Ashar Zaidi

{{short description|Pakistani first-class cricketer (born 1981)}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Ashar Zaidi

| image =

| country = Pakistan

| fullname = Syed Ashar Ahmed Zaidi

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|7|13|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Slow left-arm orthodox

| club1 = Islamabad Cricket Association

| year1 = 1999–2010

| club2 = Sussex

| year2 = 2013–2015

| club3 = Comilla Victorians

| year3 = 2015–2016

| club4 = Islamabad United

| year4 = 2016

| club5 = Essex

| year5 = 2016–2018

| columns = 3

| column1 = FC

| matches1 = 112

| runs1 = 6,015

| bat avg1 = 36.23

| 100s/50s1 = 12/29

| top score1 = 202

| deliveries1 = 6,023

| wickets1 = 94

| bowl avg1 = 29.81

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 4/50

| catches/stumpings1 = 84/–

| column2 = LA

| matches2 = 108

| runs2 = 2,968

| bat avg2 = 33.34

| 100s/50s2 = 4/14

| top score2 = 141

| deliveries2 = 3,451

| wickets2 = 77

| bowl avg2 = 32.97

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 4/39

| catches/stumpings2 = 37/–

| column3 = T20

| matches3 = 67

| runs3 = 1,065

| bat avg3 = 24.76

| 100s/50s3 = 0/4

| top score3 = 59*

| deliveries3 = 870

| wickets3 = 40

| bowl avg3 = 26.37

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 4/11

| catches/stumpings3 = 17/–

| date = 23 August

| year = 2018

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/39028.html ESPN Cricinfo

}}

Syed Ashar Ahmed Zaidi ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|سید اشعر احمد زیدی}}}}; born 13 July 1981) is a Pakistani first-class cricketer. Zaidi is a left-handed batsman and left-arm orthodox spin bowler who is considered an all-rounder. He has played first-class cricket for Islamabad in Pakistan and for Sussex and Essex in England and has represented the Pakistan A cricket team at international level. He holds a British passport and as a result can play as a domestic player in England.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/24985971 Ashar Zaidi: Sussex sign all-rounder on two-year deal], BBC Sport, 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2014-02-19.

In August 2024, he was banned from all cricket for a period of five years by the International Cricket Council.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/zaidi-sanghavi-and-choudhary-banned-under-anti-corruption-code |title=Zaidi, Sanghavi and Choudhary banned under Anti-Corruption Code |publisher= ICC |last= |first= |date=7 August 2024 |accessdate=8 August 2024 |archive-date=8 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808103635/https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/zaidi-sanghavi-and-choudhary-banned-under-anti-corruption-code |url-status=live}}

First-class career

Zaidi began his career playing for Islamabad Cricket Association in Pakistan. He appeared 88 times for the team between 1999 and 2010 and made appearances for other teams in Pakistan during the period. During the period between 2010 and 2013, he played club cricket in England for Accrington Cricket Club as well as appearing for Gazi Tank in the Dhaka Premier League in Bangladesh.

Zaidi joined Sussex County Cricket Club on non-contract terms towards the end of the 2013 season making two first-class appearances. Following the season, he signed a two-year contract with the club. During a County Championship match in September 2015, Zaidi was abused by English bowler Craig Overton whilst he was batting. Overton received a two match ban as a result of the incident. Zaidi later called on Overton to apologise for the abuse.[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/10/ecb-disciplinary-craig-overton-abusive-language-somerset-ashar-zaidi-sussex ECB denies double standards after Pakistan player told 'get back to own country'], The Guardian, 2015-12-10. Retrieved 2016-01-26.[https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/13/ashar-zaidi-somerset-craig-overton-apologise-racist-behaviour Ashar Zaidi: Somerset's Craig Overton must apologise for 'racist behaviour'], The Guardian, 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2016-01-26.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/counties/12048520/Ashar-Zaidi-calls-for-crackdown-on-racist-rants-after-Craig-Overton-ban.html Ashar Zaidi calls for crackdown on racist rants after Craig Overton ban], The Daily Telegraph, 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2016-01-26.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35090162 Craig Overton: Ashar Zaidi wants apology for alleged slur], BBC Sport, 2015-12-14. Retrieved 2016-01-26.

After making 19 first-class appearances for the county, Zaidi was released by Sussex at the end of the 2015 season before signing a one-year contract with Essex in January 2016.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/34401259 Sussex: Chris Liddle, Steffan Piolet and Ashar Zaidi leave], BBC Sport, 2015-09-30. Retrieved 2016-01-25.[http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/13791981.Trio_released_as_Sussex_begin_rebuilding_job/?ref=ar Trio released as Sussex begin rebuilding job], The Argus, 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2016-01-25.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2016/content/story/961531.html Zaidi leaves Sussex to join Essex], Cricinfo, 2016-01-12. Retrieved 2016-01-25.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35291465 Ashar Zaidi: Essex sign former Sussex all-rounder], BBC Sport, 2016-01-12. Retrieved 2016-01-25.

He played a total of 65 games for Essex over three seasons, but was released at the end of 2018.[https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/24606989/essex-hand-peter-siddle-two-year-contract Essex hand Peter Siddle two-year contract], Cricinfo, 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2019-12-18.

Franchise and T20 career

=Bangladesh Premier League=

Zaidi was selected by Comilla Victorians in the draft for the 2015 Bangladesh Premier League. He won the player of the tournament award, taking 17 wickets and scoring 215 runs as Comilla won the tournament.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh-premier-league-2015-16/content/story/951801.html A season to remember for professional Comilla], Cricinfo, 2015-12-17. Retrieved 2016-01-25. Zaidi's simple approach to both batting and bowling during the tournament was noted,[http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh-premier-league-2015-16/content/story/951801.html Comilla reap rewards from Zaidi's simple approach], Cricinfo, 2015-12-12. Retrieved 2016-01-25. although his performance was generally considered a surprise given his lack of Twenty20 experience prior to the tournament.

Ban from cricket

In August 2024, Ashar Zaidi, who was the batting coach, along with Pune Devils team co-owners Parag Sanghvi and Krishan Kumar Choudhary were handed bans after admitting to various breaches of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) [https://www.emiratescricket.com/storage/uploads/downloads/ECB%20Anti-Corruption%20Code%20March%202020.1630940230.pdf Anti-Corruption Code for Participants] of the Abu Dhabi T10 cricket league.

The charges all relate to the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 cricket league, and were brought on by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on behalf of the ECB. Asher Zaidi was provisionally suspended on 19 September 2023, and subsequently banned from all cricket for a period of five years. He will be re-eligible to participate in cricket from 19 September 2027 onwards as the ban has been backdated to the date of suspension.