Iftikhar Anjum, a right-arm Pakistani pacer, was born on December 1, 1980, in Khanewal. Throughout his career, he has been a key member of the national team.
He was also an experienced domestic cricketer, having represented Pakistan’s Zarai Taraqiati Bank, Team Islamabad, and Agriculture Development Bank, among others.
He has also represented Surrey CCC in England.
Iftikhar Anjum was a prolific pace bowler in Pakistan during his period, with a bowling action comparable to veteran Pakistani pacer Aaqib Javed and an agile hopping run-up similar to Glenn McGrath.
Background
Iftikhar began playing domestic cricket when he was 19 years old, in 1999.
In the Patron’s Trophy final against WAPDA in 2004, Iftikhar led his side, ZTBL, to victory, taking seven wickets in the first innings and ten at the end of the season.
He appeared in 142 First-class matches and 128 List-A matches, claiming 523 and 159 wickets, respectively.
Debut
In 2004, he made his debut against Zimbabwe. The team prevailed by 144 runs, but Iftikhar struggled to succeed, and he ended up becoming the team’s most expensive bowler of the match. He did, however, take one wicket.
Throughout his career, Anjum was unusually benched as an ODI player, and he only made it into the playing XI for one Test, against Sri Lanka in Kandy in 2006.
He struggled to steal the spotlight in his ODI debut, finishing the match as the most expensive bowler and going wicketless.
Rise to glory
At times, Anjum’s existence provided some stability to Pakistan’s speed battery. In 2007, South Africa’s tour of Pakistan gave him a major boost to his career, as he took three wickets in three games.
He also participated in the 2007 Cricket World Cup for Pakistan, where he played three games and took five wickets.
In Pakistan’s 2008 tour of Sri Lanka, he had his best analysis, scoring 5/30, which was a career high.
Retirement
Iftikhar’s last overseas assignment was against Australia in Perth in 2010. Iftikhar took his only wicket of the match when he dismissed Nathan Hauritz.