Iftikhar Ahmed is a Pakistani cricketer who has made a name for himself as a middle-order batsman and handy off-spinner. Born on September 3, 1990, in Peshawar, Iftikhar made his debut for the Pakistan national cricket team in 2015, and has since become a regular fixture in the squad.
Early Career:
Iftikhar began his cricketing journey as a teenager, playing for the Peshawar region in the domestic circuit. He made his first-class debut for Peshawar in 2009, but it was not until 2010 that he began to make a mark. In a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match against Abbottabad, Iftikhar scored 188 runs, which was the highest individual score by a Peshawar batsman in first-class cricket.
The following year, Iftikhar made his List A debut for Peshawar, and continued to perform consistently in the domestic circuit. He was particularly impressive in the 2014-15 season, where he scored 607 runs in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy at an average of 60.70, and 363 runs in the Haier T20 Cup at an average of 36.30.
International Debut:
Iftikhar's consistent performances in the domestic circuit earned him a call-up to the Pakistan national team for the T20 series against England in 2015. He made his debut in the third T20I of the series, scoring 10 runs and taking a wicket.
Iftikhar's ODI debut came in the same year, against England in Abu Dhabi. He scored a half-century in his second ODI, which helped Pakistan win the match and level the series. However, Iftikhar's form in the subsequent matches was not up to the mark, and he was dropped from the team.
Comeback:
Iftikhar had to wait for four years to make his comeback to the national team. In 2019, he was selected for the home series against Sri Lanka, and he made an instant impact. In the second T20I of the series, Iftikhar scored an unbeaten 34 off 26 balls, which helped Pakistan win the match.
Iftikhar's performance in the Sri Lanka series earned him a place in the squad for the Australia tour, where he played a crucial role in Pakistan's victory in the first T20I. He scored 62 runs off 34 balls, which included five sixes, and also took a wicket.
Iftikhar's Performance in the Pakistan Super League:
Iftikhar has also been a consistent performer in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the country's premier T20 league. He made his PSL debut for Islamabad United in 2016, and played a key role in the team's title-winning campaign. He scored 298 runs in the tournament at an average of 42.57, and was also the joint-highest wicket-taker for Islamabad United with nine wickets.
In the 2020 edition of the PSL, Iftikhar played for Karachi Kings, and once again played a crucial role in the team's success. He scored 119 runs in the tournament at an average of 39.66, and also took five wickets.
Iftikhar's Style of Play:
Iftikhar is a middle-order batsman who is known for his ability to score quickly. He is also a useful off-spinner, and has often been called upon to bowl in the middle overs. Iftikhar's all-round abilities make him a valuable asset for the Pakistan national team, and he has often been used
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