Surf India

Saqib Zulfiqar:Biography

Saqib Zulfiqar

Saqib Zulfiqar is a cricketer who plays internationally for the Netherlands and domestically for Rotterdam Rhinos in the Euro T20 Slam. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-break bowler who can play in various formats of the game. He has also represented the Netherlands at under-19 level. He is known for his batting skills, spin bowling variations, and fielding agility.

Early Life and Family

Saqib Zulfiqar was born on March 28, 1997, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He grew up in a cricket-loving family and started playing the game at the age of seven. His father, Zulfiqar Ahmed, is a former cricketer who played for VRA Amsterdam and coached the Netherlands Under-15 team. His mother, Marianne van Meekeren, is a teacher and a cricket enthusiast. He has two younger brothers, Asad and Sikander, who are also cricketers and play for the Netherlands. They are triplets and made history by becoming the first instance of triplets playing for a professional cricket team in the same game.

Personal Life

Saqib Zulfiqar is unmarried and lives in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He is fluent in Dutch, English, and Urdu. He holds a bachelor's degree in sports management from Inholland University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam. He is also a qualified cricket coach and has worked as a player-coach at Kampong Cricket Club in Utrecht. He enjoys travelling, reading, and listening to music in his spare time.

Early Cricket Career

Saqib Zulfiqar started playing cricket at VRA Amsterdam, where his father was his coach and mentor. He represented the Netherlands at various age-group levels and was part of the squad that played in the 2016 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh. He made his first-class debut for the Netherlands against Namibia in the 2015–17 ICC Intercontinental Cup and scored 18 runs on debut.He also made his List A debut for the Netherlands against Kenya in the 2015–17 ICC World Cricket League Championship and took one wicket.

International Debut

Saqib Zulfiqar made his One Day International (ODI) debut for the Netherlands against Zimbabwe at Deventer on June 21, 2019. He scored 34 runs and took one catch as the Netherlands won by seven wickets. He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for the Netherlands against Ireland at Rotterdam on June 12, 2018. He scored 18 runs and took one catch as the Netherlands won by four runs.

ODI Career

Saqib Zulfiqar has played 13 ODIs for the Netherlands until October 2023, scoring 181 runs at an average of 16.45 and a strike rate of 67.54. He has not hit any fifty with a highest score of 34. He has also bowled 282 balls and taken eight wickets at an average of 37.00 and an economy rate of 6.30. His best bowling figures are 2/43. He has also taken three catches.

T20I Career

Saqib Zulfiqar has played six T20Is for the Netherlands until August 2019, scoring 34 runs at an average of 8.50 and a strike rate of 79.07. He has not hit any fifty with a highest score of 18. He has also bowled 54 balls and taken two wickets at an average of 30.50 and an economy rate of 6.78. His best bowling figures are 1/4. He has also taken two catches.

Test Career

Saqib Zulfiqar has not played any Test matches for the Netherlands as they do not have Test status.

Records and Achievements

  • He is the first person to play in a professional cricket match with his triplet brothers, doing so for the Netherlands against the United Arab Emirates at Amstelveen on July 17, 2017.
  • He is the second-highest run-scorer for the Netherlands in the 2016 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup with 116 runs at an average of 29.00.
  • He is the fourth-highest wicket-taker for the Netherlands in the 2015–17 ICC World Cricket League Championship with 10 wickets at an average of 28.90.

Awards and Honors

  • He was named the player of the match once in ODIs, for his unbeaten 34 against Zimbabwe at Deventer on June 21, 2019.
  • He was named in the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Month for June 2019 for scoring 67 runs and taking three wickets in two matches.
  • He was named Domestic Players' Player of the Season at Kampong Cricket Club's annual awards in May 2018.

Captaincy Stints

Saqib Zulfiqar has not captained the Netherlands in any international matches.

Controversies

Saqib Zulfiqar has not been involved in any major controversies in his cricket career.

Conclusion

Saqib Zulfiqar is a cricketer who plays internationally for the Netherlands and domestically for Rotterdam Rhinos in the Euro T20 Slam. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-break bowler who can play in various formats of the game. He has also represented the Netherlands at under-19 level. He is known for his batting skills, spin bowling variations, and fielding agility. He has achieved several records and accolades for his performances and is one of the most promising players for the Netherlands.

International Cricket Stars

View All Other Sports Stars

Other Famous Celebrities