Yasim Murtaza overcame career-ending injuries to become a key all-rounder for Hong Kong’s T20 team, debuting at 31 and later leading the squad as captain in 2025.
Yasim Murtaza’s cricketing path has been far from typical. Born in Sialkot, Pakistan, on December 4, 1990, he competed domestically for a decade, representing teams such as Rawalpindi and United Bank Limited. A left-handed batsman and slow left-arm spinner, his career faced a sudden halt in 2016 when he leapt from a second-floor window of Karachi’s Regent Plaza during a hotel blaze to escape. Though he survived, the fall fractured his heel and abruptly concluded his playing days in Pakistan, a moment that unexpectedly reshaped his future. After recovering, he quietly settled in Hong Kong in 2017, not as an athlete but to start afresh. For five years, he lived away from public attention, fulfilling residency rules while staying close to the sport he loved. In 2022, defying expectations, he made his international debut for Hong Kong at age 31. Murtaza rapidly became one of Hong Kong’s most consistent T20 performers, excelling both with bat and ball. During the 2022 Asia Cup qualifiers, he was the standout all-rounder, and since then, he has claimed more than 50 international wickets with the same arm he once feared he might never use again. Yasim’s roots trace back to Sialkot, Pakistan, where he was born in 1990. For many years, he played domestic cricket in his home country, turning out for teams like Rawalpindi Rams and United Bank Limited. Yet fate intervened, and he eventually moved to Hong Kong, where he found renewed purpose and a platform to compete at the international level. A left-handed top-order batter and slow left-arm orthodox spinner, he made his T20I debut for Hong Kong in July 2022 against Uganda, quickly establishing himself as a dependable figure in the team. There is no verified information regarding Yasim Murtaza’s religious beliefs, though his name hints at a possible Islamic background. He has not disclosed much about his faith, treating it as a deeply personal matter. Despite achieving success in international cricket after representing Hong Kong, Yasim Murtaza has kept the details of his personal life and family life extremely under wraps. No public records exist about his parents, siblings, or whether he is married. Yasim Murtaza has intentionally kept his family life private, and there are no credible public sources that provide details about his father. No confirmed details are available about any brother Yasim Murtaza may have. He has not shared any details about his family members, and there is no verified information about the existence of sisters or other relatives. On X (formerly Twitter), Yasim Murtaza does not have an official account. His main online presence is on Instagram, where he interacts with supporters. Although there is an account bearing his name, it has only three followers and no posts, suggesting it is likely fake. Updates will follow if he launches an official X profile. In international cricket (T20Is), Yasim Murtaza wears jersey number 12. He is also reported to have used this same number in other domestic and league matches. Very little public information exists about Yasim Murtaza’s romantic relationships. He seems to live privately off the field, with no confirmed reports of a relationship. However, it is widely believed he is married, as he has shared multiple photos on Instagram featuring his two sons. Details about Yasim Murtaza’s wife remain scarce. He frequently posts pictures of his two sons on his Instagram, indicating that even if he is married, he prefers to keep his private life out of the public eye. Yasim Murtaza’s career took off in Pakistan’s domestic circuit, where he first played for Rawalpindi. He debuted in first-class cricket in 2007 as a teenager in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and went on to play over 70 first-class matches. It was his transition to Hong Kong, however, that truly revived his career and offered him a second opportunity. Following several strong seasons in Pakistan, Yasim switched allegiance and made his T20 International debut for Hong Kong on July 11, 2022, against Uganda during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifiers. He played a pivotal role during the 2022 Asia Cup Qualifiers. His journey took him from Pakistan’s competitive domestic setup to the less-publicized landscape of Associate cricket with Hong Kong. Since his T20I debut in 2022, Yasim has captured 70 wickets in just 63 matches. Notably, his economy rate stands at 6.33. His best bowling figures are 4 for 9, accompanied by a bowling average of 18.9 and a strike rate of 17.9. With the bat, he has scored 746 runs from 52 innings, averaging 16.9 with a strike rate of 116.6. He has struck two half-centuries, along with 55 fours and 30 sixes in T20I matches. In First-Class cricket, he has featured in 74 matches and taken 123 wickets, with best innings figures of 8 for 231. His bowling average is 30.56, and his economy rate is slightly above 3 runs per over. He also has five five-wicket hauls and three four-wicket innings to his name. With the bat, he has amassed 2914 runs from 118 innings, including one century and 17 half-centuries. In List A cricket, across 78 matches, he has claimed 102 wickets with a best return of 5 for 13. His bowling average is just under 29, and he maintains a tight economy rate of 4.70. As a batter, he has scored over 1500 runs at an average of 28.37, highlighted by an unbeaten 107. He also has 10 half-centuries, 117 fours, and 44 sixes. In T20 matches, he has taken 87 wickets while keeping his economy under 7, with a bowling average of 23.08 and a strike rate of 20.4. With the bat, he has compiled 1082 runs, including three half-centuries. In 2022, he was honored as the Men’s Cricketer of the Year at the Cricket Hong Kong Awards. That same season, he also received the Best Bowling Figures of the Year award. During the 2022–2023 Hong Kong All Stars T20 Series, Yasim emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the competition. One of his most memorable displays came in 2023 during the Cricket World Cup Challenge League, where he claimed 4 wickets for just 17 runs against Kenya, earning the Player of the Match honor. Then, in 2025, Yasim took on a new leadership role by being named captain of the Hong Kong national team following Nizakat Khan’s departure. Yasim Murtaza is 34 years old, having been born on December 4, 1990. There is little public information about Yasim Murtaza’s spouse, but he has posted about his two sons on Instagram. What is Yasim Murtaza’s net worth and salary? No verified figures are available regarding Yasim Murtaza’s wealth or earnings, as there is very limited public data about his income. What are Yasim Murtaza’s career achievements? In 2022, he was named the Men’s Cricketer of the Year at the Cricket Hong Kong Awards and also won the Best Bowling Figures of the Year award. In 2025, he was appointed captain of the Hong Kong national team. All images are used for editorial purposes only and are licensed solely through Getty/Source.