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{{Short description|English cricket player/coach (born 1985)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Ajmal Shahzad
| image =
| country = England
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|07|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Huddersfield, West Yorkshire]], England
| heightft = 6
| heightinch = 0
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|fast-medium]]
| role = [[Bowler (cricket)|Bowler]]
| club1 = [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club|Yorkshire]]
| year1 = 2004–2012
| clubnumber1 = 4
| club2 = → [[Lancashire County Cricket Club|Lancashire]] (on loan)
| year2 = 2012
| club3 = [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club|Nottinghamshire]]
| year3 = 2013–2014
| clubnumber3 = 1
| club4 = [[Sussex County Cricket Club|Sussex]]
| year4 = 2015–2017
| clubnumber4 = 4
| club5 = [[Leicestershire County Cricket Club|Leicestershire]]
| year5 = 2017
| international = true
| onetest = true
| testdebutdate = 4 June
| testdebutyear = 2010
| testdebutagainst = Bangladesh
| testcap = 650
| odidebutdate = 5 March
| odidebutyear = 2010
| odidebutagainst = Bangladesh
| odicap = 216
| lastodidate = 27 February
| lastodiyear = 2011
| lastodiagainst = India
| odishirt = 13
| columns = 4
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 1
| runs1 = 5
| bat avg1 = 5.00
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 5
| deliveries1 = 102
| wickets1 = 4
| bowl avg1 = 15.75
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 3/45
| catches/stumpings1 = 2/–
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches2 = 11
| runs2 = 39
| bat avg2 = 6.50
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 9
| deliveries2 = 588
| wickets2 = 17
| bowl avg2 = 28.82
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 3/41
| catches/stumpings2 = 4/–
| column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches3 = 97
| runs3 = 2,237
| bat avg3 = 23.06
| 100s/50s3 = 0/6
| top score3 = 88
| deliveries3 = 15,073
| wickets3 = 249
| bowl avg3 = 34.97
| fivefor3 = 4
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 5/46
| catches/stumpings3 = 16/–
| column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
| matches4 = 87
| runs4 = 548
| bat avg4 = 14.05
| 100s/50s4 = 0/1
| top score4 = 59*
| deliveries4 = 3,886
| wickets4 = 120
| bowl avg4 = 29.69
| fivefor4 = 1
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 5/51
| catches/stumpings4 = 20/–
| date = 16 September
| year = 2017
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/21431.html ESPNcricinfo
}}
'''Ajmal Shahzad''' (born 27 July 1985) is an English [[cricket]] coach and retired cricketer. He was a member of the England team that won the [[2010 ICC World Twenty20]].

As a right-arm [[fast bowler]], he played [[first class cricket]] for five counties [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club|Yorkshire]], [[Lancashire County Cricket Club|Lancashire]], [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club|Nottinghamshire]], [[Sussex County Cricket Club|Sussex]] and [[Leicestershire County Cricket Club|Leicestershire]] between 2004 and 2017.

Shahzad made his international debut for [[England national cricket team|England]] in a [[Twenty20 International]] in February 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/21431.html |title=Player Profile: Ajmal Shahzad |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=23 February 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100129024901/http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/21431.html| archive-date= 29 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> He went on to play 3 Twenty20 internationals, 11 [[One Day International]]s and one [[Test cricket|Test match]] ([[Bangladeshi cricket team in England in 2010|against Bangladesh in 2010]]) for his country.

==Family and education==
Ajmal Shahzad grew up in [[Bradford]], where he attended [[Bradford Grammar School]] and [[Woodhouse Grove School]]; he lived close to fellow cricketer [[Adil Rashid]]. Shahzad studied four months of pharmacy at [[Bradford University]] before transferring to [[Leeds Metropolitan University]] to study sports science to enhance his cricket career.<ref name="Tele">{{cite news |last1=Berry |first1=Scyld |title=England's Ajmal Shahzad is on the fast track to an Ashes spot |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/7896505/Englands-Ajmal-Shahzad-is-on-the-fast-track-to-an-Ashes-spot.html |date=17 July 2010}}</ref>

==Domestic career==
In 2004, he became the first Yorkshire-born player of Asian extraction to play for [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club|Yorkshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thisisyork.co.uk/2005/9/3/332692.html |title=Shahzam, it's Ajmal |work=thisisyork.co.uk |date=3 September 2005 |access-date=3 September 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928013018/http://archive.thisisyork.co.uk/2005/9/3/332692.html| archive-date= 28 September 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ecomallbiz.com/easy1/listings/view.nhtml?profile=listings&UID=565 |title=Ajmal Shahzad plays for Yorkshire |publisher=World Cricket Centre |last=Whitaker |first=Neil |access-date=17 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927031058/http://ecomallbiz.com/easy1/listings/view.nhtml?profile=listings&UID=565 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, Shahzad took 40 wickets and scored 445 runs in the [[lower middle order]]. His performances gained him a call up to the England performance squad on a tour of South Africa.

In the 2011 County Championship he managed 25 wickets at a [[bowling average]] of 41.00.<ref name=reprimand>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2012/content/current/story/559385.html |title='I'm no cheat' – Shahzad |first=David |last=Hopps |date=31 March 2012 |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> In September, Shahzad was reprimanded for scuffing the pitch during the penultimate Championship match against [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]] and fined £750.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/15037322 |title=Yorkshire's Ajmal Shahzad hit with fine |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 September 2011 |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> Shahzad regretted the incident, explaining "It's not the way I want to play my game. I don't want to be seen as a cheat, or a pitch-damager. ... It's one mistake I've made in an eight- or nine-year career so far. It's out of the blue for me, and I definitely would never do anything like it again. It was just a random, stupid act."<ref name=reprimand/>

In April 2012 Yorkshire's new head coach, [[Jason Gillespie]], praised Shahzad's efforts, saying "Ajmal has got himself in as good a condition as he's ever been in his first-class career. He's worked incredibly hard, and I think he's a fantastic bowler, a very exciting bowler." However, on 1 May 2012, it was announced that Shahzad was to leave Yorkshire<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/563390.html |title=Yorkshire drop Shahzad bombshell |first=David |last=Hopps |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=1 May 2012 |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref> and a week later he joined Lancashire on loan for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/564111.html |title=Shahzad to join Lancashire |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |last=Dobell |first=George |date=8 May 2012 |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>

On 10 October 2012, having been told he was free to leave Yorkshire, Shahzad signed a three-year contract to join [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club|Nottinghamshire]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/19892482 |title=Ajmal Shahzad joins Nottinghamshire from Yorkshire |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 October 2012 |access-date=10 October 2012 }}</ref>

On 7 November 2014, he was released a year early from his Nottinghamshire contract and signed a three-year contract with [[Sussex County Cricket Club|Sussex]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/29942835|title = Ajmal Shahzad: Sussex sign Nottinghamshire pace bowler |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 November 2014 |access-date=28 January 2015 }}</ref>

On 10 July 2017, Shahzad departed Sussex after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk/news-1/news-ajmal-shahzad-to-leave-sussex |title=NEWS: Ajmal Shahzad to leave Sussex |publisher=Sussex County Cricket Club |date=10 July 2017 |access-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713154559/http://www.sussexcricket.co.uk/news-1/news-ajmal-shahzad-to-leave-sussex |archive-date=13 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==International career==
In January 2010, he was named in the Test and ODI squads for the [[English cricket team in Bangladesh in 2009–10|England tour of Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jan/18/alastair-cook-appointed-england-captain |title=Alastair Cook appointed England captain for Bangladesh tour |work=[[The Guardian]] |last=Bagchi |first=Rob |date=18 January 2010 |access-date=23 February 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100121134213/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jan/18/alastair-cook-appointed-england-captain| archive-date= 21 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> On his debut for England in a Twenty20 International against [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]], he claimed two wickets, both in his first over.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/pakveng2010/content/story/449334.html |title=Captains laud Razzaq onslaught |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=20 February 2010 |access-date=23 February 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100330154530/http://www.cricinfo.com/pakveng2010/content/story/449334.html| archive-date= 30 March 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> He then made his ODI début against Bangladesh, again taking a wicket in his first over.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/bdeshveng2010/content/story/450834.html |title=Kieswetter ton sets up whitewash |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=5 March 2010 |access-date=4 June 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100510121423/http://www.cricinfo.com/bdeshveng2010/content/story/450834.html| archive-date= 10 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

When [[Bangladeshi cricket team in England in 2010|Bangladesh toured England]] a few months later, he made his Test debut in the second Test, replacing the injured [[Tim Bresnan]]. After only scoring 5 runs in England's innings and an expensive first [[bowling spell]], he took 3 wickets in 3 overs in his second spell as Bangladesh failed to reach the [[follow-on]] target. [[Pakistani cricket team in England in 2010|Pakistan toured England]] in July and Shahzad was included in England's 12-man squad for the first Test. A week before the match, he twisted his ankle whilst playing for Yorkshire. As he was still experiencing discomfort the day before the Test, England chose to play Tim Bresnan instead of Shahzad.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jul/28/cricket-england-pakistan-first-test?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |title=Tim Bresnan replaces Ajmal Shahzad for England v Pakistan first Test |work=The Guardian|date=28 July 2010 |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref>

Shahzad was included in the performance squad who were training in Australia for the 2011 Ashes and ready to provide cover in the event of injuries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/story/478475.html |title=Tremlett and Panesar earn Ashes calls |first=Andrew |last=McGlashan |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=23 September 2011 |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> He was not called upon in the Tests, but played two T20Is against Australia<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/story/497158.html |title=Shahzad hopes for World Cup spot |first=Andrew |last=McGlashan |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=17 January 2011 |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> and the first five of the [[English cricket team in Australia in 2010–11#One Day International series|seven ODIs]] that followed. He took 6 wickets at an average of 40.50 before a hamstring injury in the fifth match ruled him out of the rest of the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/story/498869.html |title=England's injury list continues to grow |first=Andrew |last=McGlashan |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=30 January 2011 |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=5771;type=series |title=Records / England in Australia ODI Series, 2010/11 / Most wickets |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref>

Shahzad was included in England's 15-man squad for the [[2011 ICC World Cup]] held in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka in March 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/497417.html |title=England choose Matt Prior over Steve Davies |first=Andrew |last=McGlashan |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=19 January 2011 |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> He managed three wickets from two appearances in the tournament,<ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/BDESH/ICC_World_Cup_2010-11/Batting_by_Average.html |title=Batting and fielding in ICC World Cup 2010/11 (ordered by average) |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/BDESH/ICC_World_Cup_2010-11/Bowling_by_Average.html |title=Bowling in ICC World Cup 2010/11 (ordered by average) |publisher=cricketArchive |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> but suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury against Australia forcing him out of the tournament prematurely.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/506766.html |title=Shahzad ruled out with hamstring injury |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=17 March 2011 |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref>

On his return to Yorkshire, he struggled for form so was left out of the England Test and ODI squads to face [[Sri Lankan cricket team in England in 2011|Sri Lanka in 2011]]. He was selected in the England Performance Programme held over the 2011-12 English off-season,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/534343.html |title=England youngsters set for busy winter |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=29 September 2011 |access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref> but never played international cricket again.

==Post-playing career==

Following his playing career, Shahzad initially became an assistant coach at [[Marylebone Cricket Club]]'s Young Cricketers. He succeeded [[Steven Kirby|Steve Kirby]] as the club's Head Coach in February 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ajmal Shahzad appointed MCC Head Coach |url=https://www.lords.org/lords/news-stories/ajmal-shahzad-appointed-mcc-young-cricketers-head |website=MCC |access-date=28 August 2024 |date=15 February 2019}}</ref> Two years later he joined [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]] as an Assistant Coach with a focus on bowling.<ref>{{cite web |title=Derbyshire add ex-England fast bowler to coaching staff |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/55931583 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=28 August 2024 |date=4 February 2021}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{cricinfo|id=21431}}

{{Navboxes
|title= England squads
|bg= #000060
|fg= white
|bordercolor=#E62020
|list1=
{{England Squad 2010 ICC World Twenty20}}
{{England Squad 2011 Cricket World Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shahzad, Ajmal}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English cricketers]]
[[Category:England Test cricketers]]
[[Category:England One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:England Twenty20 International cricketers]]
[[Category:Yorkshire cricketers]]
[[Category:English people of Pakistani descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Pakistani descent]]
[[Category:People educated at Woodhouse Grove School]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Huddersfield]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 2011 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:People associated with the University of Bradford]]
[[Category:Lancashire cricketers]]
[[Category:Nottinghamshire cricketers]]
[[Category:Sussex cricketers]]
[[Category:British Asian cricketers]]
[[Category:Leicestershire cricketers]]
[[Category:English cricket coaches]]
[[Category:People educated at Bradford Grammar School]]

Ajmal Shahzad - Revision history

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