Yasir Hameed Qureshi (Urdu: یاسر حمید قریشی) (born 28 February 1978 in Peshawar[1]) is a Pakistani cricketer. He scored two centuries on his Test debut against Bangladesh, becoming only the second player to do so. During his first thirty One Day International innings, he scored more runs than any other batsman, as well as scoring four successive opening partnerships of 100 or more with Imran Farhat, a unique achievement.
He was then left out of the squad because of a dip in form. He came back in the final ODI in the Bank Alfalah Series against England in 2005/6, scored 57 but was again ignored only to return against West Indies in the fourth match in November 2006, where he scored 71 runs from 118 balls.
Yasir has since impressed the selectors with good form in the domestic season with the bat but has not been given a real chance to cement his place in the side. He has recently been touring with the team but has only been given the odd match.
In September 2007, Yasir played a major role in defeating Australia A in a comprehensive 3-0 defeat while representing Pakistan A. He scored two centuries out of the three matches and was given good support by Naved Latif and Taufeeq Umar while the bowlers also did well in the series.
In 2003 on his Test debut he scored 170 runs in Karachi. This is the highest score by a Pakistani on debut.[2] He also scored 105 in the second innings of the same match.[3][4]
He played 22 further Tests before losing his place in the side following Pakistan's unsuccessful tour of India in 2007. He was recalled nearly 18 months later for Pakistan's two-match series against Australia, played in England owing to the security situation in Pakistan. [5]