What's new

Extracting the best out of Hammad Azam

Mustafamq

Debutant
Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Runs
18
Post of the Week
1
I really wanted to talk about Hammad Azam and how he's grown as a batsman in the past one year. No one can deny that he was mistreated by the selectors after a positive outing in the 2012 Asia Cup and, frankly, I do think that the weight of expectations can bring you down. However, in the past one year we have seen players like Umar Amin, Amir Yamin bury the ghosts of their previous outings and completely redefine themselves to push for a long-term LOI spot.

To begin with, Hammad's a batting all-rounder whereas Yamin, Anwar or Amad Butt are bowling all-rounders. Have been following and trying to scrutinize his game for a while now and, safe to say, he's no Abdul Razzaq. Frankly, I find the comparisons to be random and having more to do with people's obsession of searching for glimpses of Razzaq in every upcoming all-rounder from Anwar Ali to Hassan Mohsin.

If you absolutely have to compare him to someone, I think his game is most similar to Angelo Mathews. He's a proper batsman meant to play in the upper middle order, preferably No. 4 or 5 and can muscle the ball towards the end once he's set. I think he's no longer the all-rounder everyone wanted him to be, but that doesn't change that he still has to plenty to offer. Would definitely give credit to UBL's management for persisting with him in a power packed line-up and giving him the confidence by appointing him as captain in the absence of Shan Masood. He does average 61.5 in 5 QeA innings this season, second-best after Saad Ali's average of 110.33, and scored two vital knocks, 128 against Karachi Whites and 52* against Rawalpindi, on batting graveyards.

This brings me to my next point on how he Hammad should be handled and may be groomed as a solid option. If I were part of the drafting process for a franchise in the 3rd edition of the PSL, I would consider picking him up as a viable option because he provides me with a local batsman option who could be slotted at No. 5. Not the best reference point, but Hammad's been Pakistan's best bowler at the HK Sixes, conceding less than 15 on three occasions and picking up vital wickets. As a captain, his bowling provides me with an interesting option. I would use him to open the bowling, probably just the one in the match, with the keeper standing up and a slip in place because he can shape the ball well and target the off-stump line. This not only allows the team to pinch an over at the start of the innings without using any of its main options and he might even get you a wicket.

To conclude, Hammad could easily be transformed into a long-term batting option with plenty of utility. Working under the tutelage of Younis Khan at UBL could help achieve that and, personally, would love to see him work a bit with Azhar Mahmood. At 26, he has on course to redefining himself and his game to possibly emerge as a contender for a LOI spot in one or two years and I cannot emphasize enough on how important playing the PSL would be for any of this to be possible.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sahibzada Farhan, Hammad Azam, Faheem Ashraf all need to play in the PSL to gain world wide attention

The Multan team should go for these young lads. Could easily make a tournament winning team with youngsters and a few experienced players. There are so many options and these guys will have more passion to perform.
 
Yamin like Hammad is a batting all-rounder, and a much better one too.

Hammad's hitting ability is grossly overrated, yes, he can hit a long ball against mediocre trundles when the it's in his zone. But he lacks the footwork to handle quality seamers, let alone bash em' around at the end. Also seems to have an issue with the turning ball, and that was especially highlighted in the recently concluded U-23 tournament.

All in all both Talat and Yamin are far better players.
 
I really wanted to talk about Hammad Azam and how he's grown as a batsman in the past one year. No one can deny that he was mistreated by the selectors after a positive outing in the 2012 Asia Cup and, frankly, I do think that the weight of expectations can bring you down. However, in the past one year we have seen players like Umar Amin, Amir Yamin bury the ghosts of their previous outings and completely redefine themselves to push for a long-term LOI spot.

To begin with, Hammad's a batting all-rounder whereas Yamin, Anwar or Amad Butt are bowling all-rounders. Have been following and trying to scrutinize his game for a while now and, safe to say, he's no Abdul Razzaq. Frankly, I find the comparisons to be random and having more to do with people's obsession of searching for glimpses of Razzaq in every upcoming all-rounder from Anwar Ali to Hassan Mohsin.

If you absolutely have to compare him to someone, I think his game is most similar to Angelo Mathews. He's a proper batsman meant to play in the upper middle order, preferably No. 4 or 5 and can muscle the ball towards the end once he's set. I think he's no longer the all-rounder everyone wanted him to be, but that doesn't change that he still has to plenty to offer. Would definitely give credit to UBL's management for persisting with him in a power packed line-up and giving him the confidence by appointing him as captain in the absence of Shan Masood. He does average 61.5 in 5 QeA innings this season, second-best after Saad Ali's average of 110.33, and scored two vital knocks, 128 against Karachi Whites and 52* against Rawalpindi, on batting graveyards.

This brings me to my next point on how he Hammad should be handled and may be groomed as a solid option. If I were part of the drafting process for a franchise in the 3rd edition of the PSL, I would consider picking him up as a viable option because he provides me with a local batsman option who could be slotted at No. 5. Not the best reference point, but Hammad's been Pakistan's best bowler at the HK Sixes, conceding less than 15 on three occasions and picking up vital wickets. As a captain, his bowling provides me with an interesting option. I would use him to open the bowling, probably just the one in the match, with the keeper standing up and a slip in place because he can shape the ball well and target the off-stump line. This not only allows the team to pinch an over at the start of the innings without using any of its main options and he might even get you a wicket. For reference, would suggest everyone to read this interesting piece on having a specialist first-over bowler by Tim Wigmore for Cricinfo: http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/20284036/art-first-over

To conclude, Hammad could easily be transformed into a long-term batting option with plenty of utility. Working under the tutelage of Younis Khan at UBL could help achieve that and, personally, would love to see him work a bit with Azhar Mahmood. At 26, he has on course to redefining himself and his game to possibly emerge as a contender for a LOI spot in one or two years and I cannot emphasize enough on how important playing the PSL would be for any of this to be possible.

Excellent post and looking forward to hearing more from you in the future
 
Pakistani selectors have never been able to handle all-rounders. As you said selectors as well as the fans keep looking for Abdul Razzaq and fact is it will be hard to find him. Case being there will be some all rounders whose ability with both bat and ball is equally good, some who are better at certain skills and inferior at certain skills. The issue is Pakistani selectors is they would much rather select a specialist batsman over someone like Hammad or Yamin, even if their batting ability is as good as the other specialist batsman being selected which is why many all-rounders over the years have been neglected. Also the requirement for an all rounder seems to be that he should be able to hit and bat lower down the order. I feel the selectors as well as think tank have lacked flexibility when it has come to all-rounders, especially fast bowling all-rounders which is why no one has really been able to fit that role. Selectors and think tank should be open to letting them bat up the order if they have the skills to do so.
 
Faheem Ashraf, Amir Yamin and Hammad Azam

Way better productive players than the likes of Wahab Riaz but not in any format.
 
Hammad Azam is a tough one. There was soooo much hype surrounding him.

His bowling stats in domestic are exceptional, but he was absolute trash when bowling in internationals. Looked worse then a part timer.

You yourself says he's a batting all-rounder. But his batting stats both domestically and internationally are terrible, so it leaves you wondering. What's going on?

He has nothing to show in the PSL. Nothing to show for tournaments, or series or anything. Doesn't appear in any highest run getter in any of the annual cup competitions.


Lets make something clear. I am tired of players being selected because they 'look or are talented'. Umar Amin, Wahab Riaz, Umar Akmal are just 3 of many many names. The mentality is slowly changing and I feel Hammad Azam falls in the talented but can't perform category. He needs to make a name for himself in PSL, or its a no go.
 
He was and is bits and pieces player, needs to focus on one suite.

We already have imad wasim for once in a blue moon six hitting
 
Back
Top