Taufeeq Umar (Urdu: توفیق عمر) (born 20 June 1981 in Lahore) is a Pakistani cricketer who was a regular Test opening batsman for three seasons, before being dropped ahead of the 2004–05 season. Unusually for a Pakistani player, Umar has played more Tests than ODIs, as he was not given a prolonged run in the ODI side until 2003, when he played eight ODIs in a row. However, he only missed two of 24 Tests played between August 2001 and April 2004, and after 17 Tests his batting average had reached 48.03 after he made four scores above 50 in the two-Test series with South Africa [2]. Possessing excellent temperament, he remains unique amongst Pakistani openers in his ability to concentrate for long periods and his ability to build innings. With exquisite drives either side of the wicket, a formidable cut and pull shot in the armory and possessing the natural gift of timing, he seemed the very answer to Pakistan's opening problem especially against a full strength South African attack in South Africa (2003). A loss of form against India (2004) resulted in Taufeeq losing his place in the team and a subsequent loss of batting confidence. He continued to be in the Pakistani selectors' minds, playing for Pakistan against a touring England XI in 2005–06 [3], and continued to play for Lahore Ravi and Habib Bank Limited in Pakistani domestic competitions. It remains to be seen whether he can recover his solid technique and return to Test cricket as the formidable opener he was meant to be. This is compounded by the fact that he joined the rebel Indian Cricket League and represented the Lahore Badshahs. Taufeeq will be spending a summer in the UK playing Professional League cricket for Lancaster Cricket Club in the Northern League.
Major Team: Pakistan, Habib Bank Limited, ICL Pakistan XI, Lahore, Lahore Badshahs, Mumbai Champs, Pakistan Reserves
Playing Roll: Batsman
Batting Style: Left
Bowling Style: Right-arm offbreak
A left-hand opener from Lahore, Taufeeq Umar first made his mark in the Lombard World Under-15 Challenge in England in 1996. He made 87 against England in the semi-final, and in the final, which Pakistan lost to India, he opened with Hasan Raza, who was to play Test cricket shortly afterwards. A front-foot player who drives well, Taufeeq is nonetheless a good cutter. He can also bowl some handy offspin. Taufeeq could not have asked for an easier initiation into international cricket - he played his first Test against Bangladesh, and duly notched up a hundred to become the eighth player to score a century on Test debut for Pakistan. But far more impressive were his subsequent performances - an 88 against a top-class Australian attack was followed by a flawless 135 against South Africa at Cape Town. On those bouncy pitches, Taufeeq had ample time to play the seamers. He did not get much opportunity in the World Cup, but showed himself to be an absolute asset in Pakistan's home series against South Africa, scoring a hundred and three fifties in four innings.
Yet, as a result of Pakistan's lack of patience with their openers, he was axed a few Tests later after a string of moderate performances. Since then he has been in and out - more out - of the team. When he has been given a chance since, he has looked understandably nervous but given that no opener in Pakistan has been allowed to settle into the side, the door remains ajar.
A left handed opener from the city of Lahore, Taufeeq seems to be another one of Pakistan’s top order experiments gone ‘kaput’. He impressed one and all right from the outset at the Under 15 World Cup where he scored a magnificent 87 in the semi finals against England and caught the selectors’ eye. Taufeeq made his test debut in August 2001 against Bangladesh and grabbed the opportunity with both hands, scoring a century in the game.
The talent from Lahore continued his prolific form against top cricketing nations Australia and South Africa. He showed solid technique with shots off the back-foot as well as some sublime drives off the front-foot to score 88 against the Aussies and 135 against the Proteas. His limited opportunity in the 2003 World Cup spurred him on to achieve more in order to prove his worth and he did so by hammering a century and three fifties in four innings on home soil against South Africa.
Taufeeq Umar could not maintain the consistency of such knocks and soon found himself out of the national side. His affair with the rebel league, the ICL, stunted his international career growth and despite the scrapping of the league, this left handed opener has not been able to open the doors to the national side.
BASSETERRE: Taufeeq Umar moved to within reach of his fifth Test hundred, and allowed Pakistan to stamp their authority in the second Test against West Indies on Sunday.
The Pakistani opener hit a chancy, undefeated 97 to anchor the visitors to 202 for three in their second innings – an overall lead of 251 – at the close on the third day at Warner Park.
Taufeeq struck 10 boundaries from 231 balls in close to four hours of batting to fortify Pakistan”s position, after they dismissed West Indies for 223 before lunch to grab a first innings lead of 49.
Left-hander Taufeeq, however, lived a charmed life, surviving three chances before the West Indies appealed for a caught behind off West Indies captain Darren Sammy from the final ball of the day.
Taufeeq shared 82 for the first wicket with Mohammad Hafeez to lay the platform, and built on it in a 76-run second wicket stand with Azhar Ali before West Indies claimed two wickets.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq joined Taufeeq, and they batted through a little more than an hour to further frustrate West Indies.
Taufeeq was one, when he edged Kemar Roach to first slip, where Darren Bravo dropped a straightforward offering, and on 13, he edged the same bowler to second slip, where West Indies captain Darren Sammy put him down.
He reached his 50 from 82 balls, when he tugged a delivery from leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo through mid-on for a single.
But he was very fortunate on 56, when he advanced to a flighted delivery from Bishoo, missed a flick, and the ball ricocheted from the pad. This wrong-footed West Indies wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr, and he failed to gather to effect a difficult stumping chance, with the batsman stranded.
After Taufeeq and Hafeez carried Pakistan to 55 without loss at lunch, Sammy made the breakthrough for West Indies.
Hafeez drove loosely at an off-cutter, and was bowled off the inside-edge for 32.
Azhar came to the crease, and announced himself with an on-drive off Sammy for his first boundary, and was the perfect foil for Taufeeq, taking Pakistan to 131 for one at tea.
After the break, they continued to extend Pakistan”s advantage before Azhar, whose innings contained half-dozen fours from 90 balls in close to three hours, was caught at slip off Bishoo, top-edging a late cut, and Asad Shafiq was caught behind off Roach for four.
Taufeeq Umar is a left handed batsman and a right arm offbreak bowler with the Pakistan cricket team. He has also played cricket for the Habib Bank Limited, ICL Pakistan XI, Lahore, Pakistan Reserves, Mumbai Champs and the Lahore Badshahs.
Taufeeq Umar has been playing first class cricket since 1996. He made his debut in International cricket in a test match against Bangladesh played at Multan in 2001 along with Shoaib Malik. Umar opened the batting line up for his team with Saeed Anwar and scored his maiden test century with 104 runs which included 15 boundaries. He was caught behind the wicket by Khaled Mashud on a ball by Hasibul Hossain after facing 163 balls in the first innings. Pakistan won the match by an innings.
A few months later he played his first One day International in a match against Sri Lanka at Sharjah. Umar again opened the match and could only make 10 runs in 20 balls before being bowled by Fernando. Sri Lanka won that match by 7 wickets with 71 balls remaining. In Pakistan’s home series against South Africa, Umar scored a century and three fifties in four innings. Umar was dropped from the national team after a series of bad performances in 2003 and 2004. He later joined the rebel Indian Cricket League with the Lahore Badshahs and his chances of returning to the team was doubtful.
Batting and fielding averages
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 31 58 3 2167 135 39.40 4916 44.08 5 11 307 3 41 0
ODIs 22 22 1 504 81* 24.00 895 56.31 0 3 51 2 9 0
First-class 121 208 11 7638 176 38.77 16 41 125 0
List A 119 119 15 4136 151* 39.76 9 20 74 0
Twenty20 10 10 2 391 100* 48.87 276 141.66 1 2 42 7 5 0
Bowling averages
Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 31 7 78 44 0 - - - 3.38 - 0 0 0
ODIs 22 3 72 85 1 1/49 1/49 85.00 7.08 72.0 0 0 0
First-class 121 844 463 13 3/33 35.61 3.29 64.9 0 0
List A 119 1325 1180 32 5/39 5/39 36.87 5.34 41.4 0 1 0
Twenty20 10 4 72 73 7 4/11 4/11 10.42 6.08 10.2 1 0 0
International Debut: 2001
Batting and fielding records
M Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Test 31 58 3 2167 135 39.40 4916 44.08 5 11 307 3 41 -
ODI 22 22 1 505 81* 24.05 895 56.42 - 3 51 2 9 -
Bowling records
M Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Eco SR 4W 5W 10W
Test 31 7 78 44 - - - - 3.38 - - - -
ODI 22 3 72 85 1 1/49 1/49 85.00 7.08 72.00 - - -
Career Statistics
Test Debut: Pakistan v Bangladesh at Multan, 29-31, Aug 2001
ODI Debut: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, Oct 27, 2001
Fast Facts
He scored a century on his test debut and became the 8th Pakistani cricketer to do so and joined a list of illustrious cricketers of the likes of Mark Waugh, Sourav Ganguly, Willaim Gilbert Grace, Keppler Wessels, and Javed Miandad.
He can bowl some handy off break and has taken a 5 wicket haul in domestic cricket.
He has a healthy average of 39.29 in tests consisting of 9 half centuries and 4 centuries.
He has also scored a century in domestic T20s making an unbeaten 100 and has impressive bowling figures with a best of 4 for 11.
Earlier, Pakistan were frustrated, as West Indies, starting the day on 184 for eight, extended their innings for about 1 hours into the morning period thanks to their tail-enders.
Hafeez made the breakthrough however, when he trapped Roach lbw playing back and across for a career-best 29, following a valuable 60-run stand for the ninth wicket with Rampaul.
Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan”s most penetrative bowler in the brief series, brought the innings to a close, when Devendra Bishoo edged a forward defensive shot, and was caught at slip for one.
Hafeez was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, finishing with a career-best three for 23 from eight overs, fellow off-spinner Ajmal ended with three for 56 off 28.5 overs, and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman captured two for 55 from 29 overs.
The visitors trail 0-1 in the two-Test series, following a 40-run defeat inside four days in the first Test, which ended last Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium, crushing their dreams of a maiden Test series victory in the Caribbean. (AFP)
Recent matches
Bat & Bowl Team Opposition Ground Match Date Scorecard
31 Pakistan v Ireland Belfast 30 May 2011 ODI # 3158
23 Pakistan v Ireland Belfast 28 May 2011 ODI # 3157
11, 135 Pakistan v West Indies Basseterre 20 May 2011 Test # 1993
19, 0 Pakistan v West Indies Providence 12 May 2011 Test # 1992
3 Pakistan v West Indies Providence 5 May 2011 ODI # 3156
44 Pakistanis v UWI VC XI Castries 18 Apr 2011 Other OD
106*, 42 Punjab (Pak) v Baluchistan Lahore 3 Mar 2011 First-class
4 Punjab (Pak) v Federal Lahore 25 Feb 2011 First-class
50 Punjab (Pak) v Sind Lahore 19 Feb 2011 First-class
35, 0/33 Habib Bank v National Bnk Lahore 8 Feb 2011 List A
Profile
A left-hand opener from Lahore, Taufeeq Umar first made his mark in the Lombard World Under-15 Challenge in England in 1996. He made 87 against England in the semi-final, and in the final, which Pakistan lost to India, he opened with Hasan Raza, who was to play Test cricket shortly afterwards. A front-foot player who drives well, Taufeeq is nonetheless a good cutter. He can also bowl some handy offspin. Taufeeq could not have asked for an easier initiation into international cricket - he played his first Test against Bangladesh, and duly notched up a hundred to become the eighth player to score a century on Test debut for Pakistan. But far more impressive were his subsequent performances - an 88 against a top-class Australian attack was followed by a flawless 135 against South Africa at Cape Town. On those bouncy pitches, Taufeeq had ample time to play the seamers. He did not get much opportunity in the World Cup, but showed himself to be an absolute asset in Pakistan's home series against South Africa, scoring a hundred and three fifties in four innings.
In a total of 31 test matches, Umar has scored 2167 runs with a high score of 135 runs and a strike rate of 44.88. He also has a total of 504 runs with a high score of 81 not out in the 22 One day Internationals’ he has played.
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