Nottinghamshire sign Pakistan pacer Zahid (6 Apr 1997)

06 April 1997

Nottinghamshire sign Pakistan pacer Zahid

By Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, April 5: Pakistan's representation in the English County circuit increased to five when immensely talented Mohammad Zahid signed a one-year contract with Nottinghamshire. The offer had been initially made to South African allrounder Lance Klusener who declined.

Nottinghamshire has now pinned their hopes on Mohammad Zahid as their last season's overseas player, Chris Cairns, has expressed his inability to come down because of a likely surgery of the knee.

"I have signed a one-year contract with Nottinghamshire at a lucrative amount," the 21-year-old Zahid said from Sharjah where he is with the Pakistan cricket team, adding: "I signed the contract some 15 days ago." "I have been given an understanding that if the county finishes among top 10, I will be awarded another six-year contract. However, if the county finished low with my performance being good I will be booked for three years," Zahid added.

The Chief Executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Majid Khan, confirmed late Saturday evening that the Notts had approached him for Zahid. "But I have told them clearly that it was a matter between the player and the county and it had nothing to do with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

"PCB stance has always been uniform...not to influence the players. Let them (players) decide about their priorities," said Majid Khan, who himself played with distinction for Glamorgan and Cambridge University. Sources, requesting anonymity, said Zahid has signed a pound sterling 60,000 contract besides other financial benefits chiefly through sponsorships.

Zahid stated that although he has signed the contract, he has not yet confirmed his arrival there. "I am in two minds. I also want to go to India and also want to play at Nottinghamshire.

"Nevertheless, I am thinking on serious lines that I make myself available for Pakistan for the Indian tour (in May) and then for the Canadian trip (in September) for the Sahara competition. In between the three months, I play for the Notts," said Zahid.

Zahid, who sounded excited, said he had consulted his seniors before accepting the proposal. "I talked to Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Mohammad. The three were unanimous in their opinion that I should grasp the opportunity with both hands because County cricket was still one of the best institutions to hone the skills of a bowler." Mohammad Zahid burst into international scene in the home series against New Zealand when he grabbed a match haul of 11 wickets on his debutwthe best-ever performance by a Pakistani on his maiden appearance. But Zahid earned real fame when he caused problems for world's best batsman, Brian Lara, in the World Series Cup which Pakistan won for the first time in 17 years.

Although Zahid could get only three wickets there, his efforts were enough for the experts of the game to say another star has been born. Zahid, born on Aug 2, 1976 in Gaggu Mandi, a village 12-km outside Burewala, is said to be a yard quicker than Waqar Younis and Allan Donald. "He is very very fast. He is not only quicker off the wicket but also in the air. His yorkers are well directed," Wasim Akram, upon his return from Australia, had said about Zahid.

After Zahid has accepted the offer, he becomes the fifth Pakistan bowler to play in the English County Championship. Others are Wasim Akram (Lancashire), Waqar Younis (Glamorgan), Mushtaq Ahmad (Somerset) and Mohammad Akram (Northamptonshire).

The interesting point to be noted here is that in the past, it were the Pakistan batsmen that dominated the English circuit while now it is the supremacy of the bowlers.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not only needs to keep a closer eye that none of its bowlers are over-bowled, positive steps are required to be taken so that some more stroke-makers come in the limelight and attract the English counties after excelling while playing for Pakistan.

Source:: Dawn (https://xiber.com/dawn/)