Sarfraz Nawaz

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = Pakistani
country = Pakistan
country abbrev = PAK
name = Sarfraz Nawaz
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm fast-medium
balls = true
tests = 55
test runs = 1045
test bat avg = 17.71
test 100s/50s = -/4
test top score = 90
test overs = 13951
test wickets = 177
test bowl avg = 32.75
test 5s = 4
test 10s = 1
test best bowling = 9/86
test catches/stumpings = 26/-
ODIs = 45
ODI runs = 221
ODI bat avg = 9.60
ODI 100s/50s = -/-
ODI top score = 34*
ODI overs = 2412
ODI wickets = 63
ODI bowl avg = 23.22
ODI 5s = -
ODI 10s = -
ODI best bowling = 4/27
ODI catches/stumpings = 8/-
date = 4 February
year = 2006
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/42630.html

Sarfraz Nawaz Malik (Urdu: سرفراز نواز ملک) (born December 1, 1948, Lahore, Punjab) is a former Pakistani cricketer turned politician [http://www.sarfraznawaz.com/biography.php] who was the founder of reverse swing in cricket and passed it onto later Pakistani bowlers known for making sensational claims. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4155734.stm]

He played in 55 Tests and 45 ODIs from 1969 to 1984.

His greatest bowling performance came in a Test match against Australia in 1979 in Melbourne when he took nine wickets in an innings. This included a remarkable spell of 33 deliveries in which he captured 7 wickets for 1 run.

In the very next match, Javed Miandad successfully appealed for handled the ball against Australian opener Andrew Hilditch - Hilditch was given out 'handled the ball.' The batsman picked up the ball returned from a fielder in rather a friendly way. An appeal was made and he was given out. In the same match fast bowler Hurst ran out Sikander, at the non-striker's end when he was backing up while the bowler had completed the delivery. [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/74008.html] [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1970S/1978-79/PAK_IN_AUS/PAK_AUS_T2_24-29MAR1979.html]

In the 1980s, Sarfraz married the film actress, Rani. In 1985, he contested successfully for membership of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab and remained a member (MPA) for 3 years [http://www.sarfraznawaz.com/biography.php] .

Battle against match fixing

When Bob Woolmer was found dead in Jamaica, Sarfaraz Nawaz was quick to suggest that he was murdered, even before the postmortem, linking it to corruption in cricket. He subsequently raised concerns about the safety of Pakistani Cricketers in West Indies, claiming Woolmer and Inzamam were getting threats from the bookies without naming his sources. He requested the involvement of Scotland Yard in the investigations, questioning the credibility of Jamaican police. He also alleged that the match Pakistan lost against West Indies in the World Cup 2007 was fixed.

Later Sarfraz insisted that Woolmer's death in a Kingston hotel on March 18 was linked to match fixing and extended his help to track the gang of bookies. "I know five bookies made their way to the West Indies. I can help trace them. Perhaps we can even get some clues from the players", Sarfraz told 'The Sun', adding "Woolmers death is connected with the match-fixing mafia.". [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007150866,00.html] "I believe the Pakistan World Cup games were fixed. There is a dark side to cricket. The game got on top of it for a while but it has never really been stamped out," he said. [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007150866,00.html]

Scotland Yard, later, declared that no foul play was involved in Woolmer's death, rejecting Sarfraz's allegations and vindicating the Pakistani team.

External links

*
* http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1089273
* http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007150866,00.html
* http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21421252-5001023,00.html
* http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4155734.stm
* http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/74008.html]
* http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1970S/1978-79/PAK_IN_AUS/PAK_AUS_T2_24-29MAR1979.html]