Raja Azeem Hafeez (born 29 July 1963) is a Pakistani former

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

er who played 18

Test matches Test match in some sports refers to a sporting contest between national representative teams and may refer to: * Test cricket * Indoor cricket, Test match (indoor cricket) * Test match (rugby union) * Test match (rugby league) * Test match (associa ...

between 1983 and 1985. A left-arm fast bowler, Hafeez was known for his

birth defect A birth defect is an abnormal condition that is present at birth, regardless of its cause. Birth defects may result in disabilities that may be physical, intellectual, or developmental. The disabilities can range from mild to severe. Birth de ...

: he has two fingers missing on his right (non-bowling) hand. Hafeez never established himself in the Pakistani team, predominantly because of the strength of its fast bowling at that time, anchored by

Wasim Akram Wasim Akram (Punjabi language, Punjabi, ; born 3 June 1966) is a Pakistani cricket commentator, Coach (sport), coach, and former cricketer and captain (cricket), captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. Akram is regarded as one of the ...

and

Waqar Younis Waqar Younis Maitla HI ( Punjabi, ; born 16 November 1971) is a Pakistani cricket coach, commentator and former cricketer who captained Pakistan national cricket team. A right-arm fast bowler, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowle ...

Biography

Raja Azeem Hafeez was born on 29 July 1963 in Jehlum. Despite being born without three fingers on his right hand, Hafeez became a successful swing bowler. Hafeez began his career at the inter-collegiate and club levels in Karachi, including in the Nazimabad Super Cup. He played for Pak Crescent, a leading Karachi club, and was effective in batting and fielding despite his physical limitation. His performances in Under-19 matches against Australia led to his entry into first-class cricket with Allied Bank under captaincy of Shoaib Habib.

References

External links

* 1963 births Living people Pakistan One Day International cricketers Pakistan Test cricketers People from Jhelum Pakistani cricketers Allied Bank Limited cricketers Karachi Blues cricketers Karachi cricketers Pakistan National Shipping Corporation cricketers Pakistan International Airlines cricketers 20th-century Pakistani sportsmen {{Pakistan-cricket-bio-1960s-stub