Ijaz Ahmed compared to Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq

[Savak]

I remember very well in the 90's when people used to feel that Ijaz used to be a waste of space in the team in comparison to the more gifted Inzamam and to be fair Yousafs emergence sealed Ijaz's career.

But inspite of his unorthodox technique and stance. He really was successful against Australia. How does he stack up as a batsman now in comparison to Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq?

 

[Rayyman]

What about Salim Malik?

 

[Hasan123]

What about Salim Malik?

He's better than both of Azhar and Asad.

 

[Majid Khan]

Ijaz might have had had technical flaws but the guy had the heart of a lion and batted with a lot of courage , especially when he had a point to prove - usually when people questioned his abilities and on his day he delivered even against the best bowlers as his record in Australia will show.

Whatever the statistics show, for me and many other fans who watched him at his best there are so many memorable innings Ijaz Ahmed played both in test and one day cricket for Pakistan — compare that with Azhar, Asad, Hafeez and not sure there will many moments that I will remember from the batting of these guys after they retire as vividly as I can remember say that 141 Ijaz scored at Leeds v England in 1996, anyone else remember that knock?

 

[Amjid Javed]

What about Salim Malik?

What an insult to malik, Asad and Azhar arent even half as good as Malik.

Look at maliks inns on green seamers at headingley or how good he was against spin compared to the rubbish of Asad or Azhar.

 

[Khwaja78]

Rofl the S.African commentators were mocking them and comparing to their duplicate[******;favorite] in the 90s who played for his place than the team. Ijaz replaced Basit Ali and Salim Malik but never deserved to stay in the team. Used to score in 1 out of 5 innings and somehow held onto his position in the side with blessings of his dear friend Wasim and Moin. Used to hit 50s of no consequence when chasing, Pakistan used to still lose. So comparison is kind of true. Though Shoaib Malik and Hafeez are more deserving to be called Ijaz Ahmeds of the 2000s.
Salim Malik was one of the best players in the middle order and had the technique to fight on a difficult pitch, his exit destroyed our middle order never recovered again.


Geoff Boycott and Greig used to make fun of Ijaz nervous starts where his front foot never moved and used to bend down facing a fast bowler, as if a spinner is bowling.

 

[Justcrazy]

Salim Malik was exceptional player of spin bowling.

Azhar cannot even dream about coming near that.

Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed both played some match winning innings , Azhar and Asad never played any.

 

[Kroll]

The "Axe Man" is a legend. Who can forget his demolition of India in Lahore? Now those were the days.

 

[coy0607]

Ijaz, Malik, Azhar, Asad were only ever good enough to be second fiddle players.

Ijaz/Malik played second fiddle to Miandad and then later to Inzamam, and had respectable careers. They never really had to take all the limelight or responsibility

Asad/Azhar were doing quite well in second fiddle roles to Younis, but now that he is gone they get a lot more attention, and the expectations are higher. They just aren't good enough to carry a batting line up.

You can argue that if Babar had progressed the way people expected him to (i.e. if Babar had 4-6 centuries by now), Azhar and Asad would have continued to play the second fiddle role

 

[fluke]

Salim malik was a genius a great great batsman of fast and spin bowling but Ejaz ahmed was hell dangerous once he was in mood.

 

[moghul]

Salim Malik was in a different , much superior league than Azhar or Ejaz. Ejaz was much mentally stronger than Azhar ever was and played many match winning inning, particularly in ODIs. He was the best fielder in the team also.

 

[Zaz]

Ijaz n malik were hot and cold but on their day had the ability to win games singlehandedly

Even though azhar has had his moments Cant say the same for shafiq I cant remember one innings hes played where he took the game away from the opposition

 

[gazza619]

I think Ijaz’s career ended too early due to some team politics.

He had plenty of gas left. Can we please do not include Asad Shafiq in any sort of comparison with anyone. He is a failure of a kind.

I have a soft spot for Azhar Ali because he has actually won us matches in the past.

 

[last_knight]

Ijaz might have had had technical flaws but the guy had the heart of a lion and batted with a lot of courage , especially when he had a point to prove - usually when people questioned his abilities and on his day he delivered even against the best bowlers as his record in Australia will show.

Whatever the statistics show, for me and many other fans who watched him at his best there are so many memorable innings Ijaz Ahmed played both in test and one day cricket for Pakistan — compare that with Azhar, Asad, Hafeez and not sure there will many moments that I will remember from the batting of these guys after they retire as vividly as I can remember say that 141 Ijaz scored at Leeds v England in 1996, anyone else remember that knock?

Still remember those cut shots.

 

[Saj]

Ijaz was one hell of a batsman.

His best innings came in Australia against strong Aussie bowling attacks, probably because he was a brilliant back-foot player.

He is far better than any of the current batsmen. In fact if we had more batsmen of the calibre of Ijaz now we would be in a much better situation.

 

[Majid Khan]

Watch this innings of 141 v England, 1996 for anyone who hasn't seen Ijaz Ahmad at his best, and watch the strokes he plays after he's scored his first 50.

This was at Headingley by the way, never an easy place to bat in those days, and he was the first Pakistani batsman to get a 100 on that ground.

 

[Amjid Javed]

The one thing that stood out in that ijaz inns was when he hammered five 4s in one over if i remember rightly.

Also people not rating malik? the guy was man of series in 94 when we beat Aussies at home snd smashed warne to all parts.

Also his inns in odi vs india scoring at 10 an over for last 9/10 overs to win a game with all fielders on the boundary.

Plus he played quality knocks at headingley in 87 and 92 when all other batsmen looked clueless in test cricket.

 

[Kroll]

The one thing that stood out in that ijaz inns was when he hammered five 4s in one over if i remember rightly.

Also people not rating malik? the guy was man of series in 94 when we beat Aussies at home snd smashed warne to all parts.

Also his inns in odi vs india scoring at 10 an over for last 9/10 overs to win a game with all fielders on the boundary.

Plus he played quality knocks at headingley in 87 and 92 when all other batsmen looked clueless in test cricket.

Malik still has a higher SR than both Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali in ODI's even though he played like 3 decades earlier. )

 

[Savak]

Ijaz was a very nervous starter, had a serious lbw problem early in his innings. But once in, he would get a big score

 

[the_game]

Even our second tier batsmen in that era were lion hearted and destructive on their day. Despite his technique, the guy scored runs and he did them very effectively, specially in Australia (I think Saj mentioned why, he had amazing pull and cut shots on hard bouncy surfaces). Comparing the timid Misbah-mini mes Azhar and Shafiq to Ijaz is almost an insult to the axe man!

 

[Saj]

Even our second tier batsmen in that era were lion hearted and destructive on their day.

Absolutely spot on.

Guys like Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed would be tearing apart modern-day bowling attacks.

 

[Zaz]

Watch this innings of 141 v England, 1996 for anyone who hasn't seen Ijaz Ahmad at his best, and watch the strokes he plays after he's scored his first 50.

This was at Headingley by the way, never an easy place to bat in those days, and he was the first Pakistani batsman to get a 100 on that ground.

They kept bowling short to him and he pulled and cut them to a fine ton

 

[Abdullah]

Ijaz had that vicious cut shot, which is why he was good in oz

 

[gazza619]

Watch this innings of 141 v England, 1996 for anyone who hasn't seen Ijaz Ahmad at his best, and watch the strokes he plays after he's scored his first 50.

This was at Headingley by the way, never an easy place to bat in those days, and he was the first Pakistani batsman to get a 100 on that ground.

My days. That was like murdering the bowlers...