Azhar Mahmood [Merged]

[Noreen]

How good is Azhar Mahmood because I've never seen him play before

[hasbeen]

on his day, brilliant. on other days pathetic. i guess he will fit right in with the current pakistani team.

[sameer]

noreen
how old are you??? :13:

[Noreen]

noreen
how old are you??? :13:

Why do you care?

[hasbeen]

Why do you care?

he aint chatting u up love, don't worry. he asking because you can't be that old as otherwise you would have seen azhar mahmood play. im guessing your 15,16???

[sameer]

yeh thats the point i want to make

[12thMan]

I don't think he did anything special in Surrey last year or two. maybe I am wrong because they pick him as overseas player and lose that spot for a better player. maybe he is cheap or has made connections in management???

[khalidali7070]

Or may be surrey offered him a deal that they will pay him in unda parathas and kabab rolls....................unlimited delivery

[Pathan007]

he averages 75 against SA in tests.3 centuries, 2 in SA ,1 in Pak. :19:

[PlanetPakistan]

He was suppose to the next Ian Botham(both have similar playing style) but for some reason it all went south.
In his prime he was an excellent player of fast bowling(not so good against spin though)....his innings at Durban was rated as the 8th greatest test innings in the history of test cricket... Azhar was also a very handy medium pacer and regularly bowled his quota in the ODIs. So basically he is just one of the numerous wasted talents in PAK cricket.

[khalidali7070]

he averages 75 against SA in tests.3 centuries, 2 in SA ,1 in Pak. :19:
Almost 10 years ago and even now i was going through his batting stats in the recent domestic season its not that impressive in the short version of the game...............i hope to be proved wrong and hope that he could make some difference in the team..............or atleast his presence could motivate the lifeless abdul razak to perform





2006/07 Averages for Azhar Mahmood
Batting and Fielding Matches Inns Not Out Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
ABN-AMRO Patron's Trophy 2006/07 6 10 1 126 47 14.00 0 0 2
ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 Cup 2006/07 2 2 0 18 11 9.00 0 0 0
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2006/07 4 5 0 391 169 78.20 2 2 2

Bowling Balls Mdns Runs Wkts BB Ave 5wI 10wM
ABN-AMRO Patron's Trophy 2006/07 792 34 355 22 5-35 16.13 1 0
ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 Cup 2006/07 42 0 36 4 3-17 9.00 0 0
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2006/07 763 31 345 26 5-33 13.26 2 0

[Pathan007]

Almost 10 years ago and even now i was going through his batting stats in the recent domestic season its not that impressive in the short version of the game...............i hope to be proved wrong and hope that he could make some difference in the team..............or atleast his presence could motivate the lifeless abdul razak to perform





2006/07 Averages for Azhar Mahmood
Batting and Fielding Matches Inns Not Out Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
ABN-AMRO Patron's Trophy 2006/07 6 10 1 126 47 14.00 0 0 2
ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 Cup 2006/07 2 2 0 18 11 9.00 0 0 0
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2006/07 4 5 0 391 169 78.20 2 2 2

Bowling Balls Mdns Runs Wkts BB Ave 5wI 10wM
ABN-AMRO Patron's Trophy 2006/07 792 34 355 22 5-35 16.13 1 0
ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 Cup 2006/07 42 0 36 4 3-17 9.00 0 0
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2006/07 763 31 345 26 5-33 13.26 2 0dude, this is not impressive? :9:

[khalidali7070]

I am not talking about his performance inthe longer version of the game...........
if that was the case he should have called in for the test series

[iafzal]

Better batsman then bolwers, although he is doing well in bowling these days. He also has taken 6 wickets twice in ODIs so not too shabby.
I remeber him scoring a century in his first test, very few Pakistanis have done it.
M. Waseem and Miandad are 2 other I can recall but I think there are total of 5 or so.

[safehands46]

noreen
how old are you??? :13:



lol.

[Master Blaster]

There is no doubt that he is a pretty handy batsman. But if you are counting on him to do well with the ball then best of luck !!
He was an ordinary-to-not bad kind of bowler with not so quick pace even in his younger days, at this stage of his career i wont expect him to be more quicker than he was ever before. especially with that extra weight he is carrying. Forget about line and length he was never consistent in his area. I expect him to the perfect kind of bowler for the batsmen to go after. And i don't know how quick he will be in the field and with his running between the wickets.

I think to include him now is a step taken backwards !!

Wasim Bari has said,
"Azhar has been in good domestic form and the team management in South Africa felt they needed to have him in the squad"

Earlier Bari had said,
"Mahmood has not been a regular in domestic cricket. He went to the last World Cup [in 2003] and did not play. We want to move forward."


Though since most of the pakistan bowlers are out of form i do think there is no harm in giving him one final chance. Who knows he might surprise everyone and come good !!

But until he proves everyone wrong, he is a bad selection. A specialist pacer should have been replaced by another specialist pacer !!

[ahsan17]

Pretty average in international cricket. If I recall my memory, he averages about 18 in batting and 37 in bowling. The reverse would've been much better, but the way it is, that's pretty mediocre. Though he can be great on some days, but mostly not that good. Hopefully that changes soon though.

[PlanetPakistan]

well as of now the only reason why he is in the team is because they want to tell A Razzaq that hey look if you don't perform well then we have this lad who can play ahead of you in the World cup!

[Invictus]

Well he lost to Razzaq in his prime. He was apparently a better batsman. I dont see how he would be any better then the other kid Arafat specially since he would be replacing a bowler.

[safehands46]

Well he lost to Razzaq in his prime. He was apparently a better batsman. I dont see how he would be any better then the other kid Arafat specially since he would be replacing a bowler.

where is this coming from azhar mahmoud a better batsmen. he was a true all rounder ok at everything.

Razzaq at that time was batting one down and taking the new ball. razzaq was talented compared to mahmoud.

now he has a chance to make a impact but i doubt it even now its very hard to justify benching razzaq in place of him.

[Invictus]

Razzaq was always a better bowler. There never was competition between the two in bowling. Ever since Azhar's innings in SA he was considered a better batsman. Razzaq came one down in the WC of 99 because of his block mode. He was there to block an end which he did but over all Azhar was considered a better batsman and Razzaq the better bowler.

[Kriketer]

He's just like others!

[safehands46]

Razzaq was always a better bowler. There never was competition between the two in bowling. Ever since Azhar's innings in SA he was considered a better batsman. Razzaq came one down in the WC of 99 because of his block mode. He was there to block an end which he did but over all Azhar was considered a better batsman and Razzaq the better bowler.

razzaq was a lot better back then. he didnt have these block modes. he was hailed as the first legitimate imran khan replacement. the hype around him being a fast bowler who could bat up the order. mahmoud wasnt that quick he was more english bowler like. nice seem bowler.

[Farhad]

Azhar is a tremendous cricket brain. If he has regained physial fitness he is a real asset for the ODI team.

[Invictus]

razzaq was a lot better back then. he didnt have these block modes. he was hailed as the first legitimate imran khan replacement. the hype around him being a fast bowler who could bat up the order. mahmoud wasnt that quick he was more english bowler like. nice seem bowler.

mera bahi thats what I am saying too Razzaq was always the better bowler. However Razzaq couldn't play spin neither is he comfortable against fast bowlers or against short pitches bowling. Razzaq is at his best against the medium or fast medium variety. Azhar is a better batsman of fast bowlers and better then Razzaq when facing spin.

[SameerM]

tell u truth, I reckon he is a KNOWN performer.. and SOMETIMES underperformer..

But he's better then the existing bowling line up excluding Asif OFCOURSE!

[Usman Chadda]

Last time Azhar bowled he was largely ineffective (VB Series 2005). Didn't look too impressive with the bat either

[Imran]

Last time Azhar bowled he was largely ineffective (VB Series 2005). Didn't look too impressive with the bat either

and you come to this conclusion based on the solitary ball he balled in that series do you ?

[IMMY69]

Last time Azhar bowled he was largely ineffective (VB Series 2005). Didn't look too impressive with the bat either

yes but he batted at no.8 and was practically leading the attack...remember there was no shoiab and this was the breakthrough series for rana as the bowler...

my opinion is that it is a backward step by recruiting azhar now...but i can assure you that this boy had ample of talent and in my humble opinion was far more talented then razaq - a far greater fieldsman and an aggresive batsman who possesed a far better technique then razaq...azhar had it all going for him...

someone mentioned that he was never quick as a bowler but just a mediocre medium pacer....let me tell you that is far from the truth...at his peak he could bowl right into the upp eighties and even touch 90mph...i remember the semi final against new zealand in the icc tourney in kenya.on a placid track he took a four fer and dismissed the top order with his pace...

what a waste of a supreme talent!

[Saqlain_doosra]

I was big fan of Azhar until he put on all that weight. IF we didn't have razzaq he might have been different player. As IMran khan used to say Azhar bats too low down the order in domestic and international cricket.

Right now, it might be too much for him to play international crciekt at high standard. We can only hope that he plays the way he did 99-2001. IF he does, then it will only help pakistan.

[Usman Chadda]

and you come to this conclusion based on the solitary ball he balled in that series do you ?

What the hell are you talking about. Check the VB Series scorecards on Cricinfo and you will realise that he bowled more than one ball in the whole series. Lets see his performances match by match:

2nd Match Vs Australia - 3 not out
6 overs 33 runs 1 wicket

3rd Match Vs West Indies - 9.1 overs 57 runs 1 wicket
DNB

5th Match Vs Australia - 1
4.2 overs 14 runs no wickets

7th Match Vs West Indies - 9 overs 63 runs no wickets
40 not out (perhaps the only influential innings he played in the whole series)

2nd Final Vs Australia - 1 ball 1 run no wickets
13

I suggest you do a bit of research before embarrassing yourself like that!

[Monsee]

Azhar is a tremendous cricket brain. If he has regained physial fitness he is a real asset for the ODI team.



Come on Farhad...we have all seen this tremendous brain at work against spinners and also when he bowl outside the off stump and way too short!

Now the 2nd part about regaining physical fitness...chances of that happening are (even while I try to be POSITIVE) as slim as Shoaib bowling in both innings, throughout a whole series...without getting injured at the end of it! :21:

[khalidali7070]

Now the 2nd part about regaining physical fitness...chances of that happening are (even while I try to be POSITIVE) as slim as Shoaib bowling in both innings, throughout a whole series...without getting injured at the end of it! :21:
Did bob have a problem with him when he first joined the team as a coach that he use to eat paratha rolls early in the moring

[Imran]

What the hell are you talking about. Check the VB Series scorecards on Cricinfo and you will realise that he bowled more than one ball in the whole series. Lets see his performances match by match:

2nd Match Vs Australia - 3 not out
6 overs 33 runs 1 wicket

3rd Match Vs West Indies - 9.1 overs 57 runs 1 wicket
DNB

5th Match Vs Australia - 1
4.2 overs 14 runs no wickets

7th Match Vs West Indies - 9 overs 63 runs no wickets
40 not out (perhaps the only influential innings he played in the whole series)

2nd Final Vs Australia - 1 ball 1 run no wickets
13

I suggest you do a bit of research before embarrassing yourself like that!

ok, you got me. double or nothing - if he plays and does well, were even - if he plays and bombs then you're right all along.

[MCMLXXXII]

I remember when both Razzaq and Azhar burst into the scene. In fact I distinctly remember the centruy Azhar scored on his debut. He scored a century along with Ali Naqvi who scored a century on his debut. Azhar even scored a 50 in the second innings in the game and got man of the match on debut. He remained not out in both innings and got 2 wickets as well. There were really high hopes form him since then.

One thing that ruined his ODI form was that he would always come very late in the order. Wasim would promote himself and send Azhar down at 8th when Wasim had a horrible ODI batting for at the time. I believe we could have wom many more matches if Azhar would have come before Wasim.

His bowling was good on seaming wickets and he utilized the pitch a lot. This is why his bowling figures are not that impressive given the pitches he bowled on, but when he got a good seaming wicket he took plenty of wickets.

[Easa]

Azhar was ignored, I thought during the VB series. He was going in to bat at 9 and bowled only 1 ball in one of the finals.

[Mutazalzaluzzaman Tarar]

One thing that ruined his ODI form was that he would always come very late in the order. Wasim would promote himself and send Azhar down at 8th when Wasim had a horrible ODI batting for at the time. I believe we could have wom many more matches if Azhar would have come before Wasim.

I still remember the tournament in Sharjah where Wasim promoted himself ahead of Azhar (and possibly Moin too) in a tight game. we needed to chase run a ball or something even easier. and Wasim played an inexplicable innings of 4 off 19 deliveries. he was deadbatting balls when all we needed was singles. in the end, the pressure was too much, Azhar tried valiantly but we lost.

this was around the time when Pakistan had just dominated and whitewashed West Indies in Pakistan. we were clear favourites for the Sharjah tournaments and Azhar was the toast of the town. and yet Wasim sent him at number 8 or something. I believe this match actually cost Wasim the captaincy.

the tourney was won by the Adam Holliake led England. they played a lot of guys who I've never heard about since.

[Amoeba]

I still remember the tournament in Sharjah where Wasim promoted himself ahead of Azhar (and possibly Moin too) in a tight game. we needed to chase run a ball or something even easier. and Wasim played an inexplicable innings of 4 off 19 deliveries. he was deadbatting balls when all we needed was singles. in the end, the pressure was too much, Azhar tried valiantly but we lost.

this was around the time when Pakistan had just dominated and whitewashed West Indies in Pakistan. we were clear favourites for the Sharjah tournaments and Azhar was the toast of the town. and yet Wasim sent him at number 8 or something. I believe this match actually cost Wasim the captaincy.

the tourney was won by the Adam Holliake led England. they played a lot of guys who I've never heard about since.

That was one of the games that was under investigation.....

[prepare]

If he works hard and gets himself fit in the one month he has would you have in the world cup team. I feel that he wants to play and prove a point and have been pleasantly surprised by his bowling. I would definetely have him if he becomes fit.

You see i feel he lost his fitness because he thought his pakistan days were finished but now i hope he really goes away and work hard on his fitness.