Mohammad Zahid

Mohammad Zahid is a Pakistani cricket coach and former cricketer who played as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast bowler. He remains recognized for his historic performance during his international debut in 1996.

Early life and education

Mohammad Zahid was born on 2 August 1976 in Gaggo. While the provided records do not detail his specific schooling, he rose to prominence through his exceptional pace as a young bowler. His early talent quickly brought him into the spotlight of international cricket.

Career

Zahid made an immediate impact on the world stage when he debuted against New Zealand in 1996. He became the first Pakistani cricketer to take ten wickets or more on his international debut by claiming eleven wickets during that match. This feat included a notable second-innings performance where he took 7 for 66.

His bowling speed generated significant discussion among cricket pundits and players. During one specific encounter, Zahid bowled an exceptional over to Brian Lara, who was the premier batsman in the world at that time. Lara missed the first 3 deliveries due to the intense pace before edging the 4th ball for a caught behind. Because of this encounter, several left-handed batsmen described him as the fastest bowler in the world.

A debate regarding his true speed persists because the era lacked modern speed cameras. Shoaib Akhtar, who later recorded the fastest delivery in cricket during the 2003 World Cup, addressed this in an interview with Rameez Raja. Akhtar stated that Zahid was a yard quicker than him in 1997. Although Akhtar eventually achieved higher speeds, the comparison continues to fuel discussions about whether Zahid was one of the fastest bowlers of all time.

Physical challenges significantly altered his professional trajectory. He suffered a stress fracture and a back injury during a tour to Sri Lanka. This injury cost him a GBP 60,000 county contract with Nottinghamshire, which he had signed in 1997. Although he returned for a short series against South Africa in 1998, he had lost much of his pace and accuracy. He eventually played his final Test match against South Africa, a game where Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs shared a record first-wicket partnership of 368 runs.

After his professional career ended in January 2003, Zahid participated in club cricket. He played for Sefton Park Cricket Club in Liverpool and later competed for Whiston Cricket Club in the South Yorkshire Cricket league during the 2014 season.

Zahid transitioned into coaching roles later in life. The Pakistan Cricket Board appointed him as a bowling coach at the High Performance Center in Lahore in August 2020. He held this position until 21 February 2021, when he resigned for personal reasons.

Personal life

Zahid's career was heavily impacted by medical issues involving his spine. He underwent back surgery to address his injuries, which limited his ability to maintain his peak bowling velocity. He eventually stepped away from the professional game following these health complications.