Imran Nazir

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Imran Nazir
country = Pakistan
fullname = Imran Nazir
living = true
dayofbirth = 16
monthofbirth = 12
yearofbirth = 1981
placeofbirth = Gujranwala
countryofbirth = Pakistan
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Right arm leg-break
role = Batsman
deliveries = balls
columns = 3
column1 = Test
matches1 = 8
runs1 = 427
bat avg1 = 32.84
100s/50s1 = 2/1
top score1 = 131
deliveries1 = –
wickets1 = –
bowl avg1 = –
fivefor1 = –
tenfor1 = –
best bowling1 = –
catches/stumpings1 = 4/–
column2 = ODI
matches2 = 74
runs2 = 1,784
bat avg2 = 24.77
100s/50s2 = 2/9
top score2 = 160
deliveries2 = 49
wickets2 = 1
bowl avg2 = 48.00
fivefor2 = 0
tenfor2 = n/a
best bowling2 = 1/3
catches/stumpings2 = 24/–
column3 = T20I
matches3 = 10
runs3 = 201
bat avg3 = 25.12
100s/50s3 = 0/1
top score3 = 59
deliveries3 = –
wickets3 = –
bowl avg3 = –
fivefor3 = –
tenfor3 = –
best bowling3 = –
catches/stumpings3 = 3/–
date = 20 September
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/8/8133/8133.html CricketArchive

Imran Nazir (Urdu: nastaliq|عمران نذیر) (born December 31, 1981 in Lahore) is a Pakistani cricketer who represents his country at international level as an attacking right-handed opening batsman.

International career

Nazir played his 8 Test matches between 1999 and 2002 during which time he was a regular in the ODI side. Since 2002 he played the occasional one day game for Pakistan but could never cement his spot in the side. The emergence of opening batsman such as Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Taufeeq Umar and Salman Butt has kept him out of the national side but with consistent performances in domestic cricket he has remained on the fringes.

Nazir made his return to the side in the 2nd ODI against South Africa in February 2007 during Pakistan's tour of South Africa. He impressed with 57 off just 39 deliveries and despite struggling for the rest of the series.

Nazir was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2007 World Cup. He smashed 160 against Zimbabwe in Pakistan's last match for the 2007 World cup after being knocked out by Ireland. It was the highest ever score by a Pakistani batsman and the eighth-highest by any batsman in World Cup history and his 8 sixes equalled the World Cup record of Ricky Ponting. [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/current/story/286615.html Cricinfo - A new high for Nazir ] ] It was also the highest List A score ever made in the West Indies. [ [http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Records/WestIndies/ListA/Overall/Highest_Player_Scores.html Cricket Archive ] ]

In the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 2007 held in South Africa, Nazir played for Pakistan in the final.

Indian Cricket League

In 2008, Nazir signed for the unofficial Indian Cricket League and has played for the Lahore Badshahs.

tyle

Nazir is an aggressive batsman though his technique has been found wanting on several occasions, putting unnecessary pressure on Pakistan's enviable middle order to rescue the team out of a crisis. An accurate timer of the ball, he has the ability to carry out his natural game regardless of the match situation but is quite liable to get out quicker as the pressure builds upon him. A meagre average of 25 in one day cricket suggests that Imran has been unable to make the step up to international, despite being given numerous chances by the Pakistani selectors. He is also an orthodox leg spinner but very rarely does he have the opportunity to bowl, or maybe he is not tempted by the prospect of bowling.Imran Nazir is included in Pakistan's squad for the Scotland tour.

Test Hundreds

* 131 vs West Indies at Kensington Oval on the 18th of May 2000
* 127 vs New Zealand at Gadaffi Stadium on the 1st of May 2002

ODI Hundreds

* 160 vs Zimbabwe at Kingston Park on the 21st of March 2007
* 105* vs Zimbabwe at National Cricket Stadium on the 15th of April 2000 Became the second youngest centurion in ODI history [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/ODIS/BATTING/ODI_YOUNGEST_CENTURIONS.html Cricinfo - Records - One-Day Internationals - Youngest player to score a hundred ] ]

References

External links

*Cricinfo|ref=pakistan/content/player/40563.html