Aizaz Cheema: The trusted name in last-over heroics

By Ashar Zaidi

Pakistan cricket has a habit of giving interesting nick-names to its performers, Afridi is Boom Boom for all seasons, Hafeez is your professor, while Saeed Ajmal was once a mesmerizing magician. You can now add the ‘Last over Specialist’ nick to that list for Aizaz Cheema.

Some cricketers like to shine at crunch moments whereas others prefer to make a habit out of it. Aizaz Cheema is no different. Read the situation; it’s the final over of the game and your opponents need to score 8 to 9 runs to win with three wickets remaining. As a captain, you scan through your options and thank your stars that Aizaz is at your service; you toss him the ball and relax; because your inner voice tell you that Cheema will ensure that your Prometheus makes a safe landing.

That is the kind of reputation the 36 year old, Sargodha born lanky medium pacer suddenly finds himself enjoying. Be it the final of the 2012 Asia Cup against a resurging Bangladesh or the playoffs pressure cooker against the volcanic Zalmis’, Aizaz has proven on both occasions that he has the nerves to throttle on when others prefer to rest their engines.

Impressed by his ability to hold together big match nerves, I give Aizaz a call in Dubai where he was relaxing with team mates. Enjoying his renewed fame yet remaining utterly humble, each word he speaks showcases his educated back ground and cultural upbringing.

Aizaz’s is what you would call an average middle class and educated family from Pakistan. His father is a Lawyer by profession while his mother is a teacher. Having books scattered all around, education was always the first priority in the Cheema household.     

“My parents were very particular about our studies and there was no compromise on that. I was only allowed to play on the condition that I got good grades. I tried my best not to disappoint them and did my bachelors in commerce. I even got myself enrolled in Punjab University for master’s program but cricket never allowed me to pursue it”.

Though his parents never showed much interest in his cricket, it was the enduring support from his elder brother Umair Cheema that kept the home expectations and his own passion, surviving side by side.

“Umair bhai was my biggest supporter while my parents thought that I was wasting time and should concentrate more on studies.” He adds on with a smile, “My father wanted me to be a banker but I kept on playing cricket but things changed when I was selected by PIA for their domestic teams. This is when they thought that I could make a name and living through the sport”.

Asia Cup 2012 final, the big moment.

The very mention of the Asia Cup lightens him up, and why not, after all it was his first real brush with fame.  Making his international debut at the ripe age of 31, that’s about the time when most players from Pakistan would be winding up their careers, Aizaz was detriment to make up for the lost time.

“Asia Cup was my 5th or 6th tour with the team and I wanted give this important tournament my best. I still remember the first game against Bangladesh where I managed just one wicket and bowled the second last over. It was another close finish and bowling a crunch over against them boosted my confidence.”

“But the game against the Sri-Lankans got me into a different mindset. I gave my career best performance and got four of their top batsmen (4/43, Jayewardene, Dilshan, Sangakkara and Malinga) and also earned man of the match”.

Pakistan lost their game against India but qualified for the finals. It was time to tame the Bengal tiger and that too, in his terrority.

“It was a huge game and the Bangladeshi crowds were as hostile as their team. By the time I bowled the 46th over we all realized that this match will go till the end. I had taken two for 42 in my six overs and had a feeling that the final over would come to me. I started preparing myself mentally and kept telling myself that I won’t let the match slip away”.

With just 9 runs required from the last over, Misbah decided to throw Cheema to the Lions.  

“I remember Misbah was playing that game with 102 fever but was till giving it his all. He told me that I will win the match for my country. I was really pumped up with that encouragement and once again reassured myself that I am going to come out victorious”.

But encouragement alone wasn’t enough, winnings needs a strategy.

“After each ball on my follow up I kept discussing with Misbah what to bowl next, Hafiz and Umer Gul were also there to help me out. Their presence and guidance really eased the pressure. Even when Mahmudullah picked up three runs due to a misfield I managed to stay calm and not lose my nerves.”

“I bowled Abdur Razzaq on the next delivery and it came to the last bal. Sahahdat Hussain walked in with 4 required from the one. I bowled a yorker to prevent him from swinging hard and we won the match. I can’t share my feelings; it was the proudest moment of my career”.

4 years forward in the PSL playoffs, fate decided to test Cheema again.

Initially selected as a reserve player for the Gladiators, Cheema was flown in as the 17th player and was told to be ready for action.

“Moin Khan and Azam Khan had picked me for PIA and then again for the Gladiators. I guess they both had faith in my abilities and know how to get the best out from me.”

Recalling the nail biting game against the Zalmis, Cheema described the condition as a nightmarish for the bowlers.

“The outfield was really wet and there was also a lot of dew making it extremely difficult to grip the ball. So much so that I slipped a few times during my initial overs and also conceded a couple of no balls. There was also hardly any swing and to top that the wet ground forced me to change spikes”.

“As the game approaching the final over, I again had the feeling that it will come down to me as conditions were not right for a spinner. Once again I started preparing for the big over. It’s funny when you consider that the entire situation was re-playing itself after four years”.

The last over of the game, it was time for Aizaz to test his nerves against another maverick, Wahab Riaz. Once again 8 were required of the last over with three wickets to bag.  

“I was constantly drying the wet ball with a towel, it was so difficult to grip that when I tried to york Wahab, it slipped out to become a full toss and he hit it for a boundary. I don’t like to be hit so I gathered myself and got rid of Hasan Ali and Wahab on consecutive balls.”

The win sparked some crazy celebrations with a thrilled Richards jumping hard enough to defy his youth days. For Cheema, all this was to true to be real.

“Sarfaz dived on the ground, Sir Viv was jumping and all my team mates were hugging me, the packed stadium was chanting Quetta Quetta and Aizaz zindabad, it was all so wonderful.”

With a place booked in the finals and couple of days to rest, who does he want to meet in the finals?

 “Anyone, we don’t care who we face in the finals, but whoever does face us, come prepared because we are here to win.”

—Ashar Zaidi is a Senior Sports Anchor with Geo News, he tweets at @AsharZaidiGeo