Abdul Razzaq (Urdu: عبد الرزاق, born 2 December 1979) is a Pakistani right arm Fast-medium bowler and a right-handed batsman, who is currently representing the Pakistan cricket team. He emerged in International Cricket in 1996, when he made his One Day International debut against Zimbabwe at his home ground in Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan, a month earlier of his seventeenth birthday. In 2010, Razzaq is currently representing the national team in One Day International and Twenty20 cricket matches.
[edit]Skills in cricket
Originally a fast bowler, Razzaq's batting has improved throughout the years and he has been recognized as an all-rounder. He is best known in cricket as an aggressive batsman and has the ability to score quick runs. This versatility has given him the talent of batting and bowling at every position on the team. He is also one of Pakistan's most effective hitters of the cricket ball.
Despite his qualities, he has been criticized by some, for his batting techniques in Test matches and this is probably one of the reason that he is not on the Test side. However he has excelled in the One Day International arena, with several excellent performances. He is also an accurate fast bowler who has been successful against the batting opposition. Razzaq claims to have learned many things while playing under former captain Wasim Akram during the 1990s and early 2000. One of the things that he learned, was his bowling action, which makes it hard for the batsman to predict at what speed the ball is going to be delivered.
[edit]Career
[edit]Test cricket and One Day International
Razzaq made his One Day International debut in November 1996, against Zimbabwe, but had to wait just over three years to make hisTest cricket debut for Pakistan, eventually doing so against Australia in Brisbane on November 1999. In the 1999-2000 Carlton and United Series, he rose to fame and was named man of the series for his all round performance. During a match in Hobart against India, Razzaq scored a half century and took five wickets. In the same tournament, he hit former Australian fast bowler, Glenn McGrath for 5 fours, which totaled to 20 runs in one over.
In 2000, Razzaq became the youngest cricketer in the world to take a Test cricket hat trick in a match against Sri Lanka. He has scored two centuries and twenty two fifties in One Day International matches. His highest score was 112 runs, against South Africa in 2002, where he shared a partnership of 257 runs with Pakistani batsman Saleem Elahi. His second century was scoring 107 runs not out in a match against Zimbabwe in 2004. During this match, he saved Pakistan from a disastrous start and eventually won them the match. His first fifty came in 90 deliveries, before accelerating in the second fifty runs, which was scored in just 21 balls. Also in 2003-2004, he scored 89 runs from 40 balls against New Zealand, whose captain Stephen Fleming called him the "best hitter" in the world.[1]In January 2005, He was involved in the ACC Asian XI that took on the ICC World XI in the World Cricket Tsunami Appeal charity match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.
As a fast bowler, Razzaq experienced a steady decline in speed and performance during the 2003 cricket World Cup and 2004. In this period he was used as a supporting bowler. However, from 2005 to the end of 2006, he regained his speed and he has won many matches for Pakistan with his bowling. His best bowling figures in a One Day International match is 6 wickets for 35 runs. His other excellent performance arrived against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 1999, where Pakistan were all out for 196 runs and he took 5 wickets for 31 runs to draw the match. During the 2005-2006 Test match series against India, Razzaq took 9 wickets and scored 205 runs in two Test matches he played, which resulted in an improvement of his performance. His batting remained generally consistent from 2000 to 2006, although his place on the Test team was never secure.
Razzaq's place in the Pakistan national team has been marred by injuries and absences. In 2005 it was revealed that he was suffering from an addiction to spinach, which was causing him to suffer from nausea and sickness while playing. This led to him being known as 'Popeye' by his team mates.[2] In 2007, a poor performance in a series with both the bat and ball, in a match against South Africa, accompanied with an injury that forced him out of the2007 cricket World Cup, saw him dropped from the 2007 World Twenty20, a decision that received widespread criticism from cricket individuals.
[edit]Retirement and return
On 20 August, 2007, Razzaq announced his retirement from International Cricket as a protest against his omission from the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 squad.[3] However, on 27 October, 2007 Razzaq revoked his decision following discussions with his local cricket club and coach, saying, "Maybe I made that (decision to retire) in the heat of the moment."[4]
In 2007-2008, he played in the Indian Cricket League, playing for Hyderabad Heroes. His excellent performance in the last over during the Indian Cricket League final, allowed his team to take a 1-0 lead in the best of three finals. The finals were eventually won by Hyderabad Heroes, 2-0. During this time, his international career remained in doubt, as the Pakistan Cricket Board had banned players who participated in the unofficial league.[5]
After playing for two seasons, he departed from the Indian Cricket League in order to be selected and play for the Pakistan national team, saying that he hoped the Pakistan Cricket Boards's ban on Indian Cricket League players would soon be revoked and that he has a desire to play for Pakistan national team once again, affirming that his retirement was not necessarily a permanent decision.
| “ | "By my making an announcement saying that I've retired, it doesn't mean that it's a permanent thing,". | ” |
— Abdul Razzaq on his decision to retire from the Pakistan national team .[6] | ||
In 2009, he was selected into the Pakistan's squad for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England as a replacement for injured fast bowler Yasir Arafat, thus becoming the first Indian Cricket League player, whose ban was lifted by the Pakistan Cricket Board.[6] He played an important role in Pakistan's victory in the tournament, taking 5 wickets at an average of 14.80 and an economy rate of 5.92. His figures of 3 wickets for 20 runs, played a significant role in Pakistan's victory against Sri Lanka in the final. As a result, he along with another former Indian Cricket League player Mohammad Yousuf were awarded ‘A’ category mid-term central contracts by the Pakistan Cricket Board.[7]
In the 2009-2010 season, Razzaq missed out on the tours of New Zealand and Australia, due to injury, however he was selected in the two match Twenty20 International series againstEngland in February 2010. His innings of 46 runs not out from 18 deliveries in the second match of the series, cemented Pakistan a victory which became their first in eleven internationals outings.[8]
[edit]England County Cricket
He has also played at the English county level for Middlesex County Cricket Club, Worcestershire County Cricket Club and Surrey County Cricket Club. He joined Surrey in June 2008 on a short term contract to play in the Twenty20 Cup. He helped Surrey win against Sussex County Cricket Club by scoring 39 runs from 19 balls. Despite his short period at the Oval, Razzaq became a favorite player amongst Surrey supporters.
In March 2010 Razzaq signed for Hampshire County Cricket Club as one of their four overseas players for the inaugural Friends Provident t20.
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