Asia XI, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Lahore Badshahs, Lancashire, Pakistan International Airlines, Water and Power Development Authority, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited Batting style Right-hand bat Bowling Style Right-arm offbreak

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 90 288 3 Innings Played 156 273 3 Not Outs 12 40 0 Runs 7530 9720 50 Highest 223 141* 26 Average 52.29 41.71 16.66 Balls Faced 14372 12942 43 St/R 52.39 75.10 116.27 100's 24 15 0 50's 33 64 0 4's 957 785 5 6's 51 90 1 Catches Taken 65 58 1 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 90 288 3 Innings Played 1 2 - Balls 6 2 - Runs 3 1 - Wickets 0 1 - Best Inning Bowling - 1/0 - Best Match Bowling - 1/0 - Average - 1.00 - Economy Rate 3.00 3.00 - St/R - 2.0 - 4 Wickets 0 0 - 5 Wickets 0 0 - 10 Wickets 0 0 -

Profile

Mohammad Yousuf (previously known as Yousuf Youhana) has been the most consistent performer for the Pakistan side since his debut in 1998. Until his conversion to Islam, he was one of the few Christians to play for Pakistan.Stylish, composed and a natural stroke-maker, Yousuf has been the pillar of the Pakistan batting line-up with Younus Khan for sometime now. He is strong through the covers and is elegant while using his wrists to flick the ball off his legs. He is quick between the wickets as well. He has shown a hunger for big runs when he broke Sir Vivian Richards' world record for the most Test runs in a single calendar year. Now a senior in the team, Yousuf’s name is surely going to be written in the annals of Pakistan cricket.e is particularly strong driving through the covers and flicking wristily off his legs and brings with him as decadent and delicious a backlift as any in the game. A tendency to overbalance when playing across his front leg can get him into trouble. He excels at both versions of the game, and in one-day cricket can score 20 or 30 runs before anyone notices.In 2006, Yousuf truly came of age in a record-breaking year. He began by plundering India and continued in England, not just scoring under pressure, but scoring big. A double ton at Lord's was followed by another big hundred at Headingly and the Oval.
He rounded off a fantastic year with four hundreds in three Tests against the West Indies, a feat that took him past Viv Richards's long-standing record of most Test runs in a calendar year and also saw him establish the record for most Test hundreds (9) in a year.But his surprise exclusion from the 15-man squad for the 2007 Twenty20 World Championship led him to signing up for the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Though the PCB persuaded him to cancel the ICL, he did eventually join the ICL in November 2008. However, with the PCB granting an amnesty to players in the unofficial league, he was picked for Pakistan's 15-member squad for the tour of Sri Lanka in June 2009. He announced his return in grand style with a century in Galle.   
 
Sohail Tanvir Profile

General Information Full name Sohail Tanvir Born December 12, 1984, Rawalpindi, Punjab Current age 25 years 354 days Major teams Pakistan, Federal Areas, Federal Areas Leopards, Khan Research Laboratories, Rajasthan Royals, Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi Rams, South Australia, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited Batting style Left-hand bat Bowling Style Left-arm medium-fast, Slow left-arm orthodox

Career Statistics Batting & Fielding Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 2 31 15 Innings Played 3 18 5 Not Outs 0 5 1 Runs 17 182 29 Highest 13 59 12 Average 5.66 14.00 7.25 Balls Faced 44 190 25 St/R 38.63 95.78 116.00 100's 0 0 0 50's 0 1 0 4's 4 17 1 6's 0 2 3 Catches Taken 2 8 3 Stumpings Made 0 0 0 Bowling Statistics Test ODI T20 Matches Played 2 31 15 Innings Played 4 31 15 Balls 504 1542 306 Runs 316 1272 365 Wickets 5 44 11 Best Inning Bowling 3/83 5/48 3/31 Best Match Bowling 3/109 5/48 3/31 Average 63.20 28.90 33.18 Economy Rate 3.76 4.94 7.15 St/R 100.8 35.0 27.8 4 Wickets 0 2 0 5 Wickets 0 1 0 10 Wickets 0 0 0

Profile

The Rawalpindi born allrounder made his first-class debut against Peshawar in October 2004 but failed to amaze with bat or ball. However, in his second match, against Multan, Sohail Tanvir scored an unbeaten 97 while taking three wickets but has played only 17 first-class matches since (a total of 19 in three seasons).An thrilling young fast bowling prospect, Sohail Tanvir has already hogged the attention with an unorthodox action. His entry into the Pakistan team came unexpectedly, when Shoaib Akhtar was sent back home from the inaugural World Twenty20. His wrong-footed action often causes a lot of problems for batsmen as it becomes tricky to pick deliveries easily. He also bowls occasional left arm orthodox spin.Tanvir has established himself as a batting allrounder and his unbeaten 124 (his second first-class century) in the Pentangular Cup 2007 match against Sind further recognized that point. He also represented Pakistan Academy on their tour of Bangladesh and his fine all-round performance on that tour and against Australia A in the ODI series at home.His wrong-footed action, however, caused batsmen a lot of problems and emerged as the surprise package in the ICC World Twenty20. Although not picked for the Test team, Tanvir was back in Pakistan colours in the ODI series against South Africa. He went on to record a stunning 6 for 14 for Rajasthan in the IPL - the best figures in a Twenty20.

RANA NAVEED UL HASAN

Name: Rana Naved ul Hasan

Birth date: 1978-02-28

Hometown: Sheikhupura

Teams: Pakistan, Allied Bank, Herefordshire, ICL Pakistan XI, Lahore Badshahs, Lahore Division, Pakistan Customs, Sheikhupura Cricket Association, Sialkot Cricket Association, Sussex, Yorkshire, Tasmanian Tigers

Debut: 4th Apr 2003

ODI Best: 29* | 6-27

Test Best: 42* | 3-30

A late starter in cricketing terms, who made his debut for Pakistan in 2003.

A hard-hitting low order batsman who bowls was his billing – and he’s lived up to that tag.

Now regarded as one of the best ‘death’ bowlers in the game, Rana Naved has the ability to vary his pace without a discernable change in action, and without losing control. Also has the ability to bowl orthadox and reverse swing in favourable conditions.

As a bowler, he possesses it all – he is the classic ‘ODI Specialist’. His 9 test matches spread over 4 years have proved disappointing, and its unlikely he’ll add to his test tally given the bowling options Pakistan have at their disposal.

It’s no surprise that his finest performances for Pakistan have come in ODIs against India and West Indies – 56 of his 95 wickets have come against them, but he has struggled for consistency.

He paid the ultimate price for a poor run of form in 2007 (which featured a career threatening injury sustained for Yorkshire CC) – not only was he dropped from the Pakistan team, he failed to secure a Central Contract, which ultimately proved the catalyst in him joining the ‘rebel’ Indian Cricket League (ICL) for the 2008 season, where he made a huge impact as batsman and bowler.

Voted the ‘2008 Man of the Tournament’ for the guiding the Lahore Badshah’s to the ICL Championship, Rana Naved is arguably in the best form of his career.

Rana is back at Yorkshire for his second season there and has recently been released from his ICL contract. As a result he is back playing international cricket for Pakistan with relative success. Just recently he signed for the Tasmanian Tigers in the KFC Big Bash and has already made an impact with both bat and ball.

RICKY PONTING

 Full Name: Ricky Thomas Ponting
Date of Birth: December 19, 1974
Place of Birth: Launceston, Tasmania
Marital Status: Married Rianna Jennifer Cantor in June 2002
Children: daughter, Emmy Charlotte, born on July 26, 2008
Parents: Graeme (played for Mowbray) and Lorraine (sister of Greg Campbell)

Siblings: Drew and Renee (both younger)

Ponting is the eldest of three children; he was born and raised in Launceston, Tasmania by parents Graeme and Lorraine. Ricky started playing cricket at age 7, and showed immediate promise. He was known to be rich in talent ever since he was 12 when he became the youngest person in the world to have a bat sponsor as he was signed by Kookaburra. Obviously people knew that in the future he would be a star. Ponting excelled in junior levels as he was already playing 1st/A Grade cricket when he was 12 and had made it into Youth State and National sides with ease.

SHOAIB AKHTAR

 

 

Wasim Akram

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wasim Akram

Personal information
Full name	Wasim Akram
Born	3 June 1966 (1966-06-03) (age 43) Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Batting style	Left hand bat
Bowling style	Left arm fast
Role	(All-rounder) bowler and batsman
International information
National side	Pakistan
Test debut (cap 102)	25 January 1985 v New Zealand
Last Test	9 January 2002 v Bangladesh
ODI debut (cap 53)	23 November 1984 v New Zealand
Last ODI	4 March 2003 v Zimbabwe
ODI shirt no.	3
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2003	Hampshire
2000-2001	Lahore
1997-1998	Lahore
1992-2002	Pakistan International Airlines
1988-1998	Lancashire
1986-1987	Lahore
1985-1986	Lahore
1984-1986	Pakistan Automobiles Corporation
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	104	356	257	594
Runs scored	2898	3717	7161	6993
Batting average	22.64	16.52	22.73	18.90
100s/50s	3/7	0/6	7/24	0/17
Top score	257*	86	257*	89*
Balls bowled	22627	18186	50278	29719
Wickets	414	502	1042	881
Bowling average	23.62	23.52	21.64	21.91
5 wickets in innings	25	6	70	12
10 wickets in match	5	0	16	0
Best bowling	7/119	5/15	8/30	5/10
Catches/stumpings	44/0	88/0	97/0	147/0
Source: CricketArchive, 11 January 2008

Wasim Akram (Punjabi, Urdu: وسیم اکرم; born 3 June 1966) is a former Pakistani left arm fast bowler and left handed batsman in cricket, who represented the Pakistan national cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International matches.
Akram is regarded as one of the best fast bowlers in cricket. He holds the world record for most wickets in List A cricket with 881 and is second only to Sri Lankan off-spin bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of One Day International wickets with 502. He is considered to be one of the founders and perhaps the finest exponent of reverse swing bowling.^[1][2][3] The revolutionary nature of reverse swing initially resulted in accusations of ball tampering by cricket critics, although the skill of the reverse swing delivery has now been accepted as a legitimate features of ability in cricket. Akram's later career was also tarnished with accusations of match fixing by critics, although these remain unproven.
On 30 September 2009, Akram was one of five new members inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.^[4]

Contents [hide] 1 Domestic career 2 International career 2.1 First-class cricket 2.2 Test cricket 2.3 One Day International 2.4 Retirement 3 Skills in cricket 4 Award and records 5 Cricket controversies 6 Media career 7 Personal life 8 References 9 External links

Domestic career

Akram began his sporting career in Pakistan playing for several cricket clubs. However, like several other Pakistani cricketers during the 1980s, his talent was identified at club level and he was selected into the national side, completely bypassing any domestic First-class competition during that period.

International career

First-class cricket

In 1988 he signed for Lancashire County Cricket Club in England and went on to become their most successful overseas players. From 1988 to 1998, he opened their bowling attack in their ECB Trophy, Benson & Hedges Cup and National League tournaments. He was a favourite of the local British fans who used to sing a song called "Wasim for England" at Lancashire's matches. In 1998, with Akram as captain, Lancashire won the ECB Trophy and Axa League and finished second in the championship tournament despite losing only five matches in all competitions throughout the season. Apart from the National League second division title in 2003, this was the last time Lancashire won a trophy. ^[5]

Test cricket

Akram made his Test cricket debut for Pakistan against New Zealand in 1985 and in only his second Test match, he achieved 10 wickets in the match. A few weeks prior to his selection into the Pakistan team, he was an unknown club cricketer who had failed to even make it to his college team. He came to the trials at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore in Pakistan, but for the first two days he did not get a chance to bowl. On the third day he got the chance and the observers around him saw the potential and was discovered by Javed Miandad and Akram was given an opportunity to play for Pakistan. Later that season he opened the bowling attack with Imran Khan, who became his teacher at the World Championship of Cricket in Australia.
In the 1987 Cricket World Cup, when Pakistan played against the West Indies, Akram bowled to Viv Richards in the late overs of the innings but Richards, who is regarded as the best batsman during that period, struggled against Akram's bowling performances.
Akram's rise in international cricket was rapid during the late 1980s. When Pakistan toured the West Indies in 1988, he looked to be the fastest bowler between the two sides. However, a groin injury impeded his career in the late 1980s. Following two surgeries, he re-emerged in the 1990s as a fast bowler who focused more on swing and accurate bowling.

One Day International

Akram was a significant figure in the 1992 Cricket World Cup held in Australia, when Pakistan won the tournament. In the final against England, his batting performance during his innings of 33 runs off 19 balls, pushed Pakistan to a respectable score of 249 runs for 6 wickets. Akram then took the important wicket of Ian Botham early on the English batting innings and when brought back into the bowling attack later on, with the ball reverse swinging, he produced a devastating spell of bowling which led to Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis being bowled in successive deliveries in one over. His excellent performances earned him the Man of the Match award for the final.^[6][7]
He also captained Pakistan with some success. The high points of his captaincy was the 1996-1997 victory in the World Series Cricket in Australia, two Test match wins in India in 1998-1999 and in 1999, when Pakistan reached the 1999 Cricket World Cup final. The low point was the 1996 Cricket World Cup in Pakistan and India, when he had to pull out of the quarter final match against India, citing injury. After Pakistan's defeat, there were angry protests outside his home and riots across the country from angry fans who accused the team of throwing the match and a government inquiry was launched into the failure.
In 1999, he led Pakistan to the brink of victory in the World Cup before they capitulated and was defeated by Australia in the final, by eight wickets with almost 30 overs to spare. This was the start of the match fixing controversies, as critics believed Akram had set up the match for Australia. However, none of the allegations could be proved.
He was Pakistan's best bowler in the 2003 Cricket World Cup taking 19 wickets in 7 matches. However, Pakistan failed to reach the "Super Six" phase of the tournament and Akram was one of the eight players to be sacked by the Pakistan Cricket Board as a result.
Akram was diagnosed with diabetes at the peak of his career, but despite the initial psychological blow, he managed to regain his form and went on to produce fine cricketing performances. Since then he has actively sought to be involved in various awareness-raising campaigns for diabetes.^[8]

Retirement

Akram retired from cricket in 2003 after playing for Hampshire County Cricket Club in England.^[9]

Skills in cricket

“	Over my 15 or 16 years of playing international cricket in Tests and One Day Internationals, Wasim Akram is definitely the most outstanding bowler I've ever faced.	”
— Former West Indies batsman Brian Lara.[10]

An immensely talented player first discovered by former Pakistan batsman and captain, Javed Miandad, Akram played for his college team as an opening bowler and batsman. During his professional career he bowled with genuine speed and hostility. Akram possessed accurate control of line and length, accompanied by seam and swing bowling skills, who could bowl inswingers and outswingers in the cricket pitch. With a very quick bowling action, he could bowl equally well from both sides of the wicket. His mastery of reverse swing with the cricket ball, meant he was at his most dangerous towards a bowling innings and earned him the nickname of the "Sultan of Swing".
As well as often being able to find the edge of the bat, Akram would also focus his bowling attack on the stumps and had a particularly lethal inswinging yorker. Of his 414 Test wickets, 193 were taken caught, 119 were taken leg before wicket and 102 were bowled.^[11][12][13] In partnership with Waqar Younis, he intimidated international batsmen in the 1990s. Together Wasim and Waqar, known as "the two Ws" of the Pakistani team, were one of the most successful bowling partnerships in cricket.^[14]
Akram was also skilled with the bat and was regarded as a bowling all-rounder. He was especially effective against spin bowlers. However, he liked to slog and was criticised for his lack of high scores and giving away his wicket too cheaply for a player of his talent. He did silence his critics and the media in October 1996 when he scored 257 runs not out, of the team's total of 553 against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura. He also achieved good scores for the Pakistan team such as his 123 runs against Australia and his 45 runs not out to take Pakistan to victory in a low scoring match. He was also a valuable member to the Pakistan side, such as his match winning performance in the Nehru Cup, when needing six runs and two balls to win the match; he hit the first delivery he faced for six runs and secured the cup.

Award and records

See also: List of international cricket five-wicket hauls by Wasim Akram

Akram was awarded Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1993 for his sporting achievements.

• In his Test career, Akram took 414 wickets in 104 matches, a Pakistani record, at an average of 23.62 and scored 2,898 runs, at an average of 22.64.^[15]

• In One Day Internationals, Akram took 502 wickets in 356 appearances, at an average of 23.52 and scored 3,717 runs, at an average of 16.52.^[2]

• Akram was the first bowler in international cricket to take more than 400 wickets in both forms of the game and only Muttiah Muralitharan has since achieved this.^[2][15]

• Akram also held the record for the most wickets in Cricket World Cups, a total of 55 in 38 matches. Australia's Glenn McGrath broke the record during the 2007 Cricket World Cup, ending with a final tally of 71 from 39 matches.^[16] On passing Wasim's record, McGrath said, "Wasim Akram, to me, is one of the greatest bowlers of all time. Left-armer, swung it both ways with the new ball and he was so dangerous with the old ball. To go past him is something I will always remember. Probably the other side of the coin is that if you play long enough, you're going to break records here and there."^[17]

• Akram took four hat-tricks in international cricket, two each in Tests matches and One Day Internationals. He is the only bowler in cricket to have achieved four hat-tricks. He is also one of only three bowlers to have taken two Test cricket hat-tricks, the others being Hugh Trumble and Jimmy Matthews. Akram is also one of only three bowlers to have taken two One Day International cricket hat-tricks, the others being Pakistan offspin bowler, Saqlain Mushtaq and Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas. Akram's Test hat-tricks are significant, since they were taken in consecutive Test matches in the same series, a game played against Sri Lanka in the 1998-99 Asian Test Championship. Akram is also one of only two bowlers to have taken both a Test match and One Day International hat-trick, the other being Pakistan fast bowler, Mohammad Sami.^[18][19]

• Playing in a Test series against the West Indies at Lahore in 1990-1991, he became one of only six players to have taken four wickets in an over during a Test match. In Akram's case, these achievement was not part of a hat-trick, the third ball he delivered to the batting oppostion was a dropped catch, which allowed a single run.^[20][21]

• Akram has also achieved the highest score by a number eight batsman in Test cricket when he scored 257 runs not out from 363 balls against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura. The innings contained 12 sixes which is also a world record for Test cricket.^[22][23]

• He also has the third highest number of Man of the Match awards in Test cricket, with seventeen.^[24]

• He has scored the record number of runs in One Day International matches by a player who has never scored a One Day International hundred. His highest score was 86 runs.^[25]

Cricket controversies

In 1992, after he had been successful against the English batsmen, accusations of ball tampering began to appear in the English media, though no video evidence of foul play was ever found. Akram and Younis had been able to obtain prodigious amounts of movement from both new and old cricket balls. The skill of the reverse swing delivery was relatively unknown in England and around the cricketing world during that period.
A far larger controversy was created when he was alleged by critics, of being involved in match fixing. An enquiry commission was set up by the Pakistan Cricket Board headed by a Pakistan high court judge, Malik Mohammad Qayyum. The judge wrote in his report that:^[26]

This commission feels that all is not well here and that Wasim Akram is not above board. He has not co-operated with this Commission. It is only by giving Wasim Akram the benefit of the doubt after Ata-ur-Rehman changed his testimony in suspicious circumstances that he has not been found guilty of match-fixing. He cannot be said to be above suspicion.

Media career

Since retiring from cricket, Akram has worked and taken up commentary for television networks and can currently be seen as a sports commentator for ESPN Star Sports, ARY Digital and among others. He commentated on a variety of sporting tournaments including the 2009 Women's Cricket World Cup match between Australia v India in a Super Six Match held in Australia, the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England, the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa and among others. He has also worked as a bowling coach in cricket.

Personal life

Akram was educated in Islamia College in Lahore in Pakistan. He was married and has two children,^[27] On 25 October 2009, Akram's wife died of multiple organ failure at Apollo Hospital in Chennai, India.^[28]

References

1. ^ Wasim Akram. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b c} ODI Career Bowling - Most Wickets. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
3. ^ List A Limited-Overs Most Wickets in Career. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
4. ^ "Sutcliffe, Grimmett, Trumper, Wasim and Waugh new inductees into Cricket Hall of Fame". http://www.thesportscampus.com/200909302215/news-bytes/new-inductees-icc-hall-of-fame. 
5. ^ Cricinfo staff (18 September 2007). "Lancashire on the brink of history". Cricinfo.com. http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/countycricket2007/content/story/311431.html.  Retrieved on 11 October 2008.
6. ^ Double jeopardy. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
7. ^ Benson & Hedges World Cup - Final, England v Pakistan. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
8. ^ Dealing With Diabetes. Newsline. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
9. ^ "Player / Pakistan / Wasim Akram". ESPN cricinfo. http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/43547.html. 
10. ^ Lara rates Akram better than McGrath. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
11. ^ Tests - Most Wickets Taken Caught. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
12. ^ Tests - Most Wickets Taken LBW. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
13. ^ Tests - Most Wickets Taken Bowled. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
14. ^ Home truths, and the greatest fast-bowling pairs. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
15. ^ ^{a b} Test Career Bowling - Most Wickets. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
16. ^ World Cup Bowling - Most Wickets. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.
17. ^ Pigeon v Wasim - who's the best?. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
18. ^ Hat Tricks in Test Matches. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.
19. ^ One Day Internationals - Hat Tricks. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.
20. ^ Four wickets in an over, and who's the Cockroach?. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.
21. ^ Pakistan v West Indies, 1990/91, 3rd Test. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.
22. ^ Tests - Highest Score at Each Batting Position. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.
23. ^ Tests - Most Sixes in an Innings. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.
24. ^ Tests - Most Man of the Match Awards. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.
25. ^ "Records / One Day Internationals / Batting records / Most runs in a career without a hundred". ESPN cricinfo. http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/284205.html. 
26. ^ Justice Qayyum's Report. Cricinfo.com. Retrieved on 1 May 2007.
27. ^ The Sultan swings by. Toronto Star. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
28. ^ "Pakistan / News - Akram's wife dies at the age of 42". ESPN Cricinfo. http://www.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/431079.html. Retrieved 25 October 2009. 

External links

• Player Profile: Wasim Akram from Cricinfo
• Player Profile: Wasim Akram from CricketArchive
• Player Profile: Wasim Akram from Yahoo! Cricket

Sporting positions
Preceded by Aamer Sohail	Pakistan Cricket Captain 1999-2000	Succeeded by Moin Khan
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Curtly Ambrose	Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World 1992	Succeeded by Shane Warne

[show] v • d • e Bowlers who have taken 400 Test wickets  Muttiah Muralitharan •  Shane Warne •  Anil Kumble •  Glenn McGrath •  Courtney Walsh •  Kapil Dev •  Richard Hadlee •  Shaun Pollock •  Wasim Akram •  Curtly Ambrose

[show] v • d • e Bowlers who have taken 5 wickets in a Test innings 25 times or more Muttiah Muralitharan • Richard Hadlee • Anil Kumble • Shane Warne • Ian Botham • Wasim Akram • Glenn McGrath

[show] v • d • e Test Cricketers who have scored 2000 runs and taken 200 wickets Andrew Flintoff (ENG) 69 Tests · Anil Kumble (IND) 110 · Chaminda Vaas (SL) 82 · Chris Cairns (NZ) 58 · Daniel Vettori (NZ) 69 · Garfield Sobers (WI) 80 · Ian Botham (ENG) 42 · Imran Khan (PAK) 50 · Jacques Kallis (SA) 102 · Kapil Dev (IND) 50 · Richard Hadlee (NZ) 54 · Richie Benaud (AUS) 60 · Shane Warne 100 · Shaun Pollock (SA) 56 · Wasim Akram (PAK) 78

[show] v • d • e Bowlers who have taken 400 One-Day International wickets Wasim Akram • Muttiah Muralitharan • Waqar Younis • Chaminda Vaas

istan squad – 2003 Cricket World Cup

Inzamam-ul-Haq

Personal information
Born	3 March 1970 (1970-03-03) (age 40) Multan, Pakistan
Nickname	Inzy
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Batting style	Right-hand
Bowling style	Slow left-arm orthodox
Role	Batsman
International information
National side	Pakistan
Test debut (cap 124)	4 June 1992 v England
Last Test	8 October 2007 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 158)	22 November 1991 v West Indies
Last ODI	21 March 2007 v Zimbabwe
ODI shirt no.	8
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2008	Lahore Badshahs (ICL)
2007	Hyderabad Heroes (ICL)
2007	Yorkshire
2006–2007	Water and Power Development Authority
2001–2002	National Bank of Pakistan
1998–1999	Rawalpindi
1996–2001	Faisalabad
1988–1997	United Bank Limited
1985–2004	Multan
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	120	378	245	458
Runs scored	8,830	11,739	16,785	13,746
Batting average	49.60	39.52	50.10	38.07
100s/50s	25/46	10/83	45/87	12/97
Top score	329	137*	329	157*
Balls bowled	9	58	2,704	896
Wickets	0	3	39	30
Bowling average	–	21.33	33.20	24.66
5 wickets in innings	0	0	2	0
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	0	n/a
Best bowling	0/8	1/0	5/80	3/18
Catches/stumpings	81/–	113/–	172/–	128/–
Source: CricketArchive, 20 September 2008

Inzamam-ul-Haq (Saraiki, Punjabi, Urdu: انضمام الحق) (born 3 March 1970^[1] in Multan, Punjab Province, Pakistan), also known as Inzamam, nicknamed Inzy or the Sultan of Multan, is a former Pakistan international cricketer who was national captain between 2003 and 2007. He is a right-handed batsman who has been regarded as one of the leading cricketers from Pakistan in modern times.
On October 5, 2007, Inzamam retired from International cricket following the second Test match against South Africa, falling three runs short of Javed Miandad as Pakistan's leading run scorer in Test cricket. Following his retirement, he joined the Indian Cricket League, captaining the Hyderabad Heroes in the inaugral edition of the Twenty20 competition. In the ICL's second Twenty20 competition he captained the Lahore Badshahs, a team composed entirely of Pakistani cricketers.

Contents [hide] 1 Career 1.1 One Day International cricket 1.2 Test cricket 1.3 County Cricket 1.4 Indian Cricket League 2 Playing style 3 Captaincy 4 Test centuries 5 Controversies 5.1 Toronto incident 5.2 Oval test incident 6 References 7 External links

Career

One Day International cricket

Inzamam made his One Day International (ODI) debut in a home series against West Indies in 1991, and made a good start with 20 and 60 in two matches against West Indies, followed by 48, 60, 101, and 117 against Sri Lanka.
Handpicked by former Pakistan captain Imran Khan for the 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, 22-year-old Inzamam was relatively unheard of before the tournament. To the surprise of many he was persevered with throughout the tournament, coming in at various positions in the batting line-up, despite not being very successful early on. Yet it was his performances at the most crucial stage of the competition that made fans and summarisers take note. Inzamam rose to fame in Pakistan's dramatic semi-final against New Zealand at Auckland. With his side in a precarious position, chasing 262, against an impressive New Zealand side, he hit a fiery 60 from only 37 balls to rescue his side and guide them into the final^[2][3] The innings was regarded as one of the finest World Cup performances.^{[citation needed]} A massive six he hit in that match was described by David Lloyd as the shot of the tournament.
Inzamam made an equally vital contribution in the final of the World Cup, scoring 42 off just 35 balls, helping Pakistan reach a score of 249 after a sluggish start.^[4] These innings established Inzamam's billing as a big-game player, although he was unable to replicate his World Cup success in later tournaments. Another World Cup career highlight included a semi-final innings in the 1992 World Cup.
In total, Inzamam set a record for scoring the most fifties in One Day Internationals, 83 – though this is now surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar.^[5] He also became the second batsman to score 10,000 runs in One-day Internationals (again after Tendulkar) and was named in the World Team XI for both Test and One-day Internationals in the 2005 ICC Awards. In his final ODI for Pakistan, playing Zimbabwe in the 2007 Cricket World Cup, he took three catches whilst fielding, including the last one of the match, ending his One Day career.^[6]

Test cricket

He got little opportunity to make an impact during his 1992 Test debut against England at Edgbaston, with a score of eight not out. However, in subsequent matches he demonstrated a vulnerability against swing bowling which resulted in him being dropped for the final Test after averaging a lowly 13.20 runs per innings. Pakistan went on to secure a famous win in the match, taking the series 2-1.^{[citation needed]}
After the England series, Inzamam aimed to establish himself in the Test side and he achieved this successfully, helping the side to many memorable victories.^{[citation needed]} One of particular note came against Australia in Karachi, 1994. He often batted with the tail and his 58* helped Pakistan to a one-wicket victory and a 1-0 series win. As well as helping his side to become the top-ranked side in the world for a brief period he achieved personal success by becoming the ICC's number one ranked batsmen in 1995^[7] He later went on to reclaim top spot in the rankings in 1997. He remained amongst the top 20 ranked batsmen up until his retirement. He was the number one batsman in the world three times as well as the three batsman several times in his career,^[8] the last time being after his twin fifties at Lords against England in 2006.^[9] The tour of England in 1996 was a particular success for both Inzamam and Pakistan, where Inzamam transformed his batting against seam bowling, averaging 64, with scores of 148, 70, 65, and 35.
Test career highlights include 329 against New Zealand in Lahore in 2001-02 season, and the second highest Test score by a Pakistani and the twelfth highest overall. He also scored a century (184) in his 100th Test, becoming only the fifth player to do so (after Colin Cowdrey, Alec Stewart, Gordon Greenidge and Javed Miandad; Ricky Ponting subsequently emulated the feat). Inzamam got a century in each innings of the second Test match against England in 2005, to become Pakistan's leading centurion with 24 centuries, breaking Javed Miandad's record, and his 25th century in the 2nd Test against India on 22 January 2006 made him the 10th player to score 25 or more centuries. He also managed 138* while facing a humiliating defeat against Bangladesh, eventually saving the Test match and leading his team to victory. He scored a century against the West Indies in 2005. His 92* against South Africa in late 2006 showed his ability to bat in a crisis again in a match winning effort.^[10] He scored twin half centuries when all appeared lost to draw the first test in Mohali against India in 2005,^[11] and also scored a 184 (in his 100th test match)^[12] in the same away series and drew the series.^[13] He still holds the record for most consecutive half centuries against one country with nine in nine innings against England. This streak started from May 31, 2001 to July 13, 2006.^[14] He scored a century and half century at Lords in 1996.^[15] His 118 against Australia in Hobart all but won the test for Pakistan but Adam Gilchrist's match winning 149 not out was the difference.^[16] His average in matches won is second only to Donald Bradman and Kumar Sangakara.^[17] After announcing his retirement after the second Test against South Africa, at the stadium where he made his international debut,^[18] Inzamam needed 20 runs to surpass Javed Miandad for the record of most runs for a Pakistani Test cricketer.^[19] After falling for 14 in the first innings, he was dismissed for 3 in his final innings by Paul Harris, out stumped,^[20] leaving him three runs shy of the record. He needed only 70 more career runs for a batting average of 50.

County Cricket

Inzamam made his debut in English county cricket in August 2007 at the age of 37. He joined Yorkshire County Cricket Club as a replacement for Younus Khan who left to play for Pakistan in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20. He was disappointing on the whole, making eight on debut at Scarborough's North Marine Road against Warwickshire before making nine and seven in his opening Pro40 games.

Indian Cricket League

In 2007, Inzamam joined the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League. In the inaugural competition, Inzamam captained the Hyderabad Heroes and scored 141 runs in 5 matches. In the 2008 competition in March, Inzamam captained the Lahore Badshahs, composed entirely of Pakistani cricketers.
The move to the ICL has proved to be a controversial one for Inzamam. The PCB's stance on players joining unsanctioned leagues has meant that he has been banned from playing in any domestic competitions in Pakistan or any involvement with the international team.^[21] However, given Inzamam's recent retirement, this is unlikely to affect him.
It is reported that he was paid PK Rs. 10 Crore (US $1,100,000) which was the highest salary for any player participating in the league along with the likes of Brian Lara

Playing style

“	I think Inzamam is as talented as Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar but little does he realise his true talent	”
— Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan.[22]

Inzamam has been known to be a very destructive batsman in both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test matches. He has the ability to pick the length of a delivery very early and play very late. His footwork is generally considered to be fast, enabling him to position himself early for shots. He averaged just under 50 runs per innings in Tests and nearly 40 runs in ODIs, with a strike rate of 54.03 and 74.23 respectively. Inzamam is especially strong playing shots off his legs and has been considered to be amongst the best employers of the pull-shot in world cricket.
His batting style has brought him fans from all over the world. He was called "the best batsmen in the world against pace" by Imran Khan, because "he seems to have so much time on his hands before the ball reaches him".
Inzamam does, however, have a reputation for being a poor runner between wickets. He has the dubious distinction of being run-out the second highest number of times in ODIs having been run-out 40 times [behind Marvan Atapattu (41 times)].

Captaincy

File:INZAMAM UL HAQ.jpg

Inzamam in 2005

Inzamam captained Pakistan in 25 Tests, winning eight, drawing eight and losing nine. Only three players have captained Pakistan in more Test matches, but all have better win-loss records, and only Imran Khan has a lower win percentage than Inzamam. However, Inzamam held the captaincy until March 2007, the longest captaincy tenure since 1992 when Imran Khan retired.
Captaincy had a positive effect on Inzamam's batting, often leading by example in pressure situations, averaging greater as a captain (52) than without (50). In ODI's Inzamam used to have the highest average as captain^[23] and is currently second on that list behind Ricky Ponting. After early failures in Australia, he took a depleted Pakistan side to India in 2005 and was important in securing a draw, winning the final test match from an unlikely position with 184*. He subsequently lead his side to an ODI success against West Indies (away), England (home) and Sri Lanka (away) as well as Test Series victories against England (home), India (home), Sri Lanka (away). Inzamam had seemed to have united the Pakistan side and victories lead them to 2^nd place in the ICC Test Rankings and 3^rd place in the ICC ODI Ranking. The latter part of Inzamam's tenure as Pakistan captain was less successful and the team was embroiled in many controversies culminating in a disappointingly early exit from the 2007 Cricket World Cup at the hands of lowly ranked Ireland.
In the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Inzamam captained the Pakistani team to its first loss to associate ICC member Ireland (on St Patrick's Day). This result and their previous loss to West Indies, led to them being knocked out of the tournament. A day later he announced his retirement from One Day International Cricket and resignation as Test captain. The announcement was made the same day that Bob Woolmer, Pakistan's coach, died in his hotel room in Kingston, Jamaica. He dedicated his final ODI to Woolmer to whom he shared a good relationship with for three years and affectionately called 'The Bob'.

Inzamam-ul-Haq's career performance graph.

Test centuries

Test Centuries by Inzamam-ul-Haq
	Runs	Against	Year	Test #
1	123	West Indies	1993	1222
2	135*	New Zealand	1994	1249
3	100*	Sri Lanka	1994	1267
4	101	Zimbabwe	1995	1290
5	148	England	1996	1330
6	177	West Indies	1997	1389
7	200*	Sri Lanka	1999	1450
8	118	Australia	1999	1469
9	138	Sri Lanka	2000	1489
10	135	West Indies	2000	1494
11	112	Sri Lanka	2000	1501
12	142	England	2000	1521
13	130	New Zealand	2001	1536
14	114	England	2001	1547
15	105*	Bangladesh	2001	1560
16	329	New Zealand	2002	1600
17	112	Zimbabwe	2002	1625
18	138*	Bangladesh	2003	1658
19	118	India	2004	1695
20	117	Sri Lanka	2004	1719
21	184	India	2005	1743
22	117*	West Indies	2005	1754
23	109	England	2005	1772
24	100*
25	119	India	2006	1782

Controversies

Toronto incident

In a 1997 Sahara Cup match against India, Inzamam assaulted a member of the crowd, Shiv Kumar Thind, a Canadian-based Indian, who had been comparing Inzamam to several kinds of potato, on a megaphone.^[24] According to eye witnesses a cricket bat was brought out by the Pakistan team's 12th man, Mushtaq Ahmed, who then waited at the boundary with the bat. Television replays confirmed those statements. The Guardian newspaper quoted another eyewitness as saying "If not for the spectators and security staff curbing him, he would have broken the head of that guy. The guy with the megaphone was no match for Inzamam and got mauled. Even when Canadian police took Inzamam back on to the field, he was trying to get back to the stands."^[24]
After reviewing footage of the incident Canadian police arrested Inzamam and charged him with two counts of assault and one of assault with a deadly weapon.^[25] He was released on bail of $3,000. Two days after Inzamam was charged, the Pakistan team lodged a formal complaint, to the 32nd Division of the Metropolitan police in Toronto against Thind, claiming that Thind had thrown his megaphone at Inzamam.^[26] Both Inzamam and Thind eventually dropped the charges against the other. Match referee Jackie Hendriks, banned him for two ODIs with a suspended ban of one further game.^[27]

Oval test incident

On Pakistan's 2006 tour of England, Inzamam captained a team that refused to re-enter the field, after tea, on 20 August 2006 at The Oval after allegations of ball tampering from umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove. The umpires awarded England five penalty runs and the choice of a replacement ball, after ruling that Pakistan had illegally altered the ball.
Inzamam and his team staged a protest at the decision. During the protest the umpires, having tried to persuade Inzamam to come out of the dressing room, decided that the match could not continue. Upon returning to the field with his team, only to find both the England team and the umpires absent, Inzamam was informed of this situation. After further discussions between both teams, umpires and cricket board officials it was eventually agreed that the match could not be restarted. Thus, Inzamam became the first captain in history to forfeit a Test match. Inzamam was later charged with tampering with the ball and bringing the game into disrepute (the latter charge associated with the teatime protest),^[28] although he strenuously denied the charges. On September 28, 2006 the allegations of ball-tampering were dismissed, however he was found guilty of bringing cricket into disrepute and given a four match One-Day International ban with immediate effect.^[29]
The Pakistan Cricket Board later blamed Inzamam for the Oval Test forfeiture; adding that the forfeited match had made the board susceptible to a claim of £800,000 by the ECB as compensation. However, later on, the result of the Oval Test was changed by the ICC and called a draw. This was yet again overturned after the MCC stated the ICC could not do this and was changed to an England win.

• Inzamam's disciplinary record is as follows:
  
  
  
  1. v India at Toronto, September 14, 1997 - assaulted a spectator. Banned for two one-day internationals, suspended ban of one further match.
  2. v South Africa at Newlands, April 23, 1998 - dissent at umpire's decision. Fined 50 percent of match fee, with a suspended ban of one limited overs match.
  3. v Sri Lanka - March 12–16, 2000 at Karachi - criticising the attitude of the Sri Lankan players. Received severe reprimand.
  4. v West Indies - May 25–29, 2000 in Antigua, West Indies - dissent over umpiring decision. Fined 50 percent of match fee.
  5. v England - June 23, 2001 at Lord's - showing dissent at the umpire's decision. Fined 50 percent of match fee and suspended for two one-day internationals.
  6. v India, March 16, 2004 at Rawalpindi - conduct contrary to the spirit of the game. Fined 50 percent of match fee.
  7. v West Indies - February 1, 2005 at Perth - for not controlling his players as captain. Fined 100 percent of match fee.
  8. v India - March 24–28, 2005 at Bangalore - showing dissent at an umpire's decision by action or verbal abuse. Fined 30.5 percent of match fee.
  9. v India - March 24–28, 2005 at Bangalore - charging or advancing towards the umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing. Banned for one Test match.
  10. v India - April 5, 2005 at Visakhapatnam - abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings. Reprimanded.
  11. v England - August 17–21, 2006 at the Oval - bringing the game into disrepute. Banned for four ODIs.
  12. v Ireland - March 17, 2007 at Jamaica - failure to ensure that his team met the minimum over rate requirements. Fined 50% of match fee.

References

1. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/40570.html
2. ^ New Zealand v Pakistan– Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 August 2007]
3. ^ Inzi announces his arrival– Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 August 2007]
4. ^ England v Pakisatan– Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 August 2007]
5. ^ "Statistics / Statsguru / One-Day Internationals / Batting records". CricInfo. http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;template=results;type=batting. Retrieved 2009-06-03. 
6. ^ "17th Match, Group D: Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Kingston, March 21, 2007 / Scorecard". CricInfo. http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/247473.html. Retrieved 2009-06-03. 
7. ^ Inzamam-ul-Haq Batting Test Ranking Statistics–International Cricket Council. Retrieved 23 August 2007]
8. ^ http://www.iccreliancerankings.com/playerdisplay/test/batting/?id=1984&graph=ranking
9. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/engvpak/content/story/253827.html
10. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/rsavpak/content/story/277284.html
11. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/content/story/146066.html
12. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/content/story/146419.html
13. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/288999.html
14. ^ http://stats.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/player/40570.html?class=1;opposition=1;template=results;type=batting;view=innings
15. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153536.html
16. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154004.html
17. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/pakvrsa/content/story/315169.html
18. ^ "Inzamam prepares for final battle". Cricinfo. 2007-10-07. http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakvrsa/content/story/314147.html. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
19. ^ "Inzamam to retire after Lahore Test". Cricinfo. 2007-10-05. http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakvrsa/content/story/313757.html. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
20. ^ "2nd Test: Pakistan v South Africa at Lahore, October 8–12, 2007". Cricinfo. 2007-10-12. http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakvrsa/engine/current/match/299005.html. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
21. ^ Domestic cricket ban for Inzamam–BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 December 2007
22. ^ Funny man Inzamam–BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 August 2007
23. ^ http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/211234.html
24. ^ ^{a b} Cricinfo - Inzamam and the Canadian aloo
25. ^ page 24
26. ^ Thind held, to appear in court on October 8
27. ^ Rediff On The NeT: Inzamam update
28. ^ Inzamam charged in test ball-tampering row–The Independent. Retrieved 23 August 2007
29. ^ Disrepute ban for skipper Inzamam–BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 August 2007

[edit] External links

• Player Profile: Inzamam-ul-Haq from Cricinfo
• Player Profile: Inzamam-ul-Haq from CricketArchive
• Inzamam-ul-Haq — Story of Arrival to International Cricket
• Guardian Interview with Inzamam - Ball Tampering Scandal
• Retirement Announcement
• Farewell and Tribute to Inzamam-ul-Haq

Preceded by Rashid Latif

Pakistani national cricket captain 2003/4-2007

Succeeded by Shoaib Malik

Shahid Afridi

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Shahid Afridi

Personal information
Full name	Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi
Born	1 March 1980 (1980-03-01) (age 30) Khyber Agency, FATA, Pakistan
Nickname	Lala, Boom Boom, Akhrot (Walnut)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm leg-spin
Role	All rounder
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2010–present	Hampshire
2009–present	South Australia
2008–present	Deccan Chargers
2007–present	Sind
2006	Ireland
2004	Kent
2003–04	Griqualand West
2003	Derbyshire
2001	Leicestershire
2001	Marylebone Cricket Club
1997–2008	Habib Bank Limited
1995–present	Karachi
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	26	288	109	378
Runs scored	1,683	5,830	5,598	8,478
Batting average	37.40	23.13	31.80	25.23
100s/50s	5/8	4/30	12/30	6/49
Top score	156	109	164	114
Balls bowled	3,092	12,075	13,391	16,110
Wickets	47	269	257	371
Bowling average	34.89	34.53	27.05	33.42
5 wickets in innings	1	3	8	5
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	0	n/a
Best bowling	5/52	6/38	6/101	6/38
Catches/stumpings	10/–	97/–	75/–	118/–
Source: CricketArchive, 14 November 2009

Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi (Pashto: صاحبزاده محمد شاهد خان افریدی, Urdu: صاحبزادہ محمد شاہد خان آفریدی) (born 1 March 1980 in Khyber Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas)^[1], popularly known as Shahid Afridi (Pashto: شاهد ‏افریدی) is a Pakistani cricketer currently playing for the Pakistani national team in the international circuit. He made his ODI debut on 2 October 1996 against Kenya in Nairobi^[2] and his Test debut on 22 October 1998 against Australia at Karachi.^[3]
He is known for his aggressive batting style, and currently holds the highest career strike rate in the history of international cricket. In a recent survey, Afridi was named as the most popular cricketer in Pakistan.^[4] He also holds the record for the fastest one day century which he made in his debut innings,^[5][6] as well as scoring 32 runs in a single over, the second highest scoring over ever in an ODI.^[7]

Contents [hide] 1 Family 2 Playing style 2.1 Batting 2.2 Bowling 3 International career 4 Temporary Test retirement and return 5 Career highlights 5.1 Test Centuries 5.2 One Day International Centuries 6 Controversies 6.1 Pitch-tampering 6.2 Spectator Incident 6.3 Ball tampering "Bite-gate" 7 References 8 Notes 9 External links

Family

Afridi is from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas near the Afghan Border and hails from a Pashtun family.^[1]

Playing style

Batting

His general style of batting is very aggressive and attack oriented and has earned him the nickname "Boom Boom Afridi" for his fastest One Day International century just in 37 balls.^[8] As of 21 February 2010, he has an ODI strike rate of 111.65 runs per 100 balls, the highest in the game's history. This attitude has been transferred to Test cricket as well, with Afridi scoring at a relatively high strike rate of 86.13 in Tests. He has an approach to batting that can change the tempo of a game and inspire the mood of an audience, as shown when a mass exodus of spectators occurred in Pakistan in late 2005 following his dismissal from the crease. He hits many sixes long and high, favoring straight down the ground or over midwicket. A trademark shot is a cross-batted flick to the leg-side to a ball outside off stump.^[9] This explosive style has led to some memorable shots, most notably the first ever 12 in power cricket in 2002, where Afridi successfully hit the roof.^[10] However, his aggressive style increases his risk of getting out and he is one of the most inconsistent batsmen in cricket. This is reflected by the fact that he is the only player to score more than 5000 ODI runs at an average under 25.^[11]

Bowling

Bowling-wise, his stock ball is the leg break, but his armory also includes the conventional off break and a 'quicker one' which he can deliver at nearly 80 mph in the style of a medium-pacer. He bowls at a high speed for a spinner, resulting in lesser turn, and relying more on variations in speed. He occasionally sends down a bouncer to a batsman, which is very rare for a spin bowler.

International career

An innings-by-innings breakdown of Afridi's Test match batting career, showing runs scored (red bars) and the average of the last ten innings (blue line).

In October 1996 at the age of sixteen he was brought into the ODI team as a leg spinner as a replacement for the injured Mushtaq Ahmed. He then gained notability as a pinch-hitter and began opening with Saeed Anwar. He holds the record for scoring the fastest century in one-day internationals (off 37 balls),^[12] scored in only his second match and his first ODI innings. He also shares with Brian Lara the record for the third-fastest century in ODIs (off 45 balls). One of Pakistan's most useful all-rounders, he has an extremely aggressive batting style, which has garnered him over 5,000 ODI runs (including an erstwhile world-record 249 sixes, recently broken by Sanath Jayasuriya), as well as taking over 250 wickets at ODI and 47 at Test level.
For various reasons, including a perception that he lacks patience in his batting, Afridi had limited opportunity in Test matches, although he currently averages in the high thirties and mid-thirties with bat and ball respectively. As it is, Afridi has featured in less than one third of the Test Matches played by Pakistan over the course of his career.^[13] However, he made his presence felt in the third Test against India in March 2005, scoring a quick-fire second-innings half-century and taking five wickets in the match (including Tendulkar twice) to help Pakistan to win the game and register a series draw.^[14]
It is perceived that his batting struggles on bouncy pitches and against opponents like Australia, although his record against the Australians has improved over time. Although he has had success as an opener on sub-continent pitches, Afridi is often moved into the lower order as well.
Afridi was more consistent with his batting and bowling throughout 2005, starting with the tours of India and West Indies and through to the England tour. The Pakistani coach Bob Woolmer helped Afridi to reach a fuller potential by improving his shot selection and giving him free rein over his batting attitude.
In the 2007 World Twenty20, he performed poorly with the bat but brilliantly with the ball, earning the Man of the Series award, though he failed to take a wicket in the final and was out for a golden duck.

Temporary Test retirement and return

On April 12, 2006 Afridi announced a temporary retirement from Test cricket until after the 2007 World Cup so that he could concentrate on ODIs. Even then his performance in county cricket for Ireland recently had declined and he bowled better than he batted. He also claimed that the workload was too much to cope with.
However, on April 27, 2006 after much discussion with Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Afridi reversed his decision. Despite this, Afridi was later dropped from the Test team in early August 2006 after three quick-fire innings against England. He was placed well down the batting order, away from his more usual spot in the middle-order, and displayed flamboyantly reckless strokeplay on the English pitches, leading to short but entertaining innings.

Career highlights

• On 4 October 1996, playing his maiden international innings, Afridi hit the fastest One-Day century off 37 balls against Sri Lanka in Nairobi. His innings included 28 runs off one of Sanath Jayasuriya's overs, whose record he broke.^[12]

• Youngest player in history to make an ODI century at just 16 years and 217 days with his 37 ball ton against Sri Lanka. It included 11 sixes and 6 fours.^[15]

• Made a half-century from 26 balls and took 3 second-innings wickets in Pakistan's series-drawing Test victory against India in March 2005.^[14]

• Holds the joint record with Brian Lara for the third fastest ODI century off 45 balls in April 2005 against India.^[12] This actually was the first match that witnessed the Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri giving him the nickname Boom Boom Afridi.^[16]

• Equal highest aggregate sixes scored in the 50-over game, shared the legendary Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya, and he the most sixes per innings record.^[17]

• Scored four consecutive sixes off a Harbhajan Singh over in a Test match against India in January 2006, matching a feat that Kapil Dev achieved in 1990.^[18]

• Was the first player to score 12 runs off one ball, by hitting the roof of the Millennium Stadium. This took place in a game of Power Cricket.^[10]

• Holds four of the top eight fastest ODI half centuries, twice completed in 18 balls and twice in 20 balls. He has also scored a half century off just 21 balls.^[19]

• Made 32 runs off a Malinga Bandara over in an ODI game at Abu Dhabi in 2007. He struck four consecutive sixes and it was the 2nd most expensive over in ODI history.

• Is only the third player in ODI history to achieve the combination of 5000 runs and 200 wickets. The other players being Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya and South Africa's Jacques Kallis.

Test Centuries

• In the column Runs, * indicates being not out
• The column title Match refers to the Match Number of the player's career

Test Centuries of Shahid Afridi
	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year
[1]	141	2	India	Chennai, India	MA Chidambaram Stadium	1999
[2]	107	12	West Indies	Sharjah, United Arab Emirates	Sharjah C.A. Stadium	2002
[3]	122	18	West Indies	Bridgetown, Barbados	Kensington Oval	2005
[4]	103	21	India	Lahore, Pakistan	Gaddafi Stadium	2006
[5]	156	22	India	Faisalabad, Pakistan	Iqbal Stadium	2006

One Day International Centuries

• In the column Runs, * indicates being not out
• The column title Match refers to the Match Number of the player's career

One Day International Centuries of Shahid Afridi
	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year
[1]	102	2	Sri Lanka	Nairobi, Kenya	Nairobi Gymkhana Club	1996
[2]	109	65	India	Toronto, Canada	Toronto CSCC	1998
[3]	108*	146	New Zealand	Sharjah, United Arab Emirates	Sharjah C.A. Stadium	2002
[4]	102	204	India	Kanpur, India	Green Park	2005

Controversies

Pitch-tampering

On 21 November 2005, Shahid Afridi was banned for a Test match and two one-day internationals for deliberately damaging the pitch in the second match of the three-Test series against England. TV cameras pictured him scraping his boots on the pitch scuffing the surface when play was held up after a gas canister exploded. Afridi later pleaded guilty to a level three breach of the ICC code of conduct relating to the spirit of the game. Inquiries were made and Afridi's antics came into view. He was investigated and banned after the day's play, along with receiving a huge amount of criticism from the cricketing world for bringing the game into disrepute.
Match referee Roshan Mahanama said: "This ban should serve as a message to players that this type of behaviour is not allowed." On this Afridi accepted his fault and said that a "senior player like me should set good examples to others because they see us to learn." His behaviour was also condemned by the Pakistan Cricket Board.^[20][21][22]

Spectator Incident

Afridi was charged on 8 February 2007 of bringing the game into disrepute after he was seen on camera thrusting his bat at a spectator who swore at him on his way up the steps after being dismissed. Replays seemed to show that the action was not meant to cause injury, though the spectator had to move out of the way to avoid contact. Afridi was found guilty and given a four-game ODI suspension, the minimum possible ban for such an offense, meaning that he would miss Pakistan's first two 2007 World Cup matches. The PCB and Afridi chose not to appeal the ban, despite feeling that the punishment was excessively harsh. It should be noted that the South African Cricket administrators and the spectator were both also rebuked for playing a part in the causation of the incident.^[23]

Ball tampering "Bite-gate"

On 31 January 2010, Afridi was caught on camera biting vigorously into the ball towards the end of the 5th Commonwealth Bank One Day International series in Australia, at the WACA Ground.^[24][25][26] He was immediately called by the match referee after the match was over. In his defence, he told a Pakistani TV channel that he was trying to "Smell the ball" ^[27] however later Afridi pleaded guilty to ball tampering and he was banned from two Twenty20 internationals.^[28] This incident was widely reported in media as the Bitegate incident.^[29]

References

• Zaltzman, Andy. "Unpredictable XI - part 2." Cricinfo, 8 April 2009.

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Duncan Steer (June 12, 2009). "Shahid Afridi: the story of my life". Spin: The Cricket Magazine. http://www.spincricket.com/2009/06/12/shahid-afridi-speaks/. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
2. ^ "Kenya v Pakistan Scorecard". Cricketarchive. (2 October 1996). http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/62/62836.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
3. ^ "Pakistan v Australia Scorecard". Cricketarchive. (October 1998). http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/66/66559.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
4. ^ "Shahid Afridi and Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar are the most popular cricketers in the two countries". DAWN.com. August 14, 2007. http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/14/top1.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
5. ^ "Sameer Four Nations Cup, sixth qualifying match - Pakistan vs Sri Lanka". Cricinfo. (October 1996). http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/151342.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
6. ^ "Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODI no. 1125 - Scorecard". Cricinfo. (4 October 1996). http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66057.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
7. ^ "One-Day Internationals / Batting records / Most runs off one over". Cricinfo. http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/278847.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
8. ^ "Records / One-Day Internationals / Batting records / Fastest hundreds". Cricinfo. http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/211608.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
9. ^ "Shahid Afridi Videos". Google Videos. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2622774802229026856&q=afridi. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
10. ^ ^{a b} "Shahid Afridi 12 Run Shot (Video)". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnzTRXzgpXQ. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
11. ^ "Records / One-Day Internationals / Batting records / Most runs in career". Cricinfo. http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/83548.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
12. ^ ^{a b c} "Records / One-Day Internationals / Batting records / Fastest Centuries". Cricinfo. http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/211608.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
13. ^ Zaltzman 2009. Zaltzman, who appointed Afridi captain of his hypothetical "Unpredictable XI", also noted that, as of April 8, "His average Test innings lasts for the same length of time as Jimmy Anderson's, but contains more runs than Hussain's, Cronje's or Ranatunga's. And with the ball, he dismissed Tendulkar three times in two Tests in 2005, which is as many times as Warne managed to snare the Mumbai Maestro in his entire career."
14. ^ ^{a b} "Pakistan vs India". Cricinfo. (28 March 2005). http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/PAK_IN_IND/SCORECARDS/PAK_IND_T3_24-28MAR2005.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
15. ^ "Records / One-Day Internationals / Batting records / Youngest Centurions". Cricinfo. http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/282987.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
16. ^ Cricinfo "5th ODI: India v Pakistan at Kanpur, Apr 15, 2005". Cricinfo. http://content-pak.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/64942.html Cricinfo. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
17. ^ "Records / One-Day Internationals / Batting records / Most ODI sixes in career". Cricinfo. http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/ODIS/BATTING/ODI_BAT_MOST_6S.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
18. ^ "Afridi's 4 Sixes of 4 balls vs India 2005 Test Match (Video)". Google Videos. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1679723395732493873&q=afridi+harbhajan. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
19. ^ "Records / One-Day Internationals / Batting records / Fastest 100s/50s in ODI cricket". Cricinfo. http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/ODIS/BATTING/ODI_BAT_FASTEST_100S.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
20. ^ "Afridi banned for damaging pitch". London: BBC. (21 November 2005). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4457910.stm. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
21. ^ "Afridi banned for scuffing pitch". ABC News. (22 November 2005). http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2005/11/22/1513162.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
22. ^ Cricinfo Staff (November 29, 2005). "Giles to fly home for hip surgery". Cricinfo. http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/pakveng/content/story/226727.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
23. ^ "Afridi calls for discipline rethink". Sporting Life. http://www.sportinglife.com/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=international_feed/07/02/12/CRICKET_Pak-Pakistan_Afridi.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26. 
24. ^ "Australia complete one-day series sweep over Pakistan". bbc.co.uk. London. 2010-01-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8489950.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-31. 
25. ^ "Controversy mars Australia win". metro.co.uk. http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/811071-controversy-mars-australia-win. Retrieved 2010-01-31. 
26. ^ "Shahid Afridi in ball-tampering scandal during wild night at the WACA". theaustralian.com.au. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/shahid-afridi-in-ball-tampering-scandal-during-wild-night-at-the-waca/story-e6frg7mf-1225825270861. Retrieved 2010-01-31. 
27. ^ "Afridi's comment sparks backlash". Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Bitegate-Afridi-comment-sparks-backlash/articleshow/5525662.cms. 
28. ^ "Afridi banned for two T20s for ball-tampering". Cricinfo. 2010-01-31. http://www.cricinfo.com/ausvpak09/content/current/story/446437.html. Retrieved 2010-01-31. 
29. ^ "bitegate:Afridi's comments spark backlash". The Times of India. 2010-02-02. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Bitegate-Afridi-comment-sparks-backlash/articleshow/5525662.cms. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 

External links

indian Cricketer Zaheer Khan

Full name Zaheer Khan
Born October 7, 1978, Shrirampur, Maharashtra
Current age 30 years 177 days
Major teams India, Asia XI, Asia XI, Bangalore Royal Challengers, Baroda, Mumbai, Surrey, Worcestershire
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Left-arm fast-medium

Career statistics

Test debut Bangladesh v India at Dhaka, Nov 10-13, 2000
Last Test New Zealand v India at Napier, Mar 26-30, 2009

Test statistics
ODI debut Kenya v India at Nairobi (Gym), Oct 3, 2000
Last ODI New Zealand v India at Auckland, Mar 14, 2009

ODI statistics
T20I debut South Africa v India at Johannesburg, Dec 1, 2006
Last T20I New Zealand v India at Wellington, Feb 27, 2009

T20I statistics
First-class debut 1999/00
Last First-class New Zealand v India at Napier, Mar 26-30, 2009
List A debut 1999/00
Last List A New Zealand v India at Auckland, Mar 14, 2009
Twenty20 debut Glamorgan v Worcestershire at Cardiff, Jun 27, 2006
Last Twenty20 New Zealand v India at Wellington, Feb 27, 2009






Zahir Khan's Profile

Like Waqar Younis a decade before, Zaheer Khan yorked his way into the collective consciousness of the cricket world: his performances at the ICC Knockout Trophy in Kenya in September 2000 announced the arrival of an all-too-rare star in the Indian fast-bowling firmament. He might just as easily have come from the Pakistani pace stable: well-built, quick and unfazed by a batsman's reputation, Zaheer could move the ball both ways off the wicket and swing the old ball at some pace. After initially struggling to establish himself as a new-ball bowler, he came of age on the 2002 tour of the West Indies, when he led the line with great heart. His subsequent displays in England and New Zealand - not to mention some eye-catching moments at the World Cup - established him at the forefront of India's new pace generation, but a hamstring injury saw him relegated to bit-part performer as Indian cricket scripted some of its finest moments away in Australia and Pakistan. After that, his pace has dropped and his attitude was questioned, as a new breed of pace bowlers pushed him aside to move to the front of the queue. Zaheer's response was to head to Worcestershire and take 78 wickets in the 2006 county season, a performance that earned him a recall for the tour of South Africa. He was the perfect foil for Sreesanth there, and he then regained his status as leader of the pack with a matchwinning display at Trent Bridge, as India won only their fifth Test on English soil.

Ajantha Mendis - Sri Lanka Player Profile

Full name Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslo Mendis
Born March 11, 1985, Moratuwa
Current age 23 years 137 days
Major teams Sri Lanka, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sri Lanka Army, Wayamba
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak, Legbreak




Career statistics
ODI debut West Indies v Sri Lanka at Port of Spain, Apr 10, 2008

Last ODI India v Sri Lanka at Karachi, Jul 6, 2008
First-class debut Lankan Cricket Club v Sri Lanka Army at Welisara, Nov 17-19, 2006
Last First-class Sri Lanka Army v Moratuwa Sports Club at Panagoda, Mar 21-23, 2008
List A debut Sri Lanka Army v Lankan Cricket Club at Colombo (RPS), Nov 8, 2006
Last List A India v Sri Lanka at Karachi, Jul 6, 2008

Twenty20 debut Sri Lanka Army v Ragama Cricket Club at Colombo (CCC), Feb 28, 2007
Last Twenty20 Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab at Kolkata, May 25, 2008

Profile
Although classified as a right-arm, slow-medium bowler, Ajantha Mendis is a spinner who bowls a mixture of googlies, offbreaks, top-spinners, flippers and legbreaks. Batsmen have been confounded by the variety of deliveries he has up his sleeve and are at a loss to figure out what his stock delivery is. Mendis was a prolific wicket-taker for Sri Lanka Army in the 2007-08 season and had taken 46 wickets at an average of 10.56 and strike-rate of 31 from six matches. His performances did not go unnoticed for Mendis was called up to the Sri Lanka squad for the tour of West Indies in April 2008. After impressing on debut in the Caribbean, Mendis only grew in stature - in particular, because of his 'flicker', which he releases with an unusual snap of his fingers. In a short span Mendis has flummoxed some international batsmen who've played spin pretty well in their careers. Just ask the Indians, who were clueless against him in the Asia Cup final, where Mendis netted 6 for 13 in his eighth one-day international. His 17 wickets in the tournament duly earned him the Man-of-the-Series award and soon after earned a call-up to the Test squad to face India at home.