Yasir Hameed is one of the latest additions to Pakistan’s gift of producing extremely gifted young players. He does not have the bulk of his skipper Inzamam, but great hand and eye coordination gives him such exemplary timing. His stay in international cricket has been short so far, but he has shown a cool head and the ability to change his game according to situations.
Yasir Hameed burst on the international cricket scene against Bangladesh at Karachi in August 2003. That very first match saw Yasir bombard the opposition with two enrapturing Test centuries on debut becoming only the second player to achieve that feat after the West Indian Lawrence Rowe. The hero of Pakistan made sure that Pakistan wrapped up a comfortable victory by scoring a scintillating 170 in the first innings and a classy 105 in the 2nd, these centuries in both innings of his first Test speak for themselves, even if they were against Bangladesh.
Yasir shows exemplary technique and temperament. This Peshawari lad has many plus points one of which is his agile and able fielding skills which makes him a real asset for the Pakistan side. Together with Imran Farhat, the duo forged a superb combination at home against New Zealand when they put together a record four consecutive hundred partnerships. His one-day average of 44.92 and test record of 52.71 reflects his technically sound batting and he is difficult to dislodge once settled. But, due to whatever reasons, Yasir seems to lose his concentration when in the 90s to 100 run bracket. Once, he learns to convert these 90s to 100s, then he could be a bane for the opposition. He is one of those batsmen who collects runs at will without making it obvious.
In the on-going indo-Pak series, Yasir battled against the Indian bowling attack refusing to get flustered and played a superb knock of 91 on the 3rd day of the first test match at Multan even though that didn’t secure his team from the claws of defeat. Yasir is to be the answer to Pakistan’s worries for the opening slot, but he has yet to prove a lot more keeping in mind his good technique as well as his ability to bat in various gears with a remarkably good temperament, which is a rarity in the Pakistan batting line-up.
If given regular chance in the team, this classy batsman from Peshawar can prove to be a stronghold in the present under-rated Pakistani batting line-up. His brilliant stroke-play shows him as a promising young player who’s bound to bring laurels to his Nation in the coming years. He has the ability to revivify the presently weak Pakistan batting and prove himself worthy and efficacious of the all important opening position in the line-up.