Abdul Razzaq (Urdu: عبد الرزاق) (born 2 December 1979, Lahore, Punjab) is a Pakistani cricketer and a former member of the Indian Cricket League.
Razzaq is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler. His bowling, at one time rapid, has now seen an increase on line and length, although sacrificing some pace. He emerged onto the world cricket scene in November 1996 when he made his One Day International debut against the touring Zimbabweans at his home ground in Lahore a month short of his seventeenth birthday.
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[edit] Career
Although originally a bowler, his batting soon improved and he became known as an all-rounder. Razzaq has achieved the double of 1000 Test runs and 100 Test wickets. He has the ability to both hit out or graft for runs, and this versatility has given him the experience of batting at every position. He is also a useful and accurate fast bowler who has troubled some of the world's leading batsmen. He had to wait just over three years to make his Test debut for Pakistan, eventually doing so against Australia in Brisbane in November 1999.
Abdul Razzaq claims to have learned while playing under Wasim Akram. One of the things that he has learned from Wasim Akram is his fast arm action which makes it hard to predict at what speed the ball is going to be pitched.
As one of the game's most effective sloggers, Abdul Razzaq bats with a long handle and has pioneered clearing the front foot. The precarious technique has been used since by other batsmen, most notably Jacob Oram, to different degrees of success. However, his batting is generally ineffective against spin bowling, particularly in Test matches. He has also been criticized by some for his batting extremes: while a hard-hitting one-day batsman, he is also a stonewaller in the extreme mode, sometimes batting hours in single figures during Tests. His Test batting has been criticized, and it has been suggested that he play his one-day game in order to be more effective. It may be that Razzaq's essential role in the Test lineup is as a stonewalling batsman.
Razzaq 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 January 2005. As of May 2005 Razzaq remains an integral part of Pakistan's Test and one-day squads and is considered especially vital in the ODI team, where his all-round skills make him an important asset to the squad.
In the 1999-2000 Carlton and United Series that he rose to fame Razzaq was named man of the series for his all round performance. In a pool match in Hobart against India, Razzaq scored a half century and took five wickets. In that same tournament he hit Glenn McGrath for 5 fours in an over. Razzaq is also the youngest player in the world to take a Test hat trick.
Abdul Razzaq has achieved two centuries and twenty-one fifties in one-day cricket. His highest one-day score, 112, was made against South Africa in 2002, where he shared a partnership of 257 runs with Saleem Elahi. His second century, an unbeaten 107, was made against Zimbabwe in Multan in 2004. On this occasion, he saved Pakistan from a disastrous start and eventually won them the match. His first fifty came steadily in 90 balls, before accelerating in the second fifty, which was scored in just 21. Also in 2003-2004, he launched a rapid 89 off 40 balls against New Zealand, whose captain Stephen Fleming called him the "best hitter" in the world.[1]
With the ball, Abdul Razzaq experienced a steady decline in pace and performance from the 2003 World Cup to late 2004. In this period he was used, more than anything, as a containing bowler. However, from 2005 to the end of 2006, his bowling regained its earlier consistency and guile, if not its pace.
His batting remained consistent from 2000 to 2006, although his Test place was never secure, but a single poor series with both bat and ball in 2007 against South Africa, coupled with an injury that forced him out of the 2007 World Cup, saw him dropped from the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup, a decision that received widespread criticism.
His bowling has also won Pakistan many matches; his career-best figures are 6 wickets for 35 runs. Another memorable performance was against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 1999, where after Pakistan were bundled out for 196 runs, and he took 5 for 31 to tie the match.
In the 2005/2006 Test series against India, Razzaq took 9 wickets and hit 205 runs in the two Tests he played, moving him up ICC rankings.
He has played at English county level for Middlesex and Worcestershire.
Despite such an impressive statistical base Razzaq's place in the Pakistan National Team has been marred by strange injuries and unexplained absences. In 2005 it was revealed that he was suffering an addiction to spinach which was causing him to suffer from nausea and sickness whilst playing. This led to him being known as "Popeye" by teammates.[2]
On August 20, 2007 Razzaq announced his retirement from international cricket as a protest against his omission from the World Twenty20 squad.[3]
On October 27, 2007 Razzaq took back his decision to retire following discussions with his local club and long-time coach, saying, "Maybe I made that [decision to retire] in the heat of the moment."[4] However, Razzaq's international career remains in doubt due to his participation in the inaugral Indian Cricket League.[5]
Razzaq's terrific final over in the ICL tournament final allowed his team Hyderabad heroes to take a 1-0 lead in the best of 3 finals. The finals were eventually won by Hyderabad Heroes 2-0 after a cliffhanger second game which ended in a bowl out.
He joined Surrey in June 2008 on a short-term contract. Razzaq was signed with the Twenty20 County Cup in mind. He helped Surrey to victory against Sussex by scoring 39 off 19 balls. Despite his short period at the Oval, Razzaq has become a fan-favourite amongst Surrey supporters.
| “ | "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] | ||
Razzaq said recently in an interview with PakPassion.net that he hoped the PCB's ban on ICL players would soon be revoked and he stated his desire to play for Pakistan national team once again, affirming that his retirement wasn't necessarily a permanent decision. Razzaq has become the first Ex ICL player whose ban has been lifted by ICC and he has been included in Pakistan's T20 squad in England as a replacement for injured Yasir Arafat[6]
He along with another ex-ICL player Mohammad Yousuf had been awarded ‘A’ category mid-term central contracts by the Pakistan Cricket Board after his excellent performance in recently concluded 2009 ICC World Twenty20.[7]
[edit] Career bests
[edit] Tests
Test Debut: vs Australia, Brisbane, 1999/2000
- Razzaq's best Test batting score of 134 was made against Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2001/02
- His best Test bowling figures of 5 for 35 came against Sri Lanka, Karachi, 2004/05
[edit] One-day Internationals
ODI Debut: vs Zimbabwe, Lahore, 1996/97
- Razzaq's best ODI batting score of 112 was made against South Africa, Port Elizabeth, 2002/03
- His best ODI bowling figures of 6 for 35 came against Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2001/02
First-class
- Razzaq's best first-class batting score is 203 not out
- His best first-class bowling figures are 7 for 51
List A Limited Overs
- Razzaq's best List A batting score is 112
- His best List A bowling figures are 6 for 35
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