Akram Khan (cricketer)

Mohammad Akram Hussain Khan (Bengali: মোহাম্মদ আকরাম হুসেইন খান; born 1 November 1968) is a former Bangladeshi cricketer who played in 8 Tests and 44 ODIs from 1988 to 2003. He captained Bangladesh for 15 ODIs. A hard hitting middle order batsman, Akram played first-class cricket for Chittagong Division.

Akram Khan
Personal information
Full nameMohammad Akram Hussain Khan
Born (1968-11-01) 1 November 1968
Chittagong, East Pakistan
Height5 ft 11.5 in (1.82 m)
BattingRight-handed bat
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleBatsman
RelationsTamim Iqbal (nephew),
Nafees Iqbal (nephew)
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 8)10 November 2000 v India
Last Test1 May 2003 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 44)29 October 1988 v Pakistan
Last ODI17 April 2003 v South Africa
Career statistics
Competition Tests ODIs
Matches 8 44
Runs scored 259 976
Batting average 16.18 23.23
100s/50s 0/0 0/5
Top score 44 65
Balls bowled 0 117
Wickets
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 0/6
Catches/stumpings 3/- 8/-
Source: Cricinfo, 13 September 2010

Akram Khan was part of Bangladesh's inaugural Test Match, in 2000–01 against India. He had been playing One Day International cricket since 1988. He developed as an international player under the able guidance of Gazi Ashraf Lipu. [1]

He went on to captain the national side during the period 1994–98.

He is currently the chief selector of the BCB, along with Habibul Bashar and Minhajul Abedin.[2]

In Test matches

He was already well into his 30s when he played in Bangladesh's inaugural match. He finished his short Test career with a moderate average of 16.18. His highest, 44, came against Zimbabwe at Harare in 2001.

In ODIs

He made his ODI debut in Oct. 1988, in his hometown Chittagong. Batting at No. 8, he defied the strong Pak bowling attack scoring 21* of 35 deliveries. He captained Bangladesh in the Asia Cup at Sharjah in 1995. He was the team's most consistent performer scoring 24, 24 & 44 against India, Sri-Lanka and Pakistan respectively. His first ODI 50 came against Pakistan at Colombo in 1997. There he shared a 110 run partnership with Athar Ali Khan. His highest ODI score of 65, came at Dhaka against Kenya in 1999. He followed this with 50* against Zimbabwe. He played in two WCs, in 1999 & in 2003. He played a large part in Bangladesh's upset win in 1999 World Cup over Pakistan with an innings of 42.[3]

Career ODI batting performances (Countrywise):[4]

Opposition Matches Runs Average Highest Score 100 / 50
Australia 2 13 6.50 13 0/0
England 1 6 6.00 6 0/0
India 8 163 20.37 64 0/1
Kenya 7 194 27.71 65 0/1
New Zealand 3 62 20.67 33 0/0
Pakistan 7 203 33.83 59 0/1
Scotland 1 0 0.00 0 0/0
South Africa 2 18 9.00 15 0/0
Sri Lanka 5 110 22.00 41 0/0
West Indies 1 4 4.00 4 0/0
Zimbabwe 7 203 33.83 59 0/2
Overall 44 976 23.23 65 0/5

In ICC Trophy

His most memorable moment came in the 1997 ICC Trophy, as he lifted the cup for his side. He contributed a quickfire 22 off 27 balls, including a six and a four, in the final. Earlier, he had played a captain's knock in the do-or-die game against the Netherlands. His 68* helped Bangladesh win by 3 wicket. Bangladesh were struggling at 15/4, chasing a small total, after the Dutch fast bowler Lefebre demolished the top order. Then Akram Khan changed the course of the match with two half-century partnerships with the veteran Minhajul Abedin and the medium-pacer Saiful Islam. Overall, he finished the tournament with 185 runs at an average of 37.00. His effort against the Dutch is not his only match winning innings in International Cricket Council Trophy history. In 1994, batting at No. 7, he scored 64* against USA, taking his team from 36/5 to 147/7, winning the match by 3 wickets. And in 1990, he took Bangladesh to a vital 3 wicket win against Fiji with a knock of 42*. Overall, in 24 matches in 3 ICC Trophy tournaments, he scored 476 runs at an average of 36.61. Also, bowling his gentle medium pacers, he took 10 wickets with an impressive average of 18.7.

  Batting Bowling
Year Matches Runs Average Highest Score 100 / 50 Runs Wickets Average Best
1990 7 179 44.75 50 0/1 31 1 31.00 1/12
1994 7 112 28.00 64* 0/1 15 0 - -
1997 10 185 37.00 68* 0/1 141 9 15.66 2/10
Overall 24 476 36.61 68* 0/3 187 10 18.7 2/10

[5] [6] [7]

As a captain

He took the captaincy of the national side at a difficult time during the 1994–95 season. Following the disappointment of the 1994 ICC Trophy in Kenya, there was dissatisfaction and disunity among the players. Akram, who was an established member of the side was selected to lead the side. This seemed slightly risky, as the Chittagong batsman had little previous experience as captain. But, he performed admirably, leading his side to some memorable successes.

In December, 1994, he led his side to the final of 1994-95 SAARC Quadrangular cricket tournament in Dhaka. He batted bravely in the final, top-scoring with 66(before falling to leg spin of Sairaj Bahutule). But his side lost by 52 runs to India 'A', led by Praveen Amre.[8] In 1996, he led Bangladesh to victory in the South East Asian Cricket. It was followed by a bigger triumph in ICC Trophy (1997) in KL. He also led Bangladesh to their first ever ODI win. After Mohammad Rafique & Athar Ali Khan posted a century opening stand, Akram's quickfire 39 (from just 51 deliveries) took Bangladesh to 237/4, winning by 6 wickets against Kenya.[9] He is the first ODI win captain in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi ODI captains
Number Name Year Played Won Tied Lost No result
3Akram Khan1994/5-1997/81510140
Bangladeshi ICC Trophy captains
Number Name Year Played Won Tied Lost No result Where finished
4Akram Khan1996/199798001Winners
Akram Khan Captaincy Record in major competitions
Year Tournament Venue Result
1994 2nd SAARC Quadrangular Bangladesh Runners Up among 4 teams
1995 5th Asia Cup UAE 4th among 4 teams
1996 ACC Trophy Malaysia Champion
1997 3rd SAARC Quadrangular Bangladesh 4th among 4 teams
1997 6th ICC Trophy Malaysia Champion

Batting style

He didn't have the most orthodox stance. In fact, there used to be a big gap between his bat and pad. His lack of technique was compensated by his very strong wrists and forearms. He was specially good at lofting the slow bowlers.

Relatives

His family has produced a number of other cricketers. In recent times, his nephews Nafees Iqbal and Tamim Iqbal have worn national colors. Both of them are opening bats. While right-handed Nafees Iqbal has lost his form after some initial successes, his younger brother, left-handed Tamim, became the most successful run-scorer for Bangladesh.

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Rafiqul Ameer: Looking back: Bangladesh cricket in the 80's" (Retrieved on 2008-07-28)
  2. http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh/content/story/512836.html
  3. Cricinfo Akram Khan One Day Internationals-All Round Analysis (Retrieved on 2008-07-27)
  4. "Akram Khan: One-Day Internationals". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  5. Bangladesh in ICC Trophy 1990, Netherlands BanglaCricket (Retrieved on 2008-07-27)
  6. Bangladesh in ICC Trophy 1994, Kenya BanglaCricket (Retrieved on 2008-07-27)
  7. Bangladesh in ICC Trophy 1997, Malaysia BanglaCricket (Retrieved on 2008-07-27)
  8. INDIAN CRICKET 1995 (Compiled by P.V. Vaidyanathan), (Kasturi & Sons Limited, Madras, India)
  9. : Cricinfo scorecard: Bangladesh v Kenya 17 May 1998 (Retrieved on 2008-07-27)
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