Azhar Mahmood Sagar

Profile:

Azhar Mahmood, the right-arm medium pace bowler and middle order batsman of immense potential, made his entry into the Test arena with no less than a bang. Playing in his first Test against the visiting South African team in 1997, he made 128 in the first innings and 50 in the second without being dismissed on either occasion.

Azhar has talent in abundance. As an all-rounder of great utility, he is a captain's player who can deliver the goods in both forms of the game - a middle order batsman of enormous talent and a seam bowler who can chip in with wickets in the time of need.

Barring injuries, the latest being the fractured ankle which kept him out of action for the most of 2000, he has been more or less a permanent member of Pakistan team both in Tests and One-dayers. However, his hard hitting but orthodox batting skills have particularly been extremely useful in the limited version of the game. Time and again he has provided the team with some valuable quick runs at the end of the innings.

Azhar hails from Rawalpindi, having played most of his cricket for the city before being recruited by United Bank limited. He represented Pakistan at the junior level and a successful tour of New Zealand helped him establish a great deal. He was declared the "Player of the Tournament" in a national competition in 1995-96, paving his way into the national team for the second Sahara Cup One-day tournament in 1997.

Azhar then earned his Test cap after a successful tour to England as a member of Pakistan "A". He took 25 wickets and scored more than 400 runs to prove his credentials as an all-rounder.

Unlike most Pakistani pacers, Azhar is not much of a swinger but rather employs the seam to bowl off and leg cutters. In a very short time he has learned to vary his pace with great effect. In test game he bowls with extra speed and occasionally gets enough pace and bounce to trouble the best of batsmen. His remarkable close catching feats round off his all-round cricket abilities. Having already become a permanent member of the team, Azhar is expected to polish his talents with the maturity that comes with experience.