32 year old Hameed has 81 international caps and has nearly 14 years of first class cricket experience to fall back on. He's faced some of the finest bowlers in world cricket since his first class debut in 1996 and is the ideal man to provide PakPassion members with an informed judgement on debutant pace bowler Abdul Haq.

 by Saj Sadiq

10 December 2010

Experienced opening batsmen Yasir Hameed has many years of first class experience and can generally judge a good bowler when he sees one.

32 year old Hameed has 81 international caps and has nearly 14 years of first class cricket experience to fall back on. He's faced some of the finest bowlers in world cricket since his first class debut in 1996 and is the ideal man to provide PakPassion members with an informed judgement on debutant pace bowler Abdul Haq.

Haq made his debut today for Sui Northern Gas against Yasir Hameed's ZTBL in the ongoing Quaid E Azam Trophy Divisione One fixture and returned figures of 10 overs, 1 wicket for 42 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Whilst all eyes were on debutant Haq, it was Hameed who stole the show with a sparkling innings of 95 off 132 deliveries.

"I was disappointed not to score a century and was unhappy with the leg before decision. It was definitely sliding down leg side and I thought the umpire would have given me the benefit of the doubt" stated Hameed.

ZTBL finished the day on 294 for 5, with half centuries from Haris Sohail and Shahid Yousaf, as well as the 95 from Hameed.

Abdul Haq recently impressed Pakistan coach Waqar Younis during net practice in the UAE during the series versus South Africa and was subsequently asked to join the training camp ahead of the tour of New Zealand. Things have moved very quickly for Haq, as he found himself making his first class debut for SNGPL against ZTBL.

However Hameed had reservations about Haq's credentials as an international bowler.

"It was his debut, so he must have been nervous. He predominantly tried to bowl the outswinger, but he never really got that many to move around" stated Hameed.

Haq's speed has been quoted at varying degrees, but Hameed stated that he estimated Haq's speed to be about 80 mph in Rawalpindi today. "His pace was about Junaid Zia's when he played first class cricket, around 80 mph."

Hameed added "He struggled with his length today. At times he bowled too short, at other times he bowled too full. He just couldn't get his length right, but he shouldn't lose heart. He has a lot to learn, but I'm sure he'll improve. If Waqar Younis has identified him as a good bowler, then I would trust Waqar's judgement."