Hashim Amla

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Hashim Amla South Africa (RSA)

Batting style	Right-hand bat
Bowling type	Right-arm medium
	Tests	First-class
Matches	11	68
Runs scored	590	4649
Batting average	29.50	46.02
100s/50s	1/4	13/25
Top score	149	249
Balls bowled	6	150
Wickets	0	1
Bowling average	-	101.00
5 wickets in innings	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	0
Best bowling	0/4	1/10
Catches/stumpings	3/-	40/-
Test debut: 28 November 2004 Last Test: 15 January 2007 Source: [1]

Hashim Mahomed Amla (born 31 March 1983 in Durban) is a South African cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.

In November 2004, Amla became the first South African team player of Indian descent. He is also a devout Muslim, which has led to campaigns to remove all alcohol-promoting logos from merchandise and playing gear. He objected to the advert for Castle Lager beer on the South African team kit and has been allowed to wear a shirt without the logo of a brand of South African Breweries, one of South African cricket's biggest sponsors.

Amla captained South Africa at the 2002 under-19s Cricket World Cup.

As a Test batsman he found the initial going difficult, and his technique was criticized after he made just 36 runs in the 2004 series against England. But he proved his critics wrong in 2006 as he scored a comeback 149 against New Zealand at Cape Town, helping guide South Africa to a draw.

Amla is easily recognisable due to his large under-the-chin beard.

On the 7 August 2006, Australian commentator Dean Jones said, after Amla took a catch, that "the terrorist has got another wicket" live on air when he thought the microphone was turned off. It wasn't and this lead to Jones' immediate sacking as a commentator. Amla said that he was "deeply hurt" by the remark, but also said that he wished to put the matter behind him and concentrate on playing cricket. ^[2]