Aizaz Bin Ilyas Cheema (Punjabi, Urdu: اعزاز چیمہ)[2] (born 5 September 1979 in Sargodha, Punjab)[2] is a Pakistani cricket coach and former cricketer who played in seven Test matches, scoring a single run without being dismissed in five innings.[3][4]

Aizaz Cheema
Personal information
Full name
Aizaz Bin Ilyas Cheema
Born (1979-09-05) 5 September 1979 (age 44)
Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan
Height6 ft (183 cm)[1]
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium-fast
RoleBowler
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 205)1 September 2011 v Zimbabwe
Last Test30 June 2012 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 187)8 September 2011 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI28 August 2012 v Australia
T20I debut (cap 42)16 September 2011 v Australia
Last T20I28 August 2012 v England
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2001/02–2014/15PIA
2003/04Lahore
2004/05Lahore Whites
2005/06–2015/16Lahore Eagles
2005–2013Lahore Shalimar
2009–2015Lahore Lions
2015Lahore Blues
2016–2017Quetta Gladiators
2019Lahore Qalandars
2019/20Central Punjab
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 7 14 140 60
Runs scored 1 26 2,449 105
Batting average 8.66 8.04 954
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
Top score 1* 9* 33 13*
Balls bowled 1,200 658 14,341 2,745
Wickets 20 23 572 90
Bowling average 31.90 25.78 21.48 27.21
5 wickets in innings 0 0 38 2
10 wickets in match 0 0 11 0
Best bowling 4/24 4/43 7/24 5/37
Catches/stumpings 1/– 2/- 18/– 10/–
Source: ESPNCricinfo, 11 December 2013
Medal record
Representing  Pakistan
Men's Cricket
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Guangzhou Team

Cricket career edit

2010 edit

In November, Cheema was part of the team at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China[5] that won a bronze medal by beating Sri Lanka in the 3rd place playoffs.

International breakthrough edit

When Pakistan toured Zimbabwe in September for a Test three ODIs and two T20Is, the national selectors took the opportunity to give inexperienced players an opportunity. Frontline bowlers Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul were rested and Cheema was chosen as part of the squad.[6][7] On 1 September he made his Test debut against Zimbabwe; Pakistan's fast bowlers in the match were inexperienced at international level, with just one Test cap between them. Pakistan won the match and coach Waqar Younis praised Cheema's performance, saying he "bowled with fire and aggression".[8] His first wicket was that of bowler Ray Price. Cheema took eight wickets in the match for 103 runs, the second best bowling figures by a Pakistan player on Test debut.[9] Pakistan won the subsequent ODI series 3–0; Cheema made his debut in the series and his figures of 3/36 were the joint fourth best by a Pakistan bowler in his first ODI.[10] Cheema was the leading wicket-taker in the series with eight dismissals, with best figures of 4/43.[11] His haul for the series was the second most for a Pakistan bowler in a three-match away series.[12]

2012 Asia Cup edit

In 2012 Asia Cup Aizaz saw his best days of international cricket. Cheema bowled the last over in the Final of the Asia Cup and successfully defended 9 runs that were required off the over. He also took the crucial wicket of Shakib al Hasan earlier in the match.

Domestic career edit

He was the leading wicket-taker in the 2017–18 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, with a total of 60 wickets in nine matches.[13] He was also the leading wicket-taker for Lahore Blues in the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup, with ten dismissals in seven matches.[14] He was also the leading wicket-taker in the 2018–19 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, with 59 wickets in ten matches.[15][16]

Coaching career edit

In 2005, he completed English Cricket Board's level 2 coaching qualification in England while in 2019 he completed Pakistan Cricket Board's level 2 coaching qualification as well.[17]

In August 2021, he was appointed assistant coach to Central Punjab.[18]

In September 2022, he was appointed bowling coach to the Gujranwala Giants squad for the inaugural season of the Pakistan Junior League.[19]

References edit

  1. ^ Aizaz Cheema’s profile on Sportskeeda
  2. ^ a b Biography cricinfo. Retrieved 28 November 2010
  3. ^ "Veteran bowler Aizaz Cheema calls off red-ball cricket". 30 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Who holds the record for most runs in Tests without being dismissed?". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  5. ^ Squad for Asian Games cricinfo. Retrieved 28 November 2010
  6. ^ Raja, Cheema, Sohail included in squad for Zimbabwe, ESPNcricinfo, 28 July 2011, retrieved 28 July 2011
  7. ^ Pakistan looking for reserve pacemen – Mohsin Khan, ESPNcricinfo, 31 July 2011, retrieved 31 July 2011
  8. ^ Moond, Firdose (4 September 2011), Waqar praises bowlers for creating pressure, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 6 October 2011
  9. ^ Sundar, Nitin (5 September 2011), Pakistan ease to seven-wicket win, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 19 October 2011
  10. ^ Moonda, Firdose (8 September 2011), Pakistan hold nerve in tense finish, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 19 October 2011
  11. ^ Records / Pakistan in Zimbabwe ODI Series, 2011 / Most wickets, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 19 October 2011
  12. ^ Moonda, Firdose (14 September 2011), Pakistan complete series sweep, ESPNcricinfo, retrieved 19 October 2011
  13. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, 2017/18: Most Wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  14. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup, 2018/19 - Lahore Blues: Batting and bowling averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  15. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, 2018/19 - Lahore Blues: Batting and bowling averages". Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, 2018/19: Most wickets". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  17. ^ "I Should Have Played More International Cricket For Pakistan: Aizaz Cheema". Cricket Country. 28 January 2020. In 2005, I completed ECB's Level 2 Coaching qualification in England. Last year, I had the opportunity to complete PCB's Level 2 Coaching qualification as well and now my plan is to complete the Level 3 qualification.
  18. ^ "Razzaq appointed Central Punjab's First XI head coach". The News International. 21 August 2021.
  19. ^ "PJL coaching staff for the inaugural season announced". PCB. 8 September 2022.

External links edit