Umar Gul

Umar Gul Biography

Source(www,google.com.pk)

The least-hyped but most successful and assured Pakistan pace product of the last few years, Umar Gul is the latest in Pakistan's assembly-line of pace-bowling talent. He had played just nine first-class matches when called up for national duty in the wake of Pakistan's poor 2003 World Cup. On the flat tracks of Sharjah, Gul performed admirably, maintaining excellent discipline and getting appreciable outswing with the new ball.

 

He isn't express but bowls a very quick heavy ball and his exceptional control and ability to extract seam movement marks him out. Further, his height enables him to extract bounce on most surfaces and from his natural back of a length, it is a useful trait. His first big moment in his career came in the Lahore Test against India in 2003-04. Unfazed by a daunting batting line-up, Gul tore through the Indian top order, moving the ball both ways off the seam at a sharp pace. His 5 for 31 in the first innings gave Pakistan the early initiative which they drove home to win the Test.

 

Unfortunately, that was his last cricket of any kind for over a year as he discovered three stress fractures in his back immediately after the Test. The injury would have ended many an international career, but Gul returned, fitter and sharper than before in late 2005. He returned in a Pakistan shirt against India in the ODI series at home in February 2006 and in Sri Lanka showed further signs of rehabilitation by lasting both Tests but it was really the second half of 2006, where he fully came of age. Leading the attack against England and then the West Indies as Pakistan's main bowlers suffered injuries, Gul stood tall, finishing Pakistan's best bowler.

 

Since then, as Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar have floundered, Gul has become Pakistan's spearhead and one of the best fast bowlers in the world. He is smart enough and good enough to succeed in all three formats and 2009 proved it: he put together a patch of wicket-taking in ODIs, on dead pitches in Tests (including a career-best six-wicket haul against Sri Lanka) and established himself as the world's best Twenty20 bowler, coming on after the initial overs and firing in yorkers on demand.

 

He had hinted at that by being leading wicket-taker in the 2007 World Twenty20; over the next two years he impressed wherever he went, in the IPL for the Kolkatta Knight Riders and in Australia's domestic Twenty20 tournament. Confirmation came on the grandest stage: having poleaxed Australia in a T20I in Dubai with 4-8, he was the best bowler and leading wicket-taker as Pakistan won the second World Twenty20 in England. The highlight was 5-6 against New Zealand, the highest quality exhibition of yorker bowling. He is not a one-format pony, however, and will remain a crucial cog in Pakistan's attack across all formats.

Umar Gul

Umar Gul

Umar Gul

Umar Gul

Umar Gul

Umar Gul

Umar Gul

Umar Gul

Umar Gul

Umar Gul

Umar Gul

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal Biography

Source(www,google,com,pk)

Saeed Ajmal, an offspinner, received a call-up to the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup at the age of 30 after an impressive domestic season with Khan Research Labs in 2007-08, during which he took 38 wickets in 12 first-class matches at an average of 29 apiece, and 12 wickets in nine list A games. He made an immediate impression with his subtle variations, unafraid to use the doosra. But his career took off with a series of ODI performances that bewildered Australia in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; he gave away few runs and his doosra was nigh-on unreadable. The ICC called him for his action, though it was cleared soon after. The pressure didn't get to him and immediately after, he played a crucial role in Pakistan's drive to the 2009 World Twenty20 title, regularly bottling up the middle overs with Shahid Afridi. He ended the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with an exemplary economy rate as batsmen around the world struggled to pick a big turning doosra or even cope with his changes in flight, pace and angle. Consistent performances in the ODI version have quickly earned him a reputation for choking the runs in the middle overs with clever variations.

Saeed Ajmal has played in Faisalabad since its debut in 1995 at the age of 18. Faisalabad Wolves Ajmal represented in the 2005 ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 Cup, his team won the final in which he was the man of the match. When Faisalabad won the final Cup skipper of ABN-AMRO, in March 2006 Ajmal was named player of the tournament and was given a prize of 25,000 R . He has also represented Khan Research Laboratories , who was runner up in the final of the 2008/09 Quaid-i-Azam Trophy. though his team lost the final, Ajmal took 5/105 and 2/55 and in the process of moving from 250 first class wickets. Ajmal has also played for Islamabad.

Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup in June 2008, Ajmal was included in the squad of 15 men and is expected to act like a sheet of Shahid Afridi's leg spin . He made his debut against India on July 2, 2008 .. Ajmal took a single point, that of Yusuf Pathan, from the ten acquisitions, while conceding 47 runs (1/47) as Pakistan won by eight wickets, before taking 2/19 in a victory over ten-foot Bangladesh, although the team had no chance of advancing to the finals of the competition. In November of that year he traveled to Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates to face West Indies in a three-match ODI series. Ajmal and Afridi were only options spin team,. the first took a single window, while conceding 73 runs and Pakistan won all three games.

Ajmal next game of the third ODI against Sri Lanka in January 2009.In April Pakistan against Australia in UAE in five ODIs. Play five games Ajmal took four wickets at an average of 39.50.The journalist was arrested after the series of Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, where he had good performances in test matches, which was collected before Danish Kaneria two matches.

In April 2009, Ajmal was reported by the umpires for having a suspect bowling action. Independent testing in the next month proved that Ajmal flexed arm within the tolerance of 15 degrees allowed by the International Cricket Council. Later that year, the Pakistan Cricket Board appointed a group of 30 players who were elected to their final list for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in June. Initially shelved, Ajmal was one of three players added to the list, replacing players who were discharged because they were contracted with the Indian Cricket League controversy.In the tournament, Afridi associated Ajmal. Pakistan won the tournament,and Ajmal was the second joint more tournament wicket-taker with twelve dismissals of seven games (only Umar Gul, Pakistan took more windows, with thirteen dismissals).

Ajmal good way to continue in the ICC 2010 World Twenty20 as he was leading wicket taker in Pakistan. But despite his good form became known for giving Michael Hussey three sixes in what has been hailed as the most exciting match of all time Twenty20 as Australia were in trouble and Ajmal was the bowler who was shot sorry that over end.

Shortly after this Pakistan team began a tour of England, where he will face Australia in two tests in July and then play England in five ODIs and four tests. Danish Kaneria was preferred to Ajmal in the first match against Australia, but after Pakistan lost the selectors to consider dropping the leg-spinner Ajmal and choosing. [20] In the event, Ajmal was not selected until the second Test against England, [21] when Kaneria was abandoned because it was ineffective. Though Pakistan lost the match by nine windows, Ajmal got his first walking tour of five tests. In Pakistan's second innings with his team for setting a target for England to pursue, Ajmal scored 50 from 79 balls, his first half century in tests, before he was fired by his fellow spinner Graeme Swann

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal

Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah ul Haq Biography

Source(www.google.com.pk)

Misbah ul Haq is a professional Pakistani Cricketer, who was born on May 28, 1974 in Mianwali, Punjab. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-break bowler. He graduated in Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Management and Technology, Lahore.

On March 8, 2001, Misbah ul Haq made his Test debut for his national side in a match against New Zealand at Auckland. A few years later, during the 2007 tour to India, he scored his first Test century, a 161 not out in a match against India that rescued his team from follow-on. He carried on this good form and scored his second ton in the same series with an unbeaten 133 in the third test, later being his career best. In the following year, Misbah ul Haq was named as the vice-captain of the national side and was also rewarded with a grade A contract. He had a prolific run that year by scoring 458 runs in his last 5 Test match innings for Pakistan and in particular he averaged a staggering 152.67 against India. As of 2008, Misbah ul Haq has scored 671 runs from 10 Tests at an average that is just under 42.

Misbah ul Haq made his One Day International (ODI) debut against New Zealand at Lahore on April 27, 2002, which his side won by 66 runs. Following this victory, he was included in the squad for the Tri-nation tournament in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002.

 During this tournament, he made two fifties from the three innings and was appreciated for his skillful batting technique and his ability to keep his calmness in pressure situation. He had a spectacular 2008 season by scoring 190 Runs at an average of 63.33 from his last five ODIs. Since then, Misbah ul Haq has scored 1,085 runs from 40 ODIs at an average of 38.75 with a career best score of 76.

In 2007, Misbah ul Haq made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut against Bangladesh on September 2, in which his side won by 30 runs. He was named in the squad for the inaugural edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World T20. During this tournament, 

Misbah ul Haq was named Man of the Match for his blistering knock of 66 runs from 44 deliveries that helped his side defeat Australia in a Super 8s match. He played a crucial role in his sides’ entry to final and was an integral part of the side that finished as runners-up in this tournament. As of 2008, Misbah ul Haq has scored a total of 338 from 10 T20Is at a staggering average of 67.60 with a career best of 87 not out.

In 2008, Misbah ul Haq signed with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore for a contract worth $125,000. During the first season of IPL, he played 8 games, scored 117 runs and his highest score is 47 not out, which came against Delhi DareDevils in a league match.

Misbah ul Haq

Misbah ul Haq

Misbah ul Haq

Misbah ul Haq

Misbah ul Haq

Misbah ul Haq

Misbah ul Haq

Misbah ul Haq

Misbah ul Haq

Misbah ul Haq

Misbah ul Haq

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi Biography

Source(www.google.com.pk)

Shahid Afridi is a professional cricket player, who was born on March 1, 1980 in Khyber Agency, Pakistan. His parents are of the Afridi tribe in Kohat; he is married to Nadia and has two daughters, Aqsa and Ansha.

Nicknamed ‘Boom Boom Afridi’ for his aggressive batting style, Shahid Afridi is a brilliant all-rounder, as he is also a right-arm leg-spin or medium-paced bowler. In October 1998, he made his Test debut for the Pakistan team against Australia and became a reliable member of his side. Shahid Afridi scored five Test centuries in his career, as of the year 2008; three times against India (1999 and twice in 2006) and twice against the West Indies (2002 and 2005).

His first appearance in an One Day International (ODI) came on October 2, 1996 at Nairobi in a match played against the Kenya cricket team. He rose to become an indispensable member of the Pakistani ODI squad with his remarkable performances since 1996. By making the fastest hundred runs (included six boundaries and eleven 6’s) of 37 balls in an ODI match against Sri Lanka, Shahid Afridi beat the record of Sanath Jayasuriya, a famous Sri Lankan cricketer, on October 4, 1996. He was just 16 years, when he performed this feat and was the youngest player to have achieved such an accomplishment. With Brian Lara, he shares a joint record for scoring the third fastest ODI century out of 45 balls against India in April 2005. By making four of the top eight fastest ODI half centuries, Shahid Afridi has made a mark for himself in the history of ODI cricket. In 2007, he scored 32 runs (including four consecutive sixes) off six balls against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi. The over was bowled by Malinga Bandara which is considered to the second most expensive over in the ODI history.

In March 2005, his Test performance with the bat and the ball played a key role in Pakistan’s encounter against India. Shahid Afridi made 50 runs out of 26 balls and walked away with three wickets in the second innings of a Test match claiming the victory for his team and brought the series to a draw. In January 2006, he smashed four consecutive sixes against Harbhajan Singh’s bowling in a Test match against India. On achieving a combination of 5000 runs and 200 wickets, Shahid Afridi is the third player (after Sanath Jayasuriya and Jacques Kallis, a South African cricketer) to accomplish such a feat in the ODI history.

For his commendable performances as a bowler of the Pakistan team in the international 2007 Twenty20, Shahid Afridi earned the Man of the Series award.

He represented the Deccan Chargers (DC) team under the captaincy of VVS Laxman, an Indian cricketer, in the Indian Premier League (IPL) of 2008. His sign-in price was $675,000 and played thirty matches for the DC team. Shahid Afridi scored 367 runs, which included 32 boundaries and 21 sixes with a strike rate of 171.49. By taking 35 wickets, the bowling average of Shahid Afridi was 20.05 at an economy rate of 6.81.

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez Biography

Source(google.com.pk)
Mohammad Hafeez is a Pakistani cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm offbreak bowler. Hafeez generally opens the batting and is also skilful boundary fielder.

International career
Hafeez was one of the several young all-rounders the Pakistani cricket team turned to after their poor Cricket World Cup display in 2003, in which they were eliminated in the first round.

Hafeez scored a half-century on his Test debut against Bangladesh, and in his following Test hit a century. His form with bat and ball would then drop considerably and in late-2003 he was dropped from the Test squad, and soon after the ODI side. With strong domestic performances as well as good showings for the Pakistan A, he remained on the fringes of a recall in 2004. Hafeez returned to the ODI side in 2005 and despite not contributing with the bat, his bowling performances were impressive. In the 2006 Top End Series held in Australia, Hafeez smashed a century for Pakistan A. With Pakistan struggling to find a solid opening pair for Test cricket, Hafeez was recalled for the tour of England. His return to Test cricket was made at The Oval and he scored a fluent 95. Later that year in November, Hafeez retained his place in the side for their home series against the West Indies. After getting starts in the first two Test he would go on to score his 2nd Test century in the 3rd Test in Karachi.

2010 Recall and Good Form
In 2010 he was recalled for the 3rd ICC World T20 Cup. he had poor form in it but showed signs of class batting. He was subsequently recalled again for the T20Is and the ODIs on Pakistan's tour of England. He had some good scores in it and had some solid partnerships with opener Kamran Akmal.

Following this good form he was also in the squad that was selected to play South Africa in the UAE. After some impressive score in the opener slot, he was again rewarded with now a test call up. He had some decent scores in the test matches and bowled some tidy overs of offspin as well.

At the end of 2010 he was also selected for the party that would tour New Zealand. In all of the T20s he made some good scores including a 46.

In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, he started the tournament with a few poor scores with the bat, and was consistent with the ball. Especially 10 overs for just 26 runs against Australia and 2 wickets for 16 runs in quarter final. In the quarter-final against West Indies, Hafeez provided a major contribution to the team's victory with 2 wickets and 60*, receiving the player of the match award. Also in the semi final he scored 43 runs and took a wicket for 31 runs in 10 overs although Pakistan lost the match.

In the tour of the West Indies, Hafeez continued his good form with both bat and ball scoring 267 runs in 5 matches with an average of 53.40, and took 6 wickets at an average of 23.50. . He made his second One Day International century in the 4th ODI, where he scored 121 runs before being bowled by the promising leg spinner Devendra Bishoo.

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez

Mohammad Hafeez