Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
1

*A tall, strong left-arm fast bowler, was rushed into Test cricket regardless of his limited first-class experience, due to a shin injury to Pakistan’s spearhead, Imran Khan. Azeem was born with two fingers missing on his right hand but despite his handicap, he performed commendably in the Test arena. His debut was against India in 1983-84 and on the subsequent tour of Australia, he bowled marathon spells, taking 19 wickets with five-wicket hauls at Adelaide and Perth. In the home series against India he took a marvelous 6 for 46 at Lahore on a lifeless pitch. He then took 22 wickets in the six consecutive Tests against the Kiwis. He gave way to left-arm paceman, Wasim Akram. In the 18 Tests Azeem played, he took 63 wickets.
*
Azeem Hafeez | Pakistan Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo

When I read about Zeem Hafeez and two missing fingers of his right hand, I got curious and astonished to see his marathon spell in every series in absence of Imran Khan, he was leading wicket taker from Pakistan in every series except against England where he didn’t bowled a lot. He played his last test when he was only 22.

Records / Pakistan in India Test Series, 1983/84 / Most wickets

[TABLE=“class: grid, width: 630”]

[TH=“colspan: 14”]Most wickets[/TH]

[TH]Player[/TH]
[TH]Mat[/TH]
[TH]Inns[/TH]
[TH]Overs[/TH]
[TH]Mdns[/TH]
[TH]Runs[/TH]
[TH]Wkts[/TH]
[TH]BBI[/TH]
[TH]BBM[/TH]
[TH]Ave[/TH]
[TH]Econ[/TH]
[TH]SR[/TH]
[TH]5[/TH]
[TH]10[/TH]

N Kapil Dev (India)
3
5
91.0
23
225
12
5/68
5/68
18.75
2.47
45.5
1
0

Azeem Hafeez (Pak)
3
5
116.0
27
312
10
4/58
5/125
31.20
2.68
69.6
0
0

Records / Pakistan in Australia Test Series, 1983/84 / Most wickets
[TABLE=“class: grid, width: 630”]

[TH=“colspan: 14”]Most wickets[/TH]

[TH]Player[/TH]
[TH]Mat[/TH]
[TH]Inns[/TH]
[TH]Overs[/TH]
[TH]Mdns[/TH]
[TH]Runs[/TH]
[TH]Wkts[/TH]
[TH]BBI[/TH]
[TH]BBM[/TH]
[TH]Ave[/TH]
[TH]Econ[/TH]
[TH]SR[/TH]
[TH]5[/TH]
[TH]10[/TH]

GF Lawson (Aus)
5
9
188.3
40
580
24
5/49
9/107
24.16
3.07
47.1
2
0

DK Lillee (Aus)
5
9
230.3
51
633
20
6/171
8/153
31.65
2.74
69.1
1
0

Azeem Hafeez (Pak)
5
7
195.3
39
733
19
5/100
7/217
38.57
3.74
61.7
2
0

Records / England in Pakistan Test Series, 1983/84 / Most wickets
[TABLE=“class: grid, width: 630”]

[TH=“colspan: 14”]Most wickets[/TH]

[TH]Player[/TH]
[TH]Mat[/TH]
[TH]Inns[/TH]
[TH]Overs[/TH]
[TH]Mdns[/TH]
[TH]Runs[/TH]
[TH]Wkts[/TH]
[TH]BBI[/TH]
[TH]BBM[/TH]
[TH]Ave[/TH]
[TH]Econ[/TH]
[TH]SR[/TH]
[TH]5[/TH]
[TH]10[/TH]

Abdul Qadir (Pak)
3
5
185.0
42
451
19
5/74
10/194
23.73
2.43
58.4
3
1

Sarfraz Nawaz (Pak)
3
5
141.2
26
359
14
4/42
6/69
25.64
2.54
60.5
0
0

Azeem Hafeez (Pak)
2
3
38.0
9
106
1
1/71
1/71
106.00
2.78
228.0
0
0

Records / India in Pakistan Test Series, 1984/85 / Most wickets
[TABLE=“class: grid, width: 630”]

[TH=“colspan: 14”]Most wickets[/TH]

[TH]Player[/TH]
[TH]Mat[/TH]
[TH]Inns[/TH]
[TH]Overs[/TH]
[TH]Mdns[/TH]
[TH]Runs[/TH]
[TH]Wkts[/TH]
[TH]BBI[/TH]
[TH]BBM[/TH]
[TH]Ave[/TH]
[TH]Econ[/TH]
[TH]SR[/TH]
[TH]5[/TH]
[TH]10[/TH]

Azeem Hafeez (Pak)
2
3
110.0
28
297
11
6/46
7/160
27.00
2.70
60.0
1
0

Abdul Qadir (Pak)
1
1
38.0
8
104
4
4/104
4/104
26.00
2.73
57.0
0
0

Records / Pakistan in New Zealand Test Series, 1984/85 / Most wickets
[TABLE=“class: grid, width: 630”]

[TH=“colspan: 14”]Most wickets[/TH]

[TH]Player[/TH]
[TH]Mat[/TH]
[TH]Inns[/TH]
[TH]Overs[/TH]
[TH]Mdns[/TH]
[TH]Runs[/TH]
[TH]Wkts[/TH]
[TH]BBI[/TH]
[TH]BBM[/TH]
[TH]Ave[/TH]
[TH]Econ[/TH]
[TH]SR[/TH]
[TH]5[/TH]
[TH]10[/TH]

RJ Hadlee (NZ)
3
5
118.5
29
306
16
6/51
8/110
19.12
2.57
44.5
1
0

Wasim Akram (Pak)
2
3
93.4
21
233
12
5/56
10/128
19.41
2.48
46.8
2
1

Azeem Hafeez (Pak)
3
5
162.0
40
484
12
5/127
6/178
40.33
2.98
81.0
1
0

Restored attachments:

Azeem Hafeez.jpg
Azeem Hafeez.jpg800×600 48.6 KB

azeemhafeez2.jpg
azeemhafeez2.jpg800×600 20.6 KB

2

Azeem Hafeez overcame the challenge of two missing fingers to be a workhorse for Paki

Azeem Hafeez overcame the challenge of two missing fingers to be a workhorse for Pakistan

By Sarang Bhalerao
July 29, 2013, 9:24 am
*
Raja Azeem Hafeez, born on July 29, 1963, was a left-arm fast bowler who represented Pakistan between 1983-85. Despite the handicap of two missing fingers since birth in his right hand, Hafeez performed incredibly well in international circuit. Sarang Bhalerao looks at the career of the man who was known for bowling marathon spells for Pakistan. *

Azeem Hafeez is an inspiration to millions of aspiring cricketers. He taught people a life-lesson: No obstacle in life can be big enough if you have power to chase your dreams. When you consider the fact that Hafeez’s right hand had two fingers missing, you wonder how he must have played cricket — especially at the highest level. How could he take the catches? How could he hold the bat? Yes, that was the same question even the cricketing world wondered when there were newspaper articles written about his handicap.

Hafeez had to undergo rigorous fielding drills to prove that his ‘handicap’ was no handicap. At the end of the day he passed these tests easily and overcame the hurdles of Doubting Thomases. No one could stop him from following his ultimate dream: to don Pakistan colours.

Early days

Hafeez started playing cricket in 1977-78 in the bylanes of Pakistan. He stayed close to the legendaryHanif Mohammad whose brothers Mushtaq and Sadiq too were established Test cricketers. The presence of these cricketers in the same *mohalla *gave Hafeez the motivation to play well. He learnt nuances by playing the cricket in the narrow aisles near to his house.

Hafeez’s parents put great emphasis on his studies because of the physical challenges. He managed to pass class 12 exams. But later his passion for the game took over. He was selected to play for Karachi Under-19 and Pakistan Under-19. Eventually he got a call in the national side for the tour of India and his parents by that time supported his cricketing aspiration.

The tour of India 1983

Although Hafeez had a limited First-Class experience he had the propensity to bowl long spells. He was rushed into Test cricket after Pakistan spearhead Imran Khan suffered a shin injury. Before the tour Pakistan selector Colonel Naushad asked Hafeez if he could bowl long spells for two hours. Hafeez was confident and thus his role on his maiden tour was to be the workhorse of Pakistan attack — to bowl long spells.

Hafeez bowled 116 overs in the three Test matches in Bangalore, Jalandhar and Nagpur and picked up 10 scalps. The most talked about wicket which made him the instant star was that of Sunil Gavaskar in the second Test at Jalandhar. Gavaskar was bowled round the legs for five which made headlines in Pakistan newspapers.

The tour Down Under

Hafeez bowled long spells in Pakistan’s tour down under in 1983-84. He picked up five for 100 in the first Test in Perth but Australia scored 436 on a bouncy wicket. Pakistan suffered an innings defeat as no batsman looked comfortable against the rising ball.

Hafeez registered his second five-wicket haul in Adelaide: five for 167 in 38.2 overs. Pakistan bowled out Australia for 465 and scored 624 themselves as Mohsin Khan, Qasim Umar and Javed Miandad scored centuries. With a lead of 169 runs, Pakistan bowlers had their work cut out. Hafeez picked up two wickets in the second innings but Australia managed to draw the game.

Heroics in Lahore against arch rivals

Pakistan scored 428 in the first innings courtesy of an unbeaten 168 by captain Zaheer Abbas. India started their first innings on a disappointing note losing opener Anshuman Gaekwad to Jalal-ud-din for four.

Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar then looked comfortable on a lifeless Lahore wicket. Jalal-ud-din was bowling from the Pavilion end and was not getting any help. So he asked Hafeez, who was bowling from the College end, to bowl from the Pavilion end.

To Hafeez’s delight he started to find swing and rhythm in his bowling. In no time he dismissed Vengsarkar (41), Gavaskar (48), Sandeep Patil (0), Ravi Shastri (0), Kapil Dev (3) and Chetan Sharma (4). In no time Indian innings collapsed from 94 for one to 156 all out. Hafeez’s six for 46 (his best figures in Test cricket) had helped India follow-on.

Hafeez picked up only one wicket in the second innings as India saved the Test after Mohinder Amarnath scored a century. But Hafeez’s seven wickets on a placid track was a lion-hearted performance for which he was awarded player of the match.

Last days in international cricket

Pakistan had a young left-arm pacer Wasim Akram who was very impressive. His role model was Hafeez. As a youngster he once went searching for Hafeez’s house. It was a huge honour for Akram to talk about the nuances of fast bowling at his idol’s place.

Both Hafeez and Akram were part of the tour to New Zealand in 1985. Akram had not played First-Class cricket but he was a precocious talent. Hafeez had picked up 10 wickets against New Zealand when they had toured Pakistan only a few months earlier. He played the first Test at Wellington and picked up five wickets for the fourth time in his career. He also bowled 48 overs for his five-for.

Pakistan dropped Iqbal Qasim and Wasim Akram made his debut in the second Test at Auckland. Hafeez and his understudy Akram opened the bowling for Pakistan after the visitors were dismissed for a woeful 169 in the first innings. Pakistan were hammered and New Zealand scored 451. Hafeez picked up three for 157 in 47 overs and Akram picked up two wickets for 105 runs in 34.4 overs. Pakistan lost the game by an innings and 99 runs.

It was a do-or-die game for Pakistan in the third Test at Dunedin. It is in this game Akram showed his class. He bowled fiery spells in both the innings and picked up 10 wickets in the Test. Pakistan narrowly lost the game by two wickets. Hafeez could only pick up three wickets in the game. Akram’s exploits kick-started a special career and he went on to become country’s leading fast bowler and blue-eyed boy. Hafeez was lost in obscurity after Dunedin Test. He never played Test cricket for Pakistan thereafter.

Hafeez played 18 Tests and picked up 63 wickets at an average of 34.98 and strike rate of 69. He believed in working the batsman out and purchasing the wickets. He played in 15 One-day Internationals (ODIs) and picked up as many wickets at an average of 39.06 and strike rate of 47.9.

Hafeez is memorable because he clambered a pinnacle: of playing Test cricket and never let the misfortunes of his handicap affect him one bit. The spirit exhibited by him is earnest of adulation and emulation.

Azeem Hafeez overcame the challenge of two missing fingers to be a workhorse for Pakistan - Latest Cricket News, Articles & Videos at CricketCountry.com

Restored attachments:

azeemhafeez3.jpg
azeemhafeez3.jpg800×600 38.9 KB

3

Re: Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

The story of Azeem HafeezSamir Chopra

**Imran Khan, and later Wasim Akram, were always in the spotlight but how many people remember Azeem Hafeez?
**
Sometime ago I had posted a piece on Duleep Mendis and Roy Dias on theDifferent Strokes blog, motivated by a desire to shine a spotlight on memorable feats in cricket, which I felt hadn’t received their due. I hope to keep doing that here at the Pitch, and in a similar vein, I want to talk a bit about cricketers who had only walk-on parts on the world’s cricketing stages, but for some reason or the other, managed to make themselves memorable to me.

My first entry in what will, hopefully, be a long roll of honour, is the Pakistani left-arm quick Azeem Hafeez. His Test statistics are unremarkable: he played 18 matches between 1983 and 1985 and took 63 wickets at an average of 34.98 and a strike rate of 69. Azeem perhaps played only because the great Imran Khan was on the mend; he left because another great, Wasim Akram, had given notice of his potential, and more importantly, was Imran’s new blue-eyed boy.

Why then, do I remember Hafeez? What makes him so enduring in my cricketing imagination? For two reasons, neither of them particularly earth-shatteringly interesting or important, but for a teenage cricket fan they added up. For one thing, he was replacing Imran in a series against India, and my curiosity was piqued: who was it, precisely, that was supposed to fill the great man’s shoes in this clash of arch-rivals?

And secondly, reductive as this will sound, because he was distinguished by a small handicap: a pair of missing fingers on his right hand. Indeed, it might be the only reason that fans remember him today, including Pakistani ones. This pair of missing digits was part of every introduction afforded to Hafeez in the print media, and it willy-nilly made him into a novelty in my mind.

As I watched the first Test in Bangalore with my aunt for company (women did watch cricket before the IPL), I brought up Hafeez’s handicap. She replied with a one-word description, “bechara”, an instinctive expression of sympathy that set me thinking.

That particular expression, literally translated, means “without recourse”, perhaps “helpless”, or “at the mercy of one’s fortunes”. Its referent is supposed to be the recipient of our sympathies, our aid. But Hafeez was bowling in Test cricket; the description didn’t seem to do justice to someone who seemed to be living out a schoolboy’s fantasies. And he wasn’t just bowling, he was bowling quick (I do not remember if he was express, but he certainly was no slouch).

At the very least, he didn’t seem “without recourse”. Rather, he seemed to have admirably overcome adversity to rise to the top of a pile that many youngsters would love to ascend, even those not physically afflicted as him.

Two fingers missing aren’t quite the stuff of made-for-television drama: no missing limbs, no paralytic stroke, no recovery from cancer (testicular or otherwise). But cricket has always been a digital game (yup, even before the internet), and the hands are all-important. Fielding and batting require both hands to do full duty. Perhaps not so with bowling, but wouldn’t a kid with two missing fingers have felt some lack of fit with the cricketing field? Did he have a few barbs sent his way - you know that wonderful way kids have of making sure every physical oddity is highlighted?

I was intrigued by Hafeez and monitored his career carefully thereafter. He did reasonably well against Australia on Pakistan’s last five-Test tour Down Under (1983-84) and then later pulled off his best bowling performance, 6 for 46 on a lifeless Lahore pitch in 1984-85 that made India follow-on. Six Tests against New Zealand later, he was gone. Akram was in town and Hafeez never made it back.

To this day, I’m not sure why a bowler that I only saw bowl in a few Tests, all fairly tedious draws, who didn’t produce a series of stunning performances, became so memorable for me. The only rationale I can offer is that while I was used to hearing tales of dramatic reversals of fortune and overcoming of adversity in sporting contexts, the constant reminders of greatness associated with those stories had somehow made them remote to me.

Hafeez was memorable just because his handicap and his associated story were somehow grounded and familiar, because in his own way, he didn’t seem out of the ordinary. He could have lost those fingers to a thresher, perhaps to the careless lighting of a firecracker. He hadn’t climbed Mount Everest; he had simply played cricket. But he had played it well enough to scale a pinnacle, Test cricket, well beyond the reach of most cricketers and fans. I knew I would have found his handicap scary had I been unfortunate enough to have been afflicted by it. And I knew getting into a Test team was hard. For me, the spirit that underlay his rise seemed worthy of attention and emulation.

Azeem came, he played a bit of Test cricket for his country, and he then slipped back into obscurity. And he also managed to hand out a couple of lessons to at least one teenage cricket fan. It’s not a line he can add to his CV but I thought I’d let him know anyway.

Blogs: The story of Azeem Hafeez | Cricket Blogs | ESPN Cricinfo

4

Re: Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

Yes, I remember Azeem Hafeez. He was pretty decent and played for a couple of years, until Wasim Akram came along. The articles above imply that Hafeez was dropped because of the emergence of Akram. That might be true to some extent, but Pakistan played another left-armer for a few years AFTER Akram's emergence: Salim Jaffar. Jaffar was pretty ordinary, and played for 2-3 years along with Imran and Akram. He could easily have been replaced by Hafeez who was perhaps a better bowler.

Hafeez is not the only Pakistani bowler with missing digits. The great Waqar Younis has a missing finger in his left hand.

5

Re: Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

.................................

6

Re: Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

You are very much right and how can we forget the memories of 1987 World cup semifinal, where he have gave (18 Runs) in last over and Pakistan lost by 18 Runs. Azeem bowled without Imran Khan, singly handled the pressure and gave performance while on other hand Saleem Jaffer couldn't learn or even improve his bowling while playing with of Imran.

7

Re: Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

Didn't know Hafeez. Didn't know Akram started that early. Good to see Mohinder Amarnath name. Solid cricketeer.

I see you are new her, Mr. Moderator. Don't hesitate if you need help navigating this forum.

8

Re: Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

I see you have learnt how to use the like feature.

9

Re: Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

Azeem hafeez was a great talent. Its still in my vague memory he used to live somewhere nearby we lived in khi, pak. Dont remember seeing him though. He was a genuine pace bowler.

I'd be interested in knowing what lead to him ousted from the national team? Was it a typical politics or the liking/disliking of captain IK? After advent of Wasim Akram, i'm sure there was still a chance for him to play but he was never included after that.

10

Re: Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

Am I missing something here? This is not the news about Hafeez's passing, rather just an article remembering him.

11

Re: Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

??

12

Re: Azeem Hafeez: A Brave Pakistani Cricketer

you suddenly posted so many posts about azeem hafeez out of nowhere that i thought that he has passed away!!!

aap kay rishtay-daar hain azeem bhai?