Azeem Rafiq

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Azeem Rafiq (February 27, 1991) is an English cricketer. A right arm off-spin bowler with a scholarship to Yorkshire, Azeem is also captain of the England Under-15s, and the first Yorkshire cricket player of an Asian background to captain any England cricket side at any level.^[1] His use of a successful doosra delivery against Michael Vaughan during a nets session at Headingley drew attention of England bowling coach David Parsons, and ear marked Azeem as a possible future England bowler. Azeem was also the recipient of a Sport England award in 2006.^[2]

[edit] Biography

Azeem attended Holgate School near his home of Barnsley, and played cricket for Barnsley Cricket Club. He was called up for the England Under-15s, which he captained, and currently plays for Yorkshire Cricket Club's academy team, where he was names as Junior Performer of the Year.^[3] At two One Day Internationals at Loughborough University against Scotland where England's spinners took 17 of the 20 wickets, Azeem took 2-5 and 1-14.^[4] Azeem has also had success as a right handed batsman, scoring 59 against Barbados U16 again while captaining the England U15s. The team coach, John Wake, stated:

There were some wonderful individual performances, especially from the batsmen and the spin bowlers, which all bodes well for the future of England’s long-term cricket future.^[5]

Of Azeem's England prospects, David Parsons remarked that "he's a decent bowler for a 16-year-old and is generally quite an orthodox bowler....there's no doubt he's an exciting prospect and a genuine all-rounder - not one of these bowlers seeking to improve his batting." As well as from Parsons, Azeem has received coaching and advice from Saqlain Mushtaq, a former Pakistani spin bowler.^[6]