Abdul Razzaq: the all-rounder who either blocked or hit

From 1996 to 2011, Pakistan’s one-day side had a player who could bowl with the new ball and also turn a match in the last overs. He was Abdul Razzaq. According to ESPNcricinfo, he was initially expected to become Pakistan’s most complete all-rounder since Imran Khan. He did not get there, but proved a dependable player in every format³. In 265 ODIs he scored 5,080 runs and took 269 wickets. In 46 Tests he took exactly 100 wickets¹.

Early life and start in cricket

Abdul Razzaq was born in Lahore on 2 December 1979. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler. In domestic cricket he represented Lahore, PIA, Khan Research Laboratories and the Agricultural Development Bank. He also played for several county sides in England²³.

His first ODI was against Zimbabwe in Lahore on 1 November 1996. He did not get to bat but took 2 wickets for 29 runs. His Test debut came against Australia in Brisbane on 5 November 1999, where he scored 11 and 2¹.

According to ESPNcricinfo, bowling was the skill that first brought him to notice: a long, running approach, accuracy and reverse swing. There was a time when he was fast enough to open the bowling with the new ball³.

All-round performances in Tests

In Tests, Razzaq’s bat sometimes also worked higher up the order. On 29 November 2000 in Faisalabad, he scored 100 not out at number three against England. His best innings include 110 not out off just 100 balls against Bangladesh in Multan in August 2001, and 134 in Dhaka on 9 January 2002¹.

According to ESPNcricinfo, his batting had only two speeds: block or hit. But he could show patience when needed. The profile describes his 71 off 346 minutes against India in Mohali in March 2005 as a match-saving half-century¹³.

His only five-wicket haul in a Test innings came against Sri Lanka in Karachi on 28 October 2004, when he took 5 for 35 in 23.1 overs. The Test against India, also in Karachi, in January 2006 was the best example of his all-round ability. According to ESPNcricinfo, he scored 45 and 90 and took seven wickets in the match, and Pakistan won the Test³. His last Test was against the West Indies in Karachi on 27 November 2006¹.

One-day cricket: a player for the final overs

According to ESPNcricinfo, it was mostly his batting that won matches. He drove beautifully towards cover and mid-off, off both the front and back foot³. His highest ODI score is 112 against South Africa in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) on 11 December 2002. On 17 January 2004 in Wellington, he scored 89 off just 40 balls against New Zealand¹.

On 15 December 2005 in Karachi, batting at number seven against England, he scored 51 not out off just 22 balls. According to ESPNcricinfo, in the following September he took nearly 60 runs off the last three overs of an ODI, again against England³. On 8 September 2006 in Nottingham, his innings against England was 75 not out off 72 balls. His most famous ODI innings was perhaps against South Africa in Abu Dhabi on 31 October 2010. Coming in at number seven, he scored 109 not out off 72 balls, with 10 sixes¹.

He was also effective with the ball in ODIs. His best bowling figures are 6 for 35 against Bangladesh in Dhaka on 25 January 2002. On 15 October 1999 in Sharjah, he took 5 for 31 against Sri Lanka in a match that ended in a tie. In Hobart in January 2000, he scored 70 not out off 52 balls against India and also took 5 for 48. He also captained Pakistan in one ODI in 2006¹.

The 2009 World Twenty20

In his first Twenty20 international, against England in Bristol on 28 August 2006, he took 3 for 30 and scored 17 not out off just 7 balls. According to ESPNcricinfo, he returned to the Pakistan side for the 2009 World Twenty20 in England and made an immediate impact, and Pakistan won the tournament. He also played in the 2011 ODI World Cup³. His last ODI was played on 18 November 2011 and his last T20 international in Dubai on 15 November 2013¹.

Statistics

Source: ESPNcricinfo Statsguru¹. The figures are for his international career.

Impact and legacy

In the 145 ODIs that Pakistan won during Abdul Razzaq’s career, his batting average was 40.08. In the same matches he took 176 wickets at an average of 24.92. In ODIs played in Pakistan, his strike rate was 116.15¹. These figures show that when he was in form, the team won.

According to ESPNcricinfo, batting lower down the order suited him best³. Even today, when a batsman suddenly starts hitting big shots in the last overs of a match after quiet defence, Pakistani fans are reminded of Abdul Razzaq: the all-rounder who kept the balance of Pakistan’s ODI side from 1996 to 2011.