Ijaz Ahmed

Wisden overview
Pakistan's No. 3 for many years when Inzamam-ul-Haq and Salim Malik chose to languish further down the order, Ijaz Ahmed is an ungainly but effective player. It looks all wrong even as he takes guard with a stance so closed that BBW (buttock before wicket) is a likely dismissal. Dubbed The Axeman for the way he chops down at the ball outside off stump, Ijaz's technique is dominated by the bottom hand. He is an exceptionally powerful square-cutter and good off his legs forcing through midwicket. He can also up the tempo to suit the occasion. Ijaz is quick in the covers and once bowled medium-pacers with a round-arm action. His calibre can be judged by the number of hundreds he's made against Australia - six. Kamran Abbasi