Mahmood ready for responsibility

By Martin Gough

Essex might not have been ready for Azhar Mahmood when he ripped through their line-up with figures of 6-37 on Sunday.

Mahmood has taken 32 wickets for Surrey this season

They were not expecting to face him until a day later, when Pakistan visited Chelmsford for a tour match ahead of their three-match one-day series against England.

But Mahmood gained permission to play a final match with his county before joining the tourists this week, and he left Essex in tatters.

On Monday, the Chelmsford fans had something to cheer about as a Mahmood-less Pakistan succumbed to a 50-run defeat at New Writtle Road.

And the tourists will be especially desperate for the all-rounder to maintain his fine start to the England season when they take on England at Old Trafford on 17 June.

With Shoaib Akhtar serving the final part of a three-match ban for ball-tampering is the only senior member of the attack, and is likely to open the bowling.

That would be a remarkable turnaround for a man who made just a single appearance for Pakistan during the World Cup - he did not take the field in a wash-out - and has not played since.

Unlike some other overseas players he doesn't have to come in and prove himself

Surrey coach Keith Medlycott

Pakistan's chief selector Aamir Sohail said the 28-year-old had been recalled because of his "excellent form with the bat and the ball" for Surrey.

So far this year he has taken 13 one-day wickets at a miserly average of 18.38, as well as 19 in the Championship, and scored 447 runs in both forms of the game.

But it is not just the defending county champions who have gained from Mahmood's first full season at The Oval.

Surrey coach Keith Medlycott believes the all-rounder has prospered because of the quality of the south London Test venue and the attitude of a team that has not lost a match this season.

"We have played on some high quality wickets, which is always helpful," Medlycott told the BBC Sport website.

"And we play with freedom so unlike some other overseas players he doesn't have to come in and prove himself or be fearful of getting out."

MAHMOOD FACTFILE

Born: 28/2/1975, Rawalpindi

Tests: 21
Debut v SA at Rawalpindi, 1997/98
900 runs, ave 30.00, high 136
39 wkts, ave 35.94, best 4-50

ODIs: 124
Debut v India at Toronto, 1996
1309 runs, ave 17.68, high 67
112 wkts, ave 37.33, best 6-18

Mahmood as yo-yoed in and out of the Pakistan line-up since his debut against India in Toronto in 1996.

But for Medlycott there was never any question as to his quality with both bat and ball.

"It's surprising that internationally he hasn't been given a full crack because he has real quality, as we saw when he toured with Pakistan two years ago" he says.

"He is destructive especially at the start and end of the innings, both with bat and ball.

"But his biggest strength is his hunger - he has the heart of a lion and just loves a challenge."

Mahmood's biggest break has come, though, because of an all-rounder who currently plies his trade across town with Middlesex.

Speaking to this website in 2002, between spells as Pakistan coach, Richard Pybus said: "In any other cricket-playing country, such a wonderful all-rounder would have his permanent place.

"But for Pakistan, it's a question of choice between him and Abdur Razzaq."

Razzaq was passed over by the selectors, who described him as "tired" prior to this trip.

In his place they have a veteran of 124 one-day internationals ready to step up and make a claim to a more permanent place.