Player Profiles

By Saj
November 23 2004

All that you need to know about the current stars of Pakistan Cricket. Their strengths, weakness and reasons why the fans either love or hate them.

Inzamam ul Haq. Born 03/03/1970 Multan

The captain of the Pakistani team and undoubtedly currently Pakistan's best batsman. A world class batsman whose power and finesse at the crease are an awesome sight. A great player of fast bowling and equally brilliant against spin, his form has not suffered as a result of him being made captain. Still has plenty to do before he becomes a great captain.


Yousuf Youhana. Born 27/08/1974 Lahore

Pakistan's current vice captain. An elegant batsman who when in full flow is a joy to watch. He is an important and experienced player around the current group of yooungsters. At times though appears to be rather lazy and his levels of concentration are something which he needs to improve upon.


Mohammed Sami. Born 24/02/1981 Karachi

One of the 2 current express pace merchants in the Pakistan team. A relatively slender guy, with a short run up, but a quick arm action enables him to reach scorching pace. His one day career has flourished, but he is yet to find his form consistently at test level. Also a useful lower order batsman, with a decent technique. One of the current and future stars of Pakistani cricket.


Shoaib Akhtar. Born 13/08/1975 Rawalpindi

The fastest bowler in the world. He can singlehandidly change the course of any match in the space of a few balls. Long, smooth run up which is very pleasant on the eye, make Shoaib one of the most popular and watchable cricketers in the world. His performances for Pakistan have been blighted by injury and run ins with authority at times. Enjoys his batting and can hit the ball a long way.


Abdul Razzaq. Born 02/12/1979 Lahore

Aggressive middle order batsman who is one of the hardest hitters of the ball in world cricket. Nothing is a lost cause when Razzaq is at the crease. However his bowling has lost a bit of zip of late and he seems to no longer have the knack of picking up many wickets. He has lost his test place and needs to get his bowling rhythm back to regain his spot in the test side.


Imran Farhat. Born 20/05/1982 Lahore

Dashing left handed opener who of late has been given a decent run in the team. Has responded by playing some mature knocks in the longer version as well as some highly entertaining and explosive one day innings. Imran has all the shots and has a bit of Saeed Anwar about the way he plays, however is still prone to playing occasional lose strokes which can cost him his wicket.


Taufeeq Umer. Born 20/06/1981 Lahore

Solid left handed opening batsman whose strength is his ability to play long innings. Taufeeq is a player who plays beautifully in the V and has superb judgement of which balls to play and which to leave. Gritty customer who is prepared to fight it out for his team. Excellent slip fielder too, who has taken some crucial catches at first slip. Currently out of favour with the selectors.


Yasir Hameed. Born 28/02/1978 Peshawar

Highly entertaining and free flowing right handed batsman. Opens in the one day game and bats at number 3 in tests. Yasir is equally efficient on both sides of the wicket and has a carefree attitude to his batting. Superb to watch when in full flow, he still needs to put a heavier price on his wicket and learn to curb his natural instincts when the team and the situation require it.


Danish Kaneria. Born 16/12/1980 Karachi

Tall, wiry leg spinner who posesses good variety in his bowling. Bowls an excellent googly which has caused many a good batsman problems. Because of his height has the ability to extract additional bounce from the pitch. Still learning the art of leg spin, but is ever improving. Needs to work on his batting and fielding, which are not test standard.


Shoaib Malik. Born 01/02/1982 Sialkot

Right arm middle order batsman and off break bowler. Malik is an ever improving cricketer who has become a regular choice in the one day and test side. His, at times explosive batting, steady bowling and superb fielding make him a useful 3 dimensional cricketer. However he needs to continue to work on his game to become a regular fixture in the test team.


Moin Khan. Born 23/09/1971 Karachi

Experienced wicketkeeper who provides Pakistan with some batting firepower lower down the order. Moin's batting and wicketkeeping would not make it into too many coaching manuals, however he remains effective and at times brilliant. Provides the team with plenty of verbal encouragement and tends to keep Inzi on his toes. Looks as though time has caught up wioth Moin with both his glovework and batting suffering, hence him not being selected for the tour of Australia.


Asim Kamal. Born 31/05/1976 Karachi

Solid left handed batsman who has made an excellent start to his test career. Asim is an experienced player on the domestic circuit and finally got his chance at senior level. He is technically very correct and plays the ball striaght and very late. Looks comfortable against spin or pace.


Umar Gul. Born 14/04/1984 Peshawar

Tall line and length bowler who has a "bit of Glenn McGrath" about him. Short run up, but a high arm action enables Umar to gain extra pace and bounce which can be quite deceptive to the batsman. Umar is predominantly an away swing bowler but has the ability to bowl the off cutter. Umar has time on his side and needs to maintain his steady improvement at international level. Currently suffering from a stress fracture of the lower back and a long term absentee from cricket.


Younis Khan. Born 29/11/1977 Mardan

Tall right handed batsman, who has not yet been able to establish himself in both forms of the game. A player who relies many on placement,timing and nudging the ball around, rather than big hits. Younis unfortunately has had the tendency to get himself out just when he looks well set. The selectors have shown a lot of faith in Younis and it's time he repaid some of that faith.


Kamran Akmal. Born 13/01/1982 Lahore

Wicketkeeper and aggresive right handed batsman. Kamran is now number one choice and has shown ability and potential behind the stumps after a good couple of matches against Sri Lanka and India. However his batting needs improvement and will be hoping to cement his place in the senior Pakistan team.


Shabbir Ahmed. Born 21/04/1976 Khanewal

Tall right arm fast medium bowler who has of late found himself to be a regular squad member in both forms of cricket. Shabbir was employed by Gloucestershire for part of the 2004 County season, after a good test series in New Zealand. He has steadily improved and needs to maintain his form and fitness to keep his place in the international setup. Currently recovering from a serious knee injury which has ruled him out of the tour of Australia.


Imran Nazir. Born 16/12/1981 Gujranwala

Right handed opening batsman who has been on the international scene since 1998. Imran has all the shots and is a joy to watch when in full swing. His breathtaking strokeplay make him a crowd favourite. However he has not fulfilled his potential and has found himself on the fringes of selection many a time. Was brought back for Asia Cup 2004 but failed miserably. A superb athlete in the field and taker of many excellent catches.


Rana Naved ul Hasan. Born 28/02/1978 Sheikhupura

Experienced all rounder who has been on the domestic scene for a number of years. He bowls right arm medium fast and is a useful lower order batsman. Rana has been selected for one day tournaments of late and has made an unspectuclar start to his international career. Really needs to make an impact sooner rather than later, or he could find himself forgotten by the selectors.


Shahid Afridi. Born 01/03/1980 Khyber

Right handed hard hitting batsman and leg spinner. Shahid is probably one of Pakistans most talked about players. He holds the record for the fastest one day century off only 37 balls, but his career has been a roller coaster ride, with him finding himself in and out of squads on a regular basis. Great entertainer, 100% for effort, very committed but has not provided the runs on a regular basis. How much more patience the selectors can show him is anybodys guess.


Azhar Mahmood. Born 28/02/1975 Rawalpindi

Right handed medium fast bowler and hard hitting lower order batsman. Azhar won many plaudits for his performances early in his career in SA. He was touted as a future star for Pakistan, but has underachieved in both one dayers and tests. Currently out of favour with the selectors, the omens don't look good for Azhar with Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik considered to be the leading all rounders by the selectors.


Salman Butt. Born 07/10/1984 Lahore

Stylish left handed top order batsman who has proved to be a huge success in domestic cricket. Salman has finally been given his chance at the expense of Imran Farhat. Elegant, strokemaker who likes to play his shots. Also a very useful fielder and quite athletic in the field. Scored a magnificent century in Kolkatta and has subsequently been selected for the tour of Australia.


Mohammad Khalil. Born 11/11/1982 Lahore

Left arm medium fast bowler who is one of the surprise selections for the tour of Australia. With Shabbir and Umar Gul injured, the selectors have opted for the variety of a left arm quick bowler in the squad. Domestic statisitcs are average but has impressed recently on "A" tours.

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