Iftikhar Anjum

Iftikhar Anjum
Personal information
Full name	Rao Iftikhar Anjum
Born	1 December 1980 (age 43); Khanewal, Punjab, Pakistan
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium
International information
National side	Pakistan (2004–2009);
Only Test (cap 186)	3 April 2006 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 152)	30 September 2004 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI	9 August 2009 v Sri Lanka
T20I debut (cap 16)	2 September 2007 v Bangladesh
Last T20I	12 August 2009 v Sri Lanka
Domestic team information
2002–present	Zarai Taraqiati Bank
1999–2007	Islamabad
2000–2001	Agriculture Development Bank
2010	Surrey CCC
Career statistics
	Source: CricketArchive (subscription required), 22 December 2013

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Rao Iftikhar Anjum (Urdu: راؤ اِفتِخار انجُم) (born 1 December 1980) also known as RAO Anjum, is a former Pakistani cricketer right arm medium fast bowler and right hand batsman. Rao Iftikhar Anjum is another addition to Pakistan's seemingly endless production line of pace bowlers. Iftikhar, however, is more Aaqib Javed than Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis, and his outswinger is considered by many to be as effective as Aaqib's. He can bowl reverse-swing - a prerequisite for Pakistani bowlers, when the ball gets a bit rougher, with good control over his yorkers. Iftikhar has performed consistently well in the domestic circuit since making his debut three years ago. Anjum was a member of the Pakistan team that won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20.

He took more than 200 wickets in Pakistani cricketing competition, before being added to the Pakistani national team, having taken ten wickets in the Patron's Trophy Final in 2004. He was rated the best bowler of the year in domestic circuit by former Pakistan's fast bowler Waleed Malik.

Iftikhar was included in the Pakistani team for the one-day series against India and made his Paktel Cup debut seven months later. He was included in the Pakistani squad to the 2007 Cricket World Cup. He played three games, and took five wickets. Despite a decent haul, his inability to bowl at the death stood out. With the re-emergence of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif, chances for Iftikhar Anjum seemed to be few and far between from then on barring injury to any of the other major players.

However, with Shoaib and Asif falling foul of doping controversies, injuries, and disciplinary problems, Iftikhar was again called on and found himself as one of the more senior bowlers as Pakistan won the Kitply Cup in Bangladesh but failed to reach the final of the 2008 Asia Cup which they hosted.

He was signed by Surrey as their overseas player for the first part of the 2010 English season.

External links

Iftikhar Anjum at ESPNcricinfo

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