 Azhar Mahmood in 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | (1975-02-28)28 February 1975 (age 50) Rawalpindi,Punjab, Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium-fast | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | All-rounder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 146) | 6 October 1997 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 31 May 2001 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 108) | 16 September 1996 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 17 March 2007 v Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993/94–2006/07 | Islamabad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995/96–1996/97 | United Bank Limited | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998/99–2004/05 | Rawalpindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999/00–2001/02 | PIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2007; 2013–2016 | Surrey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006/07–2010/11 | Habib Bank Limited | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006/07–2010/11 | Islamabad Leopards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2012 | Kent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011/12–2012/13 | Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Dhaka Gladiators | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Kings XI Punjab | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012/13 | Sydney Thunder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Barisal Burners | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Cape Cobras | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Barbados Tridents | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Kolkata Knight Riders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Islamabad United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source:ESPNcricinfo,22 January 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Azhar Mahmood (Punjabi:اظہر محمود ساگر; born 28 February 1975) is a Pakistani cricket coach and formercricketer. He was the bowling coach of thePakistani national cricket team from 2016 to 2019. He was a part of the Pakistan squad which finished asrunners-up at the1999 Cricket World Cup.
Previously, he played Tests and ODIs forPakistan national cricket team and county cricket inEngland. Azhar is a dualBritish citizen.[2]
Azhar Mahmood's wedding ceremony was held in 2003.
As a teenager, Azhar was mentored byIrfan Bhatti who played aOne Day International forPakistan in the early 1990s. Originally his father objected to his interest incricket, but later started to appreciate it seeing his accomplishments. When not doing net practice, Azhar would fancy himself playingtape ball cricket on the cemented pitch in the cricket ground in front of his home.[3]
He playedcounty cricket forSurrey[4] and in November 2007 signed a two-year deal to play forKent.[5]
Azhar became aBritish citizen in 2011.[2] This allowed him to play for Kent as an English-qualified player, further distancing himself from a recall to the Pakistan side.[5]
It was announced that Azhar would be playing for theAuckland Aces as one of their overseas professionals in the 2011/12 season.[6] In the2012 IPL auction, Mahmood was sold toKings XI Punjab for $200,000, double his base price of $100,000. In 2015, he was signed by KKR as replacement forJames Neesham and played a few matches but was dropped from the squad the very next season.[7]
He along withIsuru Udana set the highest 8th wicket partnership in all forms of T20s (120) during the inauguralSLPL league in 2012.[8][9]
Azhar made his One-Day International debut againstIndia in 1996 atToronto Cricket Club,Toronto,[10] but did not gain major recognition until hisTest debut againstSouth Africa the following year atRawalpindi Cricket Stadium,Rawalpindi when he hit a century and a half-century without being dismissed.[11] He later went on to score two more centuries against the South Africans.
He joined the Pakistani team primarily as a mediumpacer but he has surprised many by his batting powers. His hard hitting but orthodox batting skills have also been extremely useful in the one-day game. Unlike most Pakistani pacers who areswing bowlers, he is a useful English-styleseam bowler, who can chip in with wickets in time of need.[3]
In 2000, Lt-GeneralTauqir Zia, then the PCB chairman, said that the board would choose the next captain – not based on seniority alone – and if people find the choice unacceptable they will not be selected. Later – in front of some senior players – he told Azhar Mahmood that he will be the next Pakistan captain. Together they would plan the future strategy. But this never came to pass.[12]
He was recalled to the national side for the ODI series against South Africa in early 2007,[13] but subsequently dropped when the2007 Cricket World Cup team was announced. He was however recalled to go with the squad to the West Indies after a knee injury toAbdul Razzaq. It was Mahmood's 3rd World Cup.[14]
However, aside from playing in a practice match, Azhar did not get a chance to participate in the World Cup andPakistan's early exit from the tournament meant that he was once again, in line for being axed from the national squad. Following his exclusion, Azhar returned to playing county cricket in UK. Over the years, due to his constant exclusion from the Pakistani squad and the fact that he has crossed the 30-year-old mark, it seems that Mahmood is not as interested in returning to the Pakistani line up as he once was. His weight gain, mediocre performances in ODIs, combined with the tough competition for the all rounder slot in the Pakistani line up meant that his chances for making a return to the national squad were very limited. He has previously signed with the defunctIndian Cricket League (ICL) and had been released from his central contract.[15]
Wisden in 2001 included Azhar Mahmood's innings of 132 forPakistan againstSouth Africa atKingsmead Cricket Ground,Durban in 1997–98[16] as the 8th best Test Innings of All Time in its list ofWisden 100. It mentioned – "South Africa's pace attack had more depth than at any other time in their history:Allan Donald andShaun Pollock supported byFanie de Villiers andLance Klusener. No surprise that Pakistan were put in to bat on a treacherous pitch – or that they should be reduced to 89 for 5. Salvation came in the form of a 22-year-old allrounder who seemed to be batting too low at No.7: his century was already his third in six Test innings against South Africa. Tucking into a great pace bowler like Donald, he scored 96 runs in boundaries while proving himself an expert shepherd of a tail: he made 90% of Pakistan's last 106 runs. They went on to win a low-scoring match by 29."[17]
In November 2016, Mahmood was appointed bowling coach of the Pakistan side.[18] Earlier the same year, he had served two short stints in a similar capacity, also for the national team. He left the role in August 2019 when his contract was not extended.[19]
Mahmood also served as the bowling coach of two PSL FranchisesKarachi Kings &Multan Sultans.
On 3 December 2021, Mahmood has appointed byIslamabad United as the head coach for their 7th season of PSL.[20] Ahead of the 2024 season, Mahmood left his role as head coach and was appointed Islamabad's bowling coach.[21][22] On 9 April 2024, Mahmood was appointed Pakistan's head coach for theirseries against New Zealand.[23][24]
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