Mohammad Zubayr Hamza[1] (born 19 June 1995) is a South African cricketer.[2] He made his Test debut for the South Africa cricket team in January 2019, becoming South Africa's 100th Test player since readmission.[3] In domestic cricket, he was named as the captain of the Cape Cobras, ahead of the 2020–21 season.[4]

Zubayr Hamza
Personal information
Full name
Mohammad Zubayr Hamza
Born (1995-06-19) 19 June 1995 (age 29)
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm leg break
RoleBatsman
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 335)11 January 2019 v Pakistan
Last Test13 February 2024 v New Zealand
Only ODI (cap 142)26 November 2021 v Netherlands
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2013/14–Western Province
2015/16–Cape Cobras
2018/19South Western Districts
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 8 1 92 68
Runs scored 307 56 6,389 2,017
Batting average 19.18 56.00 47.32 34.77
100s/50s 0/1 0/1 17/30 2/12
Top score 62 56 222* 156
Catches/stumpings 7/– 0/– 90/– 34/–
Source: Cricinfo, 17 February 2024

Domestic career

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Hamza was included in the Western Province cricket team squad for the 2015 Africa T20 Cup.[5] In the 2016–17 Sunfoil Series match in October 2016 between Cape Cobras and Knights, he was dismissed after he handled the ball.[6] In August 2017, he was named in Jo'burg Giants' squad for the first season of the T20 Global League.[7] However, in October 2017, Cricket South Africa initially postponed the tournament until November 2018, with it being cancelled soon after.[8]

In June 2018, he was named in the squad for the Cape Cobras team for the 2018–19 season.[9] In September 2018, he was named in South Western Districts' squad for the 2018 Africa T20 Cup.[10] He was the leading run-scorer for South Western Districts in the tournament, with 102 runs in four matches.[11]

In April 2021, he was named in Western Province's squad, ahead of the 2021–22 cricket season in South Africa.[12] On 24 September 2021, in the opening fixture of the 2021–22 CSA Provincial T20 Knock-Out tournament, Hamza scored his first century in T20 cricket, with 106 runs.[13]

International career

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In December 2018, Hamza was named in South Africa's Test squad for their series against Pakistan.[14] He made his Test debut for South Africa against Pakistan on 11 January 2019.[15] In May 2021, he was named as the captain of the South Africa A team for their tour to Zimbabwe.[16] In June 2021, in the first unofficial Test match, Hamza scored unbeaten 222 runs, which led South Africa A to victory over Zimbabwe A by an innings and 166 runs.[17]

In November 2021, he was named in South Africa's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against the Netherlands.[18] He made his ODI debut on 26 November 2021, for South Africa against the Netherlands.[19]

In March 2022, Hamza tested positive for furosemide, a prohibited substance, following an ICC anti-doping test in January.[20] Hamza did not dispute the outcome of the test, and agreed to a voluntary suspension,[21] before being provisionally suspended by the ICC.[22]

In April 2023, he was recalled to the South Africa A's first-class and List A squad for their tour to Sri Lanka.[23] In December 2023, he was selected in South Africa's squad for the test series against New Zealand.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Zubayr Hamza". Wisden. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Zubayr Hamza". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Zubayr Hamza aims at earning South Africa's 100th Test cap". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Zubayr Hamza named Cape Cobras Captain for 2020/2021 Season". Newlands Cricket. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  5. ^ Northerns Squad / Players – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Ramela suspended from Dolphins game". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  7. ^ "T20 Global League announces final team squads". T20 Global League. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Cricket South Africa postpones Global T20 league". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Prince announces 'exciting' World Sports Betting Cape Cobras Squad for 2018/2019". Cape Cobras. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  10. ^ "South Western Districts Squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Africa T20 Cup, 2018/19 - South Western Districts: Batting and bowling averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  12. ^ "CSA reveals Division One squads for 2021/22". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Hamza ton helps WP to nail-biting T20 win over Lions in season opener". News24. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  14. ^ "SA pick uncapped Zubayr Hamza for Pakistan Tests". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  15. ^ "3rd Test, Pakistan tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Jan 11-15 2019". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  16. ^ "ZC names Zimbabwe A coaches and squads". Zimbabwe Cricket. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Hamza leads SA A to big win". SA Cricket Mag. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Bavuma, de Kock among six South Africa regulars rested for Netherlands ODIs". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  19. ^ "1st ODI, Centurion, Nov 26 2021, Netherlands tour of South Africa". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Zubayr Hamza tests positive for prohibited substance". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Proteas batsman Zubayr Hamza suspended from cricket amid suspected doping revelation". Sport24. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Zubayr Hamza 'provisionally suspended' by ICC for doping violation". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  23. ^ Lambley, Garrin (25 April 2023). "South Africa 'A' squad packed with Proteas for Sri Lanka tour". The South African. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  24. ^ "South Africa Test Squad - South Africa in New Zealand, 2024 Squad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
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