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Ahmed Shehzad, a Pakistani cricketer, is known for his explosive batting style and versatility across all three formats of the game. He made his international debut for Pakistan in April 2009, representing the national team in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
Shehzad quickly gained attention for his impressive performances and was a key member of the Pakistan team that won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20. In that tournament, he became the first Pakistani player to score a century in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, achieving an unbeaten 111 against Bangladesh.
Shehzad's cricketing career includes notable achievements in domestic and international competitions. In first-class cricket, he made his debut in 2007 and has represented various teams, including the Lahore Lions. He has also played in prominent T20 leagues such as the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he achieved success with Comilla Victorians and Quetta Gladiators.
Raised by a single mother near the famous Anarkali marketplace in Lahore, Ahmed Shehzad had a difficult upbringing. However, he found solace in cricket and began playing at a young age. Inspired by his father who was also passionate about the game, Shehzad started training seriously when he was only six years old.
Despite financial constraints and limited resources, Shehzad worked hard on his skills and dedicated himself to becoming a professional cricketer. He was selected for the Lahore Under-19 team when he was only 14 years old and played for them until he was called up to play for Lahore's senior team.
Shehzad's rise to prominence began in 2007 when he made his first-class debut at just 16 years old. He quickly gained attention for his impressive performances in domestic cricket and was soon selected for the national under-19 team.
In 2008, Shehzad played a significant role in Pakistan's under-19 World Cup victory, scoring two half-centuries in the tournament's final stages.
His international career started soon after when he made his ODI debut against Australia in 2009 at the age of 17. Although he did not have an immediate impact on the team's performance initially, it did not take long before Shehzad began making headlines around the world.
In early 2010, he scored a blistering century against New Zealand in an away series. This performance earned him widespread recognition and made him a household name.
Ahmed Shehzad's cricketing career has been marked by impressive performances across all three formats of the game. He is known for his aggressive batting style, which has helped him score many runs throughout his career.
In Test cricket, Shehzad has scored 982 runs in 13 matches at an average of over 40 with three centuries and four fifties. In ODIs, he has scored 2605 runs in 81 matches at an average of 32.56 with six centuries and fourteen fifties. In T20Is, he has scored 1471 runs in 59 matches at an average of 25.80 with one century and seven fifties.
Shehzad's most significant achievement came during the 2014 T20 World Cup when he became the first cricketer from Pakistan to score centuries in all formats of the game. He also holds several records, including being the second-fastest Pakistani to score 5000 runs in T20 cricket.
Despite his impressive performances on the field, Shehzad has faced numerous controversies throughout his career. In 2018, he failed a doping test and received a ten-week ban for it.
Ahmed Shehzad is a player who has performed well in major ICC tournaments. He made his debut as a young cricketer for Pakistan in an ODI series against Australia at the age of 17. However, he gained attention after scoring a blistering century at Seddon Park, New Zealand, during an away series.
Shehzad had a disappointing performance in the 2011 World Cup, which led to him being dropped from the team for two years. However, he made his comeback with a bang in the World T20 2014 by becoming the first Pakistani cricketer to score centuries in all formats of the game.
Similarly, Shehzad's performances in Test cricket were impressive with centuries against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand. In ODIs too, he performed well by scoring six centuries and 14 half-centuries.
Ahmed Shehzad primarily plays as an opener in the Pakistani cricket team. His batting technique is based on sound fundamentals and shot-making ability but doesn't accumulate runs at the same rate as Virat Kohli.
While Shehzad has attractive shots, he often finds fielders with them leading to frequent dismissals causing experts to criticise his shot selection at times. Despite this criticism, Shehzad has scored three centuries and four half-centuries in Tests while having six centuries and 14 half-centuries under his belt in ODIs.
One of his most notable achievements was becoming Pakistan's first-ever T20I century-maker; achieving this milestone in just 58 balls against Bangladesh during the World T20 2014 tournament.
Ahmed Shehzad is known for his confident and happy-go-lucky attitude off the field. He has a good media presence, public image, persona and personality that often comes across as charming.
Despite his ups and downs, there is no denying that Ahmed Shehzad's impact on Pakistani cricket has been significant. Known for his elegant stroke play, he has often been compared to legendary opener Saeed Anwar, who was known for his grace at the crease. Shehzad's approach to batting has also been likened to that of India's Virat Kohli.
Shehzad's record of being the first cricketer from Pakistan to score centuries in all formats of the game is a testament to his skill as a batsman. He has set high standards for himself and inspired many future cricketers to follow in his footsteps.
Ahmed Shehzad has received various awards throughout his career, including being named "Best Batsman" at the 2016 Bangladesh Premier League while playing for Comilla Victorians. He was also awarded "Man of the Tournament" during the 2016 Pakistan Cup after scoring 372 runs in five matches.
Ahmed Shehzad's journey as a cricketer has been full of highs and lows, but he has always managed to overcome adversity with hard work and determination. His performances on the field have earned him recognition as one of Pakistan's most talented batsmen.
FAQs
What is Ahmed Shehzad's highest score in Test matches?
Ahmed Shehzad's highest score in Test matches is 176 runs, which he achieved against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in 2014.
Has Ahmed Shehzad ever captained the Pakistani national team?
No, Ahmed Shehzad has not captained the Pakistani national team. However, he has captained various domestic teams during his career.
How many centuries has Ahmed Shehzad scored in One-Day Internationals (ODIs)?
Ahmed Shehzad has scored six centuries in ODIs throughout his career.
Has Ahmed Shehzad won any major awards or accolades?
While Ahmed Shehzad may not have won major individual awards, he played a crucial role in Quetta Gladiators' victory in the Pakistan Super League 2019 and was recognized as the best batsman and highest run-scorer of the 2016-17 Departmental One Day Cup.
What is Ahmed Shehzad's batting style?
Ahmed Shehzad is a right-handed opening batsman known for his aggressive batting style and ability to adapt to different formats of the game. He can play both attacking shots and anchor an innings when required.
