Devon Cricket Board - Salman on way back to Oak Park

Salman on way back to Oak Park

MUHAMMED Salman is on his way back to Cornwood as the A Division club’s overseas player for the 2012 season.

In January last year Salman became the first Cornwood cricketer to play international cricket, when he was chosen for the Pakistan squad to tour the West Indies.

He was quickly followed by Aizaz Cheema, the Cornwood overseas player from 2008 to 2011, who debuted against Zimbabwe in September 2011 and still remains part of the Pakistan squad, having featured in the recent Tests, one-day internationals and Twenty20 series against England.

With Cheema not available this year, the search for a new overseas player for 2012 had not been concluded when Salman sent an email congratulating Cornwood CC on securing their new nets grant.

After further email exchanges it became apparent Salman was available and interested in re-joining Cornwood.

“It didn't take long for all concerned to realise that this was an opportunity not to be missed,”said Cornwood official Phil Bees.

Salman first joined Cornwood for the third Devon League match of the 2005 cricket season. The club’s contracted Kiwi, Blair Hancock, had to return home to New Zealand due to a family bereavement and left Cornwood with the task of finding a new overseas player two weeks into the season.

A call was made to an agent in Nottingham, who had a player in the country, whose club had let him down – a certain Muhammad Salman.

Salman is a very accomplished batsman. He keeps wicket for Faisalabad and Pakistan, but can also offer a very effective leg-spin bowling option, so in many ways is the true all-rounder.

“He is extremely keen to resume his relationship with the club and to catch up with his many friends,” said Bees.

“Sal will be supporting training and coaching at all levels and is driven to help the 1st XI in their quest for promotion to the Devon Premier Division.

“The club feels that Sal’s appointment demonstrates its on-going commitment to bring the highest level of cricket to Oak Park for the benefit of its players and all club members.”

During his previous stint with the Club, Salman scored a total of 1,792 Devon League runs at an average of 64.00 and took 93 wickets at an average of 16.56.

This would have been more had he not missed seven games in 2006 after being called up for the Pakistan A tour to Australia.

Salman particularly liked batting against Bradninch taking them for 128 not out and 128, the best two of his five centuries for Cornwood.

Despite missing the first two games, Salman’s best season in 2005 brought 849 runs and 40 wickets, a fantastic achievement and one Cornwood players and supporters will be hoping he can repeat in 2012.

For the past two UK seasons Salman has been playing for Coleraine in Northern Ireland, averaging more than 50 with the bat

Salman’s Test career appears to have stalled as he has slipped down the pecking order behind Adnan Akmal and Umar Akmal, perhaps he should change his name to Akmal, as his predecessor was Kamran Akmal!

In the West Indies he played in two Test matches and seven one-day internationals and one T20 International.

Salman has played regularly for Faisalabad in Pakistan First Class cricket and has scored nearly 4,000 runs, with four centuries and 22 half-centuries, so Cornwood hope he will greatly enhance the chances of bringing Premier Division cricket back to Oak Park.

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