Nezam Ahmed Hafiz (21 April 1969 – 11 September 2001) was a Guyanese-born American cricketer. Hafiz was a right-handed middle order batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. He was killed in the North Tower during the September 11 attacks.
Cricket career
Having played cricket from a young age, Hafiz captained the Guyana Under-19 cricket team in the 1988 Northern Telecom Youth Tournament, a tournament with other under-19 teams from the West Indies. His first match as under-19 captain came against Trinidad and Tobago Under-19s, captained by Brian Lara.[1] Hafiz made his first-class debut later that year for Demerara in the final of the 1988/89 Guystac Trophy against Berbice, with the match ending in a draw.[2] His debut for Guyana against Barbados in that same seasons Red Stripe Cup. Struggling to find a regular starting place in what was a strong Guyana team of the 1980s and early 1990s,[1] he made four further first-class appearances for Guyana, the last of which came against the Leeward Islands.[2] In his five first-class matches for Guyana, he scored 40 runs at an average of 10.00, with a high score of 30.[3] He made two List A appearances for his home country, with both coming in the 1988/89 Geddes Grant Shield against the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands.[4]
He joined his parents and two older sisters in New York in 1992, prior to his departure he donated his cricket equipment to his local cricket club in Georgetown.[1] Following his relocation to the United States, Hafiz went on to play a single List A match for the United States national cricket team against the Leeward Islands when the United States were invited to take part in the 1998–99 Red Stripe Bowl.[4] In his only major appearance for the United States, he was absent hurt in their batting innings.[5] He also toured England with the United States team in 2000.[6]
Hafiz was killed in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. He had been working as a financial assistant for insurance company Marsh and McLennan, whose office was on the 94th floor of Tower One.[7] At the time of his death he was living at South Ozone Park, Queens. His name is one of the 2,983 names inscribed at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center site. His name can be found on Panel N-6 of the North Pool.[8] Hafez's remains have never been identified.
