The long term replacement for Abdul Razzaq and one of the future stars of Pakistan cricket. NBP all rounder Hammad Azam has been named in the ODI team for the tour of the WI. He is a batting all rounder. He was part of the 2010 ICC WT20 squad but did not get a game. He was Pakistan's stand out performer during the 2010 ICC Under 19 WC where he scored an unbeaten 90 odd under pressure during the semi final. Generally regarded as a match winner and future gem. He was also the second leading wicket taker during the 2010 domestic T20 tournament with 8 wickets in 3 matches. Good to see him finally get selected. The timing is right.
Recently he scored 3 half centuries in 7 50 over Matches to help NBP reach the final in the National One Day competition at a brilliant average of 70.
He has a wide variety of shots and scoring options and has shown in A tours and in the U19 WC that he can carry the bat and handle match situations very maturely and responsibly. He has the capability to hit the ball a long way and clear the ropes by taking on a calculated risk if the situation requires.
From my observations he is a flexible batting option who will have his good days and will fit in very nicely into this current ODI team. I was even optimistically pushing for his inclusion in the ODI team for the WC but that was not to be and as a matter of fact he did not even find a place in the preliminary 30 man squad.
As far as his bowling goes he is a wicket taking option. He has pace and height and can move the ball but tends to be expensive and wayward as well. He played in English league cricket last year and got an opportunity to bowl in different conditions and a further opportunity to work on his bowling which seemed to pay off.
Nonetheless, he is an exciting prospect and one that is bound to go far if he handles the intensity of international cricket and is given a good opportunity to show his worth. He is a tall young man from Attock with no shortage of talent or temperament.
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