Asif Mujtaba
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Asif Mujtaba is a former Pakistan
i cricket
er who played in 25 Tests
and 66 ODIs from 1986 to 1997. He is best known for hitting a Steve Waugh full toss on the last ball in an ODI at Hobart
in 1992-93 for six, when Pakistan needed 7 runs to win, thereby tying the match. He also enjoys the remarkable bating average of 214.00 from his 6 ODIs against Australia.
injured, the selectors preferred Mujtaba, over more experienced Wasim Raja
for the job. It was an unenviable job, as the WI pace battery was spearheaded by Malcolm Marshall
, the fastest bowler at that time. Alongside him were Courtney Walsh
and Tony Gray
. Thus, the selectors showed great confidence by giving Mujtaba his debut. Unfortunately, young Mujtaba, barely 19, failed to justify the selectors confidence in him. His four innings in the series yielded a mere 32 runs, and after another failure against the English, a year later, he went into oblivion for five years.
In the Spring of 1993, he batted with great courage against the might of WI, scoring 59 at St. John, & 41 at Bridgetown. Later that year, in the series against the Zimbabwe, he scored 3 fifties, but his inability to convert fifties into hundreds, meant that he remained in the periphery of the team, not at the centre.
The emergence of Inzamam-ul-Haq
as a world class middle order bat, didn't help Mujtaba's cause. And, during the 1994-97 period he was in and out of the side, unable to become a permanent member of the side. His last test Match was against the Lankans in April, 1997.
Career Test batting performances (Countrywise):
. But his two most memorable efforts in ODI both came against Australia, in Australia.
On 2 January 1987, at Perth, Australia batted first, and with Dean Jones
smashing 121, the Aussies rattled 271/6(50 overs). Pakistan started briskly, but lost too many early wickets. When Mujtaba came to bat the Paks were struggling at 129/6, and the game looked over. Yet, Mujtaba changed the course of the match, with a brilliant 60* (of just 56 balls). Showing maturity beyond his years, he shared 3 partnerships, 53 with Manzoor Elahi
(48), 53 more with WK Saleem Yousuf
(31), and 43 with Wasim Akram
, to take Pakistan to a 1 wicket victory. He was adjudged the Man of the Match.
On 10 December 1992, at Hobart, Australia scored 228/7 from 50 overs. Pakistan top ordere batted too slowly and Mujtba, batting at no 6 felt the pressure. Fortunately, he found a willing partner in WK Rashid Latif
. Together they put on 68 for the 7th wicket in double quick time. Still, the match seemed lost for the Paks, until Mujtaba hit the last ball of the match, a high full toss form Steve Waugh
into the crowd to tie the match. His individual effort was 56*, and again he was the MOM.
Career ODI batting performances (countrywise):
for a well made 74. Stewart's dismissal proved a turning point as Waqar Younis
destroyed the England middle order after tea.
His 7 wickets in ODIs have come at 94.00 a piece.
in Dhaka
, under his captaincy. Like all true leaders, he led from the front, scoring 67 against Bangladesh, in the first match of the Trophy, and finishing with 91 against India 'A' in the final.He was adjudeged the Player of the Final & the Player of the Tournament.During the, 1994-95 period he briefly served as the deputy to Saleem Malik
in the Pak national team. In domestic cricket, he was highly successful, as captain of PIA.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played in 25 Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and 66 ODIs from 1986 to 1997. He is best known for hitting a Steve Waugh full toss on the last ball in an ODI at Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
in 1992-93 for six, when Pakistan needed 7 runs to win, thereby tying the match. He also enjoys the remarkable bating average of 214.00 from his 6 ODIs against Australia.
An early introduction
In Nov. 1986, Mujtaba was selected to make his Test debut against the mighty WI. With Saleem MalikSaleem Malik
Saleem Malik is a former Pakistani cricketer who played between 1981/82 and 1999, at one stage captaining the Pakistani cricket team. He was a right-handed wristy middle order batsman who was strong square of the wicket. His legbreak bowling was also quite effective...
injured, the selectors preferred Mujtaba, over more experienced Wasim Raja
Wasim Raja
Wasim Hasan Raja , was a Pakistani cricketer who played in 57 Tests and 54 ODIs for the Pakistani national cricket team from 1973 to 1985. His younger brother, Rameez Raja, also represented Pakistan in Tests and ODIs, becoming captain of the national side...
for the job. It was an unenviable job, as the WI pace battery was spearheaded by Malcolm Marshall
Malcolm Marshall
By 1984 Marshall was seen as one of the finest bowlers in the world, and he demoralised England that summer, especially at Headingley, where he ran through the order in the second innings to finish with 7-53, despite having broken his thumb whilst fielding in the first innings...
, the fastest bowler at that time. Alongside him were Courtney Walsh
Courtney Walsh
Courtney Andrew Walsh is a former international cricketer who represented the West Indies from 1984 to 2001, captaining the West Indies in 22 Test matches...
and Tony Gray
Tony Gray
Anthony Hollis Gray is a former West Indian cricketer who played five Tests and 25 One Day Internationals.Gray was a tall fast bowler who hails from Trinidad...
. Thus, the selectors showed great confidence by giving Mujtaba his debut. Unfortunately, young Mujtaba, barely 19, failed to justify the selectors confidence in him. His four innings in the series yielded a mere 32 runs, and after another failure against the English, a year later, he went into oblivion for five years.
The Come Back
A string of strong batting performances in the domestic arena meant that he was recalled for the England tour during the summer of 1992. Again, the selectors showed their faith in him by putting him in the important No 3. position. The move was only partly successful. His first test fifty, 59 at Lords, helped Pakistan win the match by 2 wickets. He followed this with 57 & 40 in a high scoring affair at Old-Trafford. Also, he is known for his double hat-trick against India.In the Spring of 1993, he batted with great courage against the might of WI, scoring 59 at St. John, & 41 at Bridgetown. Later that year, in the series against the Zimbabwe, he scored 3 fifties, but his inability to convert fifties into hundreds, meant that he remained in the periphery of the team, not at the centre.
The emergence of Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inzamam-ul-Haq , also known as Inzamam, nicknamed Inzy, is a former Pakistan international cricketer who was national captain between 2003 and 2007. He is a right-handed batsman who has been regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of his era...
as a world class middle order bat, didn't help Mujtaba's cause. And, during the 1994-97 period he was in and out of the side, unable to become a permanent member of the side. His last test Match was against the Lankans in April, 1997.
Career Test batting performances (Countrywise):
| Opposition | Matches | Runs | Average | Highest Score | 100 / 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 8 | 350 | 29.16 | 59 | 0/4 |
| South Africa | 1 | 26 | 13.00 | 26 | 0/0 |
| Sri Lanka | 4 | 168 | 28.00 | 49 | 0/0 |
| West Indies | 5 | 175 | 19.44 | 59 | 0/1 |
| Zimbabwe | 4 | 190 | 38.00 | 65* | 0/3 |
| Overall Overall An overall, coverall, over all, or dungarees, is a type of garment which is usually used as protective clothing when working... |
25 | 928 | 24.42 | 65* | 0/8 |
ODIs
His ODI career started disastrously with two ducks against the Caribbeans. More of a worker of a ball, rather than a hitter, Mujtaba's batting was never really suitable for ODI cricket. A modest average of 26.04, over 66 matches testifies to this fact. However, he did score a ODI hundred. At Sharjah, against SL, in 1993, he scored his career best 113 and shared 171 run partnership with Saeed AnwarSaeed Anwar
Saeed Anwar is a former Pakistani opening batsman. A left-hander, Anwar is most notable for scoring 194 runs against India in Chennai in 1997, then the highest, and now the joint second highest individual score in a One Day International.-Personal life:...
. But his two most memorable efforts in ODI both came against Australia, in Australia.
On 2 January 1987, at Perth, Australia batted first, and with Dean Jones
Dean Jones (cricketer)
Dean Mervyn Jones AM is a retired Australian cricketer, and is presently a coach. He also worked as a media commentator.-Career:...
smashing 121, the Aussies rattled 271/6(50 overs). Pakistan started briskly, but lost too many early wickets. When Mujtaba came to bat the Paks were struggling at 129/6, and the game looked over. Yet, Mujtaba changed the course of the match, with a brilliant 60* (of just 56 balls). Showing maturity beyond his years, he shared 3 partnerships, 53 with Manzoor Elahi
Manzoor Elahi
Manzoor Elahi is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in 6 Tests and 54 ODIs from 1984 to 1995....
(48), 53 more with WK Saleem Yousuf
Saleem Yousuf
Saleem Yousuf is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in 32 Tests and 86 ODIs from 1982 to 1990. He was a wicket keeper. He made his highest Test score of 91 not out against England at Edgbaston in 1987...
(31), and 43 with Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram is a former Pakistani left arm fast bowler and left-handed batsman in cricketer and model. who represented the Pakistan national cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International matches....
, to take Pakistan to a 1 wicket victory. He was adjudged the Man of the Match.
On 10 December 1992, at Hobart, Australia scored 228/7 from 50 overs. Pakistan top ordere batted too slowly and Mujtba, batting at no 6 felt the pressure. Fortunately, he found a willing partner in WK Rashid Latif
Rashid Latif
Rashid Latif is a former Pakistani wicket keeper and a right handed batsman who represented the Pakistani cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International matches, between 1992 and 2003. He also served as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team in 2003...
. Together they put on 68 for the 7th wicket in double quick time. Still, the match seemed lost for the Paks, until Mujtaba hit the last ball of the match, a high full toss form Steve Waugh
Steve Waugh
Stephen Rodger "Steve" Waugh, AO is a former Australian cricketer and fraternal twin of cricketer Mark Waugh. A right-handed batsman, he was also a successful medium-pace bowler...
into the crowd to tie the match. His individual effort was 56*, and again he was the MOM.
Career ODI batting performances (countrywise):
| Opposition | Matches | Runs | Average | Highest Score | 100 / 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 6 | 214 | 214.00 | 60* | 0/2 |
| Bangladesh | 1 | ||||
| England | 8 | 101 | 14.42 | 52 | 0/1 |
| India | 4 | 65 | 32.50 | 34* | 0/0 |
| New Zealand | 7 | 24 | 4.80 | 14 | 0/0 |
| South Africa | 6 | 155 | 51.67 | 74 | 0/1 |
| Sri Lanka | 10 | 224 | 44.80 | 113* | 1/0 |
| UAE | 1 | ||||
| West Indies | 17 | 181 | 15.08 | 60* | 0/1 |
| Zimbabwe | 6 | 104 | 20.80 | 61 | 0/1 |
| Overall Overall An overall, coverall, over all, or dungarees, is a type of garment which is usually used as protective clothing when working... |
66 | 1068 | 26.04 | 113* | 1/6 |
As a Bowler
He was a useful left arm spin bowler. His 4 wickets in Test matches came at a high average of 75.75. He is best remembered for taking the wicket of Alec Stewart just before tea on the 1st day of the Lord's Test match in 1992. Bowling his only over of the innings he had the England opener caught by Javed MiandadJaved Miandad
Mohammad Javed Miandad Khan , popularly known as Javed Miandad , is a former Pakistani cricketer who played between 1975 and 1996. He is Pakistan's leading run scorer in Test cricket. He has served as a captain of the Pakistan national cricket team...
for a well made 74. Stewart's dismissal proved a turning point as Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis Maitla is a former Pakistani right arm fast bowler in cricket and widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time...
destroyed the England middle order after tea.
His 7 wickets in ODIs have come at 94.00 a piece.
As a captain
In March 1987, he led the Pak (U-25) side to a successful tour of Zimbabwe. A decade later,the Pakistan 'A' team won the 3rd SAARC Quadrangular Trophy1996-97 SAARC Quadrangular
The 3rd and final SAARC Quadrangular was held in Dhaka in Feb. 1997. The Pakistan 'A' team, led by Asif Mujtaba, won the trophy after beating India 'A' in a rain affected final.-The teams:...
in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, under his captaincy. Like all true leaders, he led from the front, scoring 67 against Bangladesh, in the first match of the Trophy, and finishing with 91 against India 'A' in the final.He was adjudeged the Player of the Final & the Player of the Tournament.During the, 1994-95 period he briefly served as the deputy to Saleem Malik
Saleem Malik
Saleem Malik is a former Pakistani cricketer who played between 1981/82 and 1999, at one stage captaining the Pakistani cricket team. He was a right-handed wristy middle order batsman who was strong square of the wicket. His legbreak bowling was also quite effective...
in the Pak national team. In domestic cricket, he was highly successful, as captain of PIA.