In a series of exclusive blogs exclusively for PakPassion.net, Azhar Mahmood will offer a unique perspective on a variety of issues affecting cricket in Pakistan and around the world, as well as interactive question and answer sessions.

Azhar Mahmood played 21 Tests for Pakistan, scoring 900 runs and taking 39 wickets, as well as featuring in 143 ODIs, scoring 1521 runs and taking 123 wickets between 1996 and 2007.

He began his Test career in 1997 on a high note, scoring a belligerent Test century against South Africa in Rawalpindi, later adding 2 more to his tally against the same opposition in 1998. He began his ODI career against India in 1996 and was later part of the Pakistan side that reached the Final of the 1999 World Cup in England. He played his last ODI in 2007, although the match is remembered more for Pakistan’s famous defeat to Ireland at the 2007 World Cup which resulted in Pakistan crashing out of the tournament in the first round.

He has since become a prominent figure in domestic competitions around the world, including the IPL, Ram Slam T20, Big Bash League, Bangladesh Premier League, and Caribbean Premier League, where he has represented teams including Surrey, Lions, Auckland, Barbados Tridents, Barisal Burners, Dhaka Gladiators, Kent and Kings XI Punjab.

By Azhar Mahmood (29th July, 2014)

Firstly it gives me great pleasure to be asked to write a blog for PakPassion.net, a website that is known around the world by players, fans and everyone else involved in cricket. I hope that you will find my blogs interesting and informative. I look forward to providing you all with an update of what I'm up to, my opinions and thoughts on Pakistan cricket as well as doing occasional question and answer sessions.

So what am I up to these days? Well the T20 blast has been in full swing and Surrey have qualified for the quarter-finals and the Royal London 50 over tournament which started on Sunday - but more on that later.

My wife and I have also been extremely busy organising my benefit dinner in support of a charity event too which will be a celebration of my career and also double-up as a fund-raising dinner for the British Asian Trust. Very recently I was honoured to be the first Pakistani player to become an ambassador of one of the Prince's charities 'The British Asian Trust'. I decided I wanted to do more via my benefit dinner and hence offer my support to the trust specifically for the mental health programmes in South Asian countries.

So as you can imagine it's been a hectic time playing cricket and organising the dinner which will be held on 19th August at a London venue.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Surrey County Cricket Club for their support with my benefit dinner. I've spent eight very happy seasons at the club and they have always been good to me. All my Surrey team mates will attend the event, Yuvraj Singh will also attend. In addition other members of the India squad who are touring England will also be there as well as Saurav Ganguly.

Zaheer Khan whilst he's currently in India HAS said to me that he will come all the way from India to attend the event . He told me that he's very supportive of this charity and would dearly love to attend and help the cause, which is a fantastic gesture by him.

Whilst on the field we had our run-ins and things got heated with the Indian players, off the field we have always been good friends and the fact that so many of them are ready to support the charity event speaks volumes for them all.

Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar and my former Surrey captain Adam Hollioake will also be in attendance as well as Kent and former England batsman Rob Key and also former England and Surrey wicket-keeper/batsman Alec Stewart. And last but by no means least the legend Wasim Akram will also grace us with his presence. He's been one of my most favourite and supportive captains.

From the current England set-up, Ravi Bopara and Moeen Ali will also be present and my current Surrey team mate Tillakaratne Dilshan will also try his best to attend. I'm absolutely delighted that players from all over the world and of all nationalities are supporting the cause.

Normally what happens with a benefit event is that the player gets all of the money raised and collected. However what I have stated is that I want all monies raised on 19th August to be given to the British Asian Trust for whom I am now an ambassador. On the night various items will be auctioned including bats signed by the likes of Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar.

The money raised will go towards supporting mental health patients in South Asia, covering Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan. This is an issue that is taboo amongst South Asian communities and I want to bring it to the world's attention and that's why I chose to support this program. I've played cricket in all of those countries and know that mental health problems are ignored and there is very little help for patients.

The format of the evening will be the auction, dinner and also a question and answer with myself and Wasim Akram. We'll open the Q & A to the audience to interact with Wasim and I, and to ask us any questions about Pakistan cricket, our careers and cricket in general. There will also be a question and answer with Adam Hollioake and I about Surrey and the successes we have enjoyed with Surrey.

It promises to be a memorable occasion with lots of cricketing stars present. I hope everyone supports the event and we raise lots of money for a worthy cause.

Moving onto the cricket with Surrey this season. Well I'm delighted to have helped Surrey to the quarters finals of the T20 blast where we will face Worcestershire next week. Hopefully we can make it to another finals day in Birmingham and win the title this time around. I'm feeling in good shape and I'm closing in on the milestone of 4000 runs and 200 wickets in twenty over cricket so that will be fantastic if I reach that landmark soon. In Shaa Allah.

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