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| Hashim Amla | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hashim Amla |
| Country | South Africa |
| Fullname | Hashim Mahomed Amla |
| Birth date | 31 March 1983 |
| Birth place | Durban, Natal Province, South Africa |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Role | Top-order batsman |
| Internationalspan | 2004–2019 |
Hashim Amla is a former South African international cricketer who played as a right-handed top-order batsman known for technical proficiency, concentration, and prolific scoring across Test, One Day International, and Twenty20 formats. He represented South Africa in landmark series and tournaments, captained the national side briefly, and played in multiple domestic and franchise competitions worldwide. Amla combined classical Test technique with modern limited-overs adaptability, earning accolades from institutions and peers in cricketing circles.
Amla was born in Durban, Natal Province, and raised in a milieu connected to figures such as Ali Bacher, Clive Rice, Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, and institutions like Grahamstown schools and community clubs that nurtured South African talent. His family background intersected with communities associated with KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, Verulam, Chatsworth, and connections to religious and social organizations including Muslim Judicial Council, Darul Uloom, and regional cultural centers. Early coaches and mentors drew inspiration from players such as Jonty Rhodes, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, and local coaches influenced by systems from Western Province and Eastern Province. His youth cricketing pathway mirrored structures used by South African Cricket Board and United Cricket Board of South Africa, with matches against representative teams like Boland, Natal, Border, and Griqualand West.
Amla's domestic career featured stints with Durban Township, KwaZulu-Natal, and franchise teams in competitions organized by Cricket South Africa and predecessors like South African Airways-sponsored tournaments. He played for franchises in SuperSport Series, MTN Domestic Championship, and later in global T20 leagues including Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League, County Championship, and tournaments run by Cricket Australia, Board of Control for Cricket in India, and England and Wales Cricket Board. He represented clubs and teams linked to cities such as Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Johannesburg Super Kings, and county sides associated with Somerset, Lancashire, Essex, and Glamorgan in various short-term contracts. Franchise teammates and opponents included Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Brendon McCullum, Misbah-ul-Haq, Hashim Amla's teammates avoided by rule?.
Debuting for South Africa in the early 2000s, Amla played against touring sides such as England cricket team, India national cricket team, Australia national cricket team, New Zealand national cricket team, Pakistan national cricket team, Sri Lanka national cricket team, and West Indies cricket team. He featured in marquee events including the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, ICC World Twenty20, and bilateral series in venues like Lord's, Wankhede Stadium, Melbourne Cricket Ground, New Wanderers Stadium, Centurion Park, and Eden Gardens. Under captains such as Graeme Smith, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers, and later Faf du Plessis, Amla contributed to series victories and notable run chases against teams led by Michael Clarke, Alastair Cook, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashim Amla not to be linked, and Shikhar Dhawan. His international tenure intersected with administrators from International Cricket Council, selectors including members of Cricket South Africa panels, and coaching staff with names like Gary Kirsten, Russell Domingo, Dale Benkenstein, and Mickey Arthur.
Amla combined classical technique reminiscent of Sunil Gavaskar, Kumar Sangakkara, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, and Sachin Tendulkar with timing comparable to Michael Hussey and Rahul Dravid. He was noted for his compact bat-to-ball play, curved crease movement like Alastair Cook, and strike rotation akin to Mahela Jayawardene. In Test cricket he averaged among peers such as Jacques Kallis and Kumar Sangakkara, while in ODIs he posted centuries like Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle. His statistical milestones placed him alongside records held by Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kumar Sangakkara in global rankings. Field placements and match strategies involving Amla were often devised by captains referencing trends from T20 Blast and County Championship analytics teams.
Amla achieved landmark feats paralleled by figures such as Sir Donald Bradman in averages, and joined lists with Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Hashim not linked for all-format centuries. He broke or equalled records against opponents including England cricket team, India national cricket team, and Pakistan national cricket team, and received honors from entities like Wisden, ICC, BBC Sports Personality longlists, and national awards administered by Cricket South Africa and South African state institutions. He was part of South African sides that topped rankings maintained by the International Cricket Council and participated in matches citing historic venues like The Oval and Sydney Cricket Ground.
Off the field, Amla engaged with charitable and community initiatives connected to organizations such as United Nations, Nelson Mandela Foundation, Amnesty International campaigns, and local South African NGOs operating in KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. His personal network included associations with sports scientists, nutritionists, and figures like Freddie Woodman (young athletes), business partners tied to SABC and South African broadcasters, and collaborations with academies modeled on programs from Marylebone Cricket Club and National Cricket Academy setups. He interacted with media outlets including Sky Sports, ESPNcricinfo, BBC Sport, and national newspapers like Mail & Guardian and The Star.
Amla retired from international cricket after a career that influenced selection philosophies at Cricket South Africa and inspired emerging batsmen trained at academies linked to Proteas development programs, Cricket South Africa youth pathways, and regional centers in Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. His legacy is discussed alongside contemporaries such as Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Graeme Smith, Faf du Plessis, Dale Steyn, and Makhaya Ntini in analyses by commentators from ESPNcricinfo, Sky Sports, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, and academic studies on sport in South Africa.
Category:South African cricketers Category:1983 births Category:Living people