Ajmal Shahzad

Ajmal Shahzad

Personal information
Full name	Ajmal Shahzad
Born	27 July 1985 (1985-07-27) Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England
Nickname	Ajy
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right-arm fast-medium
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	England
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
Years	Team
2004–present	Yorkshire (squad no. 4)
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	1	11	46	46
Runs scored	5	39	1,155	288
Batting average	5.00	6.50	26.86	13.71
100s/50s	0/0	0/0	0/3	0/1
Top score	5	9	88	59*
Balls bowled	102	588	7,514	2,188
Wickets	4	17	127	58
Bowling average	15.75	28.82	34.28	32.15
5 wickets in innings	0	0	3	1
10 wickets in match	0	–	0	n/a
Best bowling	3/45	3/41	5/51	5/51
Catches/stumpings	2/0	4/–	8/–	12/–
Source: Cricinfo, 9 February 2012

Ajmal Shahzad (born 27 July 1985) is an English cricketer who plays for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he made his international debut in a Twenty20 International for England in February 2010. He later made his ODI debut before becoming the 650th player to play Test cricket for England, making his debut against Bangladesh.

Background

Shahzad was born in a family of Pakistani background; his father migrated from Gujar Khan, Punjab. His father was an accountant by profession who himself represented Idle and played in Pakistan's Quaid-i-Azam Trophy. 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 opting to move to Leeds Metropolitan and instead doing sports science to enhance his career in cricket.

Domestic career

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

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 career

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

He later made his ODI début against Bangladesh, again taking a wicket in his first over. 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.

Shahzad was subsequently selected for the Ashes 2010-11 squad, but did not featured in any of the matches. He was also chosen for the Twenty20 and ODI squads which toured Australia. He was in the 15 man squad for the 2011 ICC World Cup; in a match against India, he scored a six off the first ball he faced during the last over of the match which helped secure a tie. He was later forced to withdraw from the squad with injury and upon his return for Yorkshire, he struggled for form and was left out of the England Test and One-Day squads to face Sri Lanka.

External links

• Player profile: Ajmal Shahzad from ESPNcricinfo
• Player profile: Ajmal Shahzad from CricketArchive