Abdul Razzaq: Player profile, the unstoppable juggernaut of Pakistan cricket – ICC World Cup 2011
A defining characteristic of most Pakistanis is their assertiveness in the field of cricket. The entire world acknowledges the fact that Pakistan produces some of the most talented players the cricketing world has ever seen. Every cricketer has their fair share of critics and Abdul http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Razzaq-c84421 is no exception. He is criticized for his lack of consistency, he might be criticized for his unorthodox batting style or the mechanical way he delivers the ball. However, he is unarguably one of the most explosive all-rounder on his day. He can lead his team to safety when the entire team crumbles, without an iota of emotion on his face.
Razzaq knows how to mould himself according to the situation. The serenity that is reflected in his personality is also found in his play. Directly starting his career as an ODI cricketer, Razzaq soon became an unavoidable asset of Pakistan Cricket Team. During his one and half decade old career, he has garlanded http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 with many marvelous victories.
Razzaq was born on 2 December, 1979 at Lahore, Pakistan. He used to play cricket at school and college level. Originally, he was a pace man but gradually evolved into an exquisite batsman. After showing his mettle in some big tournaments at local and national level, Razzaq came under the radar of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The PCB selection committee decided to try him in a series that was being played in Pakistan against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045. Razzaq was selected in the team in November 1996. This marked the beginning of an illustrious international career that had its fair share of dry patches.
On 1st November, 1996, Razzaq was in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, to play the first ODI of his career against the visiting team Zimbabwe. It was the time when world-class cricket gurus like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saqlain-Mushtaq-c88743 and Saleem Malik were ruling over the empire of the Pakistani cricket. It was the second ODI of the series. Zimbabwe batted first. Being a right-arm medium fast bowler, Razzaq was an integral part of his side’s pace attack. He bowled 7.3 overs and the results were amazing. For the loss of just 29 runs, Razzaq took 2 magnificent wickets. This was a sterling start. However he could not have a chance to bat in the match as Pakistan met the target of 196 runs in just 28.4 overs. This match consolidated Razzaq’s position in the team.
After that, Razzaq was seen in almost every ODI. His Test career was yet in the pipelines. Again in the same month, November 1999, he was given a chance to participate in a Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746. The first Test of the series was started on 5th November, 1999 at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane. Razzaq staged his debut as a lower-order batsman in the first innings of Pakistan. He scored just 11 runs. He could not take any wicket in the first innings.
Then there came the time when Razzaq was entitled to play the first mega international tournament of his career. It was the ICC World Cup 1999. On English soil, Razzaq orchestrated a splendid pantomime. In Pakistan’s group match against Australia, he scored 60 in a magnificent partnership with the cricket prodigy, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, Razzaq took 3 wickets for 32 runs that secured victory for his side.
Razzaq continued to remain in form. He shined resplendently in a tri-nation tournament named as Cartlon and United Series that was held in 2000. He emerged as the youngest pacer to make a hat-trick against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758. In 2002, he scored 112 in partnership with former player Saleem Elahi. However, Razzaq’s career experienced a slump during 2002-04. He came to play the first ever T20 of his career on 28 August, 2006 against England at Bristol. In the match that Pakistan won by 5 wickets, Razzaq took 3 wickets and stayed not out on 17.
Owing to his career setbacks, Razzaq was not selected for the ICC T20 World Cup tournament in 2007. Expressing his disappointment, Razzaq resigned from Pakistan cricket team and went to play the Indian Cricket League (ICL) for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hyderabad-c792 Heroes. During the period 2007-09, he also played England County Cricket.
In 2009, Razzaq patched up with the PCB and rejoined the team. Then he went on to play the ICC T20 World Cup’s 2009 edition that remained successful for him.
The right-handed top-order batsman and the right-arm medium-fast bowler, Razzaq, has played 46 Tests, 254 ODIs and 26 T20s. His scorecard is studded with 1946 Test, 4959 ODI and 346 T20 runs. On the bowling front, Razzaq has 100 Test, 262 ODI and 18 T20 wickets to his credit.
Razzaq is a key member of the 15-man Pakistani squad that is playing the 10th ICC World Cup. He will come to play lower down the order however it will depend a lot on how this fascinating cricketer performs during the World Cup. It may be his last world Cup and this is the perfect platform for Razzaq to demonstrate how he remains to be an unstoppable juggernaut within the Pakistan team.
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