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Abdul Razzaq is an all rounder who debuted for Pakistan in 1996 (ODI). He was recognised for his bowling but he showed that he was more than handy with the willow


Name: Abdul Razzaq
Birth date: 1979-12-02
Hometown: Lahore, Punjab
Teams: Pakistan, Asian Cricket Council XI, Combined XI, Pakistan A, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan's XI, Hampshire, Khan Research Laboratories, Lahore, Lahore Blues, Lahore City, Lahore Lions, Lahore Ravi, Middlesex, Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistanis, Sialkot Stallions, Surrey, Worcestershire, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited
Debut: Test: Nov 5-9, 1999 | ODI: Nov 1, 1996 | T20I: Aug 28, 2006

 

Abdul Razzaq made his international debut in 1996 as a promising all-rounder. Initially recognised primarily for his skill with the ball, on occasion touching 90mph, his accuracy and ability to extract movement suggested he could become the mainstay of Pakistan's Test bowling attack.

Razzaq's breakthrough year was 1999. He was one of the brightest young talents of the World Cup that year and a pivotal member of the Pakistan side that reached the final, picking up 13 wickets in the tournament whilst batting at number three, including a half-century against Australia. He was rewarded with a Test debut later in the year during Pakistan's tour of Australia and in the next few years, up to 2002, established himself as a key member of the national side in all formats of the game.

In 2000, he was named Man of the Series in the Carlton and United Series between Pakistan, India and Australia for his performance with bat and ball. Razzaq scored a half-century and took five wickets against India and later on famously struck five consecutive fours in an over against Glenn McGrath. Also in 2000, Razzaq became the youngest bowler to take a Test hat-trick in a match against Sri Lanka. This was his second notable bowling feat against Sri Lanka, the first being the 5/31 he took to secure a tie an ODI match in Sharjah 12 months earlier.

The stage appeared to be set for Razzaq to develop into a world class all-rounder but over the course of the next couple of years his bowling regressed, the incisiveness of his earlier efforts diminished. Not one to refrain from speaking his mind, his complaints regarding the mismanagement of his career have been a persistent feature.

As his bowling was became less reliable, he continued to develop a reputation as one of the most devastating lower order hitters in one-day cricket. He has saved his best for South Africa – two of his three ODI centuries have come against the Proteas, including one of the great ODI innings. During the Abu Dhabi series in 2010, Razzaq entered the fray in in the 30th over with Pakistan languishing on 136/5 chasing 289. He ended with 109 not out off 72 balls, including 10 sixes. An outrageous innings encapsulating Razzaq's trademark relative early calm – his half-century came off 47 balls – and late-order blitz which saw him score 59 runs off the next 25 balls to secure a penultimate-ball one-wicket victory. However, it was his first significant score in four years, emphasising the contrast in sheer ability and consistency he has battled throughout his career.

Razzaq has a long list of blistering cameos, including 47 runs off just 11 balls during England's tour of Pakistan in 2005 and 44 off 20 balls in September 2010 at Lords.

Razzaq has played 46 Test matches for Pakistan and he has had his moments both with bat and ball, including a 184 record seventh-wicket stand with Kamran Akmal in 2005 at Mohali to save the Test. India were again the opposition when Kamran Akmal and Razzaq helped Pakistan reach a competitive total after being 39-6 in Karachi in 2006, a game Pakistan famously went on to win with Razzaq taking seven wickets and contributing a total of 135 runs.

In early 2006, he became only the fifth player to achieve the double of 4,000 runs and 200 wickets in ODIs.

He was omitted from the Pakistan squad for the inaugural World T20 in 2007, a format which many considered to be ideally-suited to his all-round abilities and he reacted angrily, announcing his retirement from international cricket but later revoked this, stating it was a decision made in the heat of the moment. He did however end his chances of being selected for the national side for the next couple of years after joining the rebel Indian Cricket League and was duly suspended from the national side by the PCB.

Two years later, in 2009, Razzaq was one of the first players to break his ties with the ICL and he was instantly rewarded by being called up to the 2009 World Twenty20 after an injury to Yasir Arafat. He was immediately drafted into a team struggling in the tournament and his presence balanced the side, releasing Shahid Afridi to play up the order, and was credited as being a turning point in Pakistan’s fortunes. He was retained in the squad for the tour to Sri Lanka but failed to impress as he lost his spot for the 2009 Champions Trophy.

He was selected for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 as Pakistan crashed out of the tournament after losing to Australia in the semi-final, but was retained for the 2010 Asia Cup.

Razzaq was included in Pakistan's squad for the 2011 World Cup, his most notable achievement being the 20 not out off 24 balls against Australia to help Pakistan to victory and ending Australia's string of 34 matches in World Cups without defeat He was subsequently dropped from the 2013 Champions Trophy due to his non-participation in domestic tournaments, despite Pakistan struggling to identify a genuine all-round alternative.

 

He was surprisingly selected for Pakistan's short tour of South Africa in 2013 but returned home before the series started due to an injury.

A talented all-rounder who has provided cricket fans with many memorable moments, he has failed to reach the heights promised by his early career.

 

[Last updated: June 2015]