Ajmal Shahzad

Ajmal Shahzad
Personal information
Full name Ajmal Shahzad
Born (1985-07-27) 27 July 1985
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England
Nickname Ajy, Roadman, Rudeboy, AJ
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Batting Right-handed
Bowling Right-arm fast-medium
Role Bowler
International information
National side
Only Test (cap 650) 4 June 2010 v Bangladesh
ODI debut (cap 216) 5 March 2010 v Bangladesh
Last ODI 27 February 2011 v India
ODI shirt no. 13
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2004–2012 Yorkshire (squad no. 4)
2012 → Lancashire (on loan)
2013–2014 Nottinghamshire (squad no. 1)
2015–2017 Sussex (squad no. 4)
2017 Leicestershire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 1 11 97 87
Runs scored 5 39 2,237 548
Batting average 5.00 6.50 23.06 14.05
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/6 0/1
Top score 5 9 88 59*
Balls bowled 102 588 15,073 3,886
Wickets 4 17 249 120
Bowling average 15.75 28.82 34.97 29.69
5 wickets in innings 0 0 4 1
10 wickets in match 0 n/a 0 n/a
Best bowling 3/45 3/41 5/46 5/51
Catches/stumpings 2/– 4/– 16/– 20/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 16 September 2017

Ajmal Shahzad (born 27 July 1985) is an English cricketer who most recently played for Sussex County Cricket Club. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm Fast bowling, who has previously played for Yorkshire from 2004 to 2012, however spent the 2012 season on loan at Lancashire, and for Nottinghamshire from 2013 to 2014. Shahzad made his international debut in a Twenty20 International for England in February 2010.[1] He later made his ODI debut before becoming the 650th player to play Test cricket for England, making his debut against Bangladesh.

In his pomp Shahzad was a fearsome fast bowler capable of dominating world class players. Though opposition players regularly spoke of his frightening short delivery, it was his “assassin” like use of the swinging ball that brought him the majority of his dismissals. Steven Kirby -the head coach of the MCC young cricketers and ex-county cricket great - is quoted as saying “AJ bowled at pace... yeah... but he had control over his bounce and movement as well. That’s test standard.”

Following his fine playing career, Shahzad has linked up with Kirby as an assistant coach at the MCC young cricketers. In possession of a very nimble mind however he balances his coaching responsibilities with studies. Shahzad is practicing to be a chartered accountant and has been described by his peers as a shining light in his field. Jamie Thompson an Oxford graduate believes “Ajmal’s journey has just begun. Cricket was his childhood goal, but Ajmal possesses a skill set where he can achieve others goals aswell.”

Shahzads father is an accountant by profession who himself represented Idle and played international cricket. Shahzad grew up in Bradford and attended Bradford Grammar School and later Woodhouse Grove School; he lived close to the house of fellow cricketer Adil Rashid. He studied four months of pharmacy at Bradford University before eventually transferring to Leeds Metropolitan University to study sports science to enhance his career in cricket.[2]

Early domestic career

In 2004, he became the first Yorkshire-born player of Asian extraction to play for Yorkshire.[3][4]

In his only first-class appearance in 2006, he failed to take a wicket, and scored just two runs. He enjoyed more success in the shorter formats of the game, claiming five wickets and 18 runs in four List A matches for his native county, and in his sole Twenty20 appearance, he took 2 wickets.

In 2009, Shahzad enjoyed an injury free and successful season, taking 40 wickets and scoring 445 runs in the late middle order, raising hopes that he may yet exhibit genuine all-rounder potential. His performances gained him a call up to the England performance squad in South Africa squad, where he impressed coach Andy Flower.

International fringes

In January 2010, he was named in the Test and ODI squads for the England tour of Bangladesh.[5] On his debut for England in a Twenty20 International against Pakistan, he claimed two wickets, both in his first over.[6]

He later made his ODI début against Bangladesh, again taking a wicket in his first over.[7] When Bangladesh later toured England, he made his Test début in the second Test, replacing the injured Tim Bresnan. After only scoring 5 runs in England's innings and an expensive start with the ball, he later took 3 wickets in 3 overs in his second spell as Bangladesh missed the follow-on target. Pakistan toured England in July and Shahzad was included in England's 12-man squad for the first Test. A week in advance of the Test, he twisted his ankle in a match for Yorkshire. As he was still experiencing discomfort the day before the Test, England chose to drop him from the squad as a precaution and bring in Tim Bresnan.[8]

Though pundits had expected Shahzad to be included in England's squad for the 2010–11 Ashes, he was omitted from the 16-man touring party. However, he was included in the performance squad who were training in Australia and ready to provide cover in the event of injuries.[9] He was not called upon in the Tests, but played two T20Is against Australia[10] and the first five games of the seven ODIs that followed. He took 6 wickets at an average of 40.50 before a hamstring injury in the fifth match ruled him out of the rest of the series.[11][12] Shahzad was included in England's 15-man squad for the 2011 ICC World Cup held in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka in March 2011.[13] He managed three wickets from two appearances in the tournament,[14][15] however a recurrence of the hamstring injury sustained against Australia meant Shahzad was forced to bow out of the tournament prematurely.[16]

On his return for Yorkshire, he struggled for form and was left out of the England Test and ODI squads to face Sri Lanka. In the County Championship he managed 25 wickets at an average of 41.00.[17] In September, Shahzad was reprimanded for scuffing the pitch during the penultimate Championship match against Warwickshire and fined £750. The club was relegated from the First Division in the final match of the season.[18] Shahzad regretted the incident, explaining "It's not the way I want to play my game. I don't want to be seen as a cheat, or a pitch-damager. ... It's one mistake I've made in an eight- or nine-year career so far. It's out of the blue for me, and I definitely would never do anything like it again. It was just a random, stupid act."[17] Despite a trying year, Shahzad was selected in the England Performance Programme held over the English off-season.[19]

In April 2012 Yorkshire's new bowling coach, Jason Gillespie, praised Shahzad's efforts, saying "Ajmal has got himself in as good a condition as he's ever been in his first-class career. He's worked incredibly hard, and I think he's a fantastic bowler, a very exciting bowler." However, on 1 May 2012, it was announced that Shahzad was to leave Yorkshire[20] and a week later he joined Lancashire on loan for the rest of the season with a view to agreeing a permanent contract at a later date.[21]

On 10 October 2012, having been told he was free to leave Yorkshire, Shahzad signed a three-year contract to join Nottinghamshire.[22]

On 7 November 2014, he was released a year early from his Nottinghamshire contract and signed a three-year contract with Sussex.[23]

On 10 July 2017, Shahzad departed Sussex after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "Player Profile: Ajmal Shahzad". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  2. ↑ England's Ajmal Shahzad is on the fast track to an Ashes spot
  3. ↑ "Shahzam, it's Ajmal". thisisyork.co.uk. 3 September 2005. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
  4. ↑ Whitaker, Neil. "Ajmal Shahzad plays for Yorkshire". World Cricket Centre. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
  5. ↑ Bagchi, Rob (18 January 2010). "Alastair Cook appointed England captain for Bangladesh tour". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 January 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  6. ↑ Miller, Andrew (20 February 2010). "Captains laud Razzaq onslaught". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  7. ↑ Miller, Andrew (5 March 2010). "Kieswetter ton sets up whitewash". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 10 May 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  8. ↑ "Tim Bresnan replaces Ajmal Shahzad for England v Pakistan first Test". Guardian. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  9. ↑ McGlashan, Andrew (23 September 2011). "Tremlett and Panesar earn Ashes calls". Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  10. ↑ McGlashan, Andrew (17 January 2011). "Shahzad hopes for World Cup spot". Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  11. ↑ McGlashan, Andrew (30 January 2011). "England's injury list continues to grow". Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "Records / England in Australia ODI Series, 2010/11 / Most wickets". Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  13. ↑ McGlashan, Andrew (19 January 2011). "England choose Matt Prior over Steve Davies". Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "Batting and fielding in ICC World Cup 2010/11 (ordered by average)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 31 March 2012. (Subscription required (help)).
  15. ↑ "Bowling in ICC World Cup 2010/11 (ordered by average)". cricketArchive. Retrieved 31 March 2012. (Subscription required (help)).
  16. ↑ "Shahzad ruled out with hamstring injury". Cricinfo. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  17. 1 2 Hopps, David (31 March 2012). "'I'm no cheat' – Shahzad". Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  18. ↑ "Yorkshire's Ajmal Shahzad hit with fine". BBC Sport. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  19. ↑ "England youngsters set for busy winter". Cricinfo. 29 September 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  20. ↑ Hopps, David (1 May 2012). "Yorkshire drop Shahzad bombshell". Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  21. ↑ Dobell, George (8 May 2012). "Shahzad to join Lancashire". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  22. ↑ "Ajmal Shahzad joins Nottinghamshire from Yorkshire". BBC Sport. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  23. ↑ "Ajmal Shahzad: Sussex sign Nottinghamshire pace bowler". BBC Sport. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  24. ↑ "NEWS: Ajmal Shahzad to leave Sussex". Sussex County Cricket Club. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
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