Aftab Habib Cricketer
Aftab Habib (born 7 February 1972 in Reading, Berkshire) is an English cricketer. He has been appointed the coach of Afghanistan national cricket team on September 2011, combined with the role of player coach at Chesham CC in the Thames Valley Cricket League Division 2B during the English Summer. He is a stylish batsman, but his bowling is almost non-existent. Habib made his first-class debut in 1992, playing once for Middlesex, but was quickly let go and it was 1995 before he played another first-class game, for his new county, Leicestershire. Although he made 174 not out against Oxford University that year it was 1996 before Habib established himself in the first team. He played a few games for New Zealand side Canterbury in the 1997/98 Shell Cup one-day competition, but made only 83 runs in his five innings. He averaged 56 in 1998 and was chosen by England the following year, but was quickly found out by the New Zealand bowlers and dropped after two Tests. He did, however, have the consolation of passing 1000 runs for the first time that season. After the 2001 season Habib left for Essex, but had an indifferent three seasons with the club and was released. He struggled to find another county, and at one point it looked as though his career might be at an end, but somewhat surprisingly he returned to Leicestershire for the 2005 season. Habib was released by Leicestershire at the end of 2006 season, in 2007 he has appeared for Berkshire. Habib's cousin Zahid Sadiq played seven matches for Surrey and one for Derbyshire between 1988 and 1990. Habib was formerly the Hong Kong National Coach, having been appointed on a three year contract, including Hong Kong's appearance in the 2008 Asia Cup in Pakistan and has worked as Women’s and Girls’ Cricket Development Officer for the Buckinghamshire Cricket Board. He is currently the coach of the Afghanistan national cricket team.
