| Azhar Abbas Haraj | |
| Birth Date: | 1 April 1975 |
| Birth Place: | Khanewal, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm medium |
| Hidedeliveries: | true |
Azhar Abbas Haraj (Urdu: {{Nastaliq|اظہر عباس ہراج ) is a Pakistani-New Zealand cricket coach and former cricketer.[1] Azhar is a bowling coach for Wellington Firebirds in New Zealand having previously coached Auckland Aces. As a player,he appeared for the Auckland Aces and Wellington Firebirds in the New Zealand State Championship.[2] He is a vice chairman of PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) Sports and Cultural wing of PTI Pakistan. He is a former chief of staff to Honourable Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (Ex Prime Minister of Pakistan) between 1996 to 2005 He is a founder of New Zealand Pace Foundation.
Azhar Abbas was born on 1 April 1975 in Abdul Hakim Khanewal, Punjab, Pakistan to a Former’s Family.[3] [1] At the age of 14, He was moved to Lahore to complete his education and Sports (Cricket) interests.[1]
Abbas is a married to Shazia; the couple has two daughters and a son, Muhammad Abbas, who plays first-class cricket for Wellington Firebirds.[1]
Azhar Abbas played most of his cricket in Pakistan, England and New Zealand as a fast bowler, he was named to a wider Pakistan squad in 1997 and 2005 but did not make the final team against Sri Lanka and India.[1] After meeting former New Zealand cricketer, Richard Petrie, in England, Abbas joined the Karori Cricket Club in Wellington.[1] He later join Eden Roskill Cricket Club in 2005 as a Head of Cricket.[1]
Now he is a NZC Level 3 cricket coach. From 2015 to 2021 he was a bowling coach for Auckland Aces. From 2022 he has worked in the same role for Wellington Firebirds. He is also a founder of NZ Pace Academy.[4]