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| Pakistani
Squad
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Saleem
Elahi
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| Born: |
21 November 1976, Sahiwal, Punjab |
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| Major
Teams: |
Habib Bank Limited, Lahore Cricket Association, United
Bank Limited, Pakistan. |
| Known
As: |
Saleem Elahi |
| Pronounced: |
Saleem Elahi |
| Batting
Style: |
Right Hand Bat |
| Bowling
Style: |
Right Arm Off Break |
| Test
Debut: |
Pakistan v Australia at Brisbane, 1st Test, 1995/96 |
| Latest
Test: |
Pakistan v South Africa at Durban, 1st Test, 2002/03 |
| ODI
Debut: |
Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Gujranwala, 1st ODI, 1995/96 |
| Latest
ODI: |
Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Gujranwala, 1st ODI, 1995/96 |
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Profile:
A
very composed looking batsman, Saleem Elahi, has been with the
Pakistan national team for quite some time now. Brought into the
side to fill in the void left by the under-performing Ejaz Ahmed,
he has quite a task ahead of him to cement his place in the side,
especially when players like Younis Khan, Hasan Raza, are ever
ready to jump in to fill the slot.
Saleem Elahi was born in Sahiwal, a town of considerable
historical importance situated in central Punjab, and hails from a
family who, after moving to Lahore, gave two Test cricketers to
Pakistan namely, Manzoor and Zahoor Elahi. So it can be maintained
that cricket is in Saleem's blood.
Saleem Elahi is one of those extremely lucky players who found
their way into the national side without playing even one
first-class match. It was his breathtaking hundred before lunch in
a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (Grade II) match against Gujranwala followed
by an aggregate of 977 runs on Pakistan Under-19's tour of New
Zealand the same year that brought him instant recognition in the
eyes of the national selectors. He was promptly called to don the
green cap in a One-day international against the visiting Sri
Lankans. Saleem proved his selection right by hitting an unbeaten
century in that match. He was then picked for the Pakistani squad,
which was to visit Australia for the three Tests in 1995-96.
Pakistan batting flopped during the tour and young Saleem was a
part of it. Saleem did play three more Tests after that but
apparently could not cope with the demands of this highest level
of cricket. His service got a three-year's break after that until
he was recalled in the home series against England. Although he
has only one big score against his name (72 at Faisalabad) during
that fateful series, his batting skills certainly displayed a lot
of maturity.
Saleem has played domestic cricket for Lahore City Cricket
Association and the departmental team of Habib Bank Limited. The
1997-98 domestic season has been particularly fruitful for him as
he scored more than 1500 runs in 22 matches at a sound average of
45.90, which includes three centuries and six fifties.
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