Ashar Zaidi ©Nigel Stockley

Accrington signed Pakistani all rounder Ashar Zaidi as their professional for 2011 and retained him for 2012 after a successful season that saw Accrington win the Holland Cup as league runners up.

Ashar was a revelation with his zest for runs and wickets. Zaidi began with a match winning bowling performance of 7-42 whilst bowling medium pace in the opening match against Rishton in the absence of David Ormerod, but most of his 68 wickets at 15.2 were taken whilst bowling slow left arm spin. His contrasting batting styles were also evident early on with his 174 at Rawtenstall made in free flowing style whilst his unbeaten 72 against Todmorden the previous day was made with the utmost responsibility. In all he scored 1015 runs at 59.7 with two centuries and eight half centuries and he also snapped up 17 catches, mostly off his own bowling. Accrington made a league record 386-6 at Rawtenstall on May 1st with Zaidi putting on a league record 5th wicket stand of 247 with Lloyd, who made 112. Zaidi's 174 was the highest innings of the season and his other century was the first by an Accrington player at Ramsbottom.

The left hander played for Wood Lane in the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire Premier League in 2009 and 2010, hitting 622 runs at 38.9 and taking 24 wickets at 22.0 in league matches.

Ashar has scored 5176 runs at 38.3 with a highest score of 202 one of his 11 First-class centuries since his debut in 1999. He has taken 49 wickets at 30.4 and can bowl either left arm medium pace or spin.

His full name is Syed Ashar Ahmed Zaidi and his CV shows his First-class clubs as Islamabad; Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited ; Rawalpindi; Khan Research Laboratories; Federal Areas; Islamabad; Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited; Rawalpindi; Rawalpindi Rams; Islamabad Leopards and; Khan Research Laboratories. He also has considerable experience in club cricket having appeared in the Northern League, Liverpool and District Premier League and also for Edenfield in a 20/20 game against Ramsbottom in 2009.

Ashar is a UK resident, currently living in the north Manchester area. He will be Accrington's second Pakistani professional following Mohsin Khan who was paid man in 1979 and 1980.

List of matches played on database

LANCASHIRE LEAGUE RECORD

Club	Season	Inns	N.O	H.S.	Runs	Av		Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	Av
Accrington	2011	22	5	174	1015	59.7		326.2	40	1035	68	15.2