FATA’s Umer Khan aims to deflate batsmen in HBL PSL 4

LAHORE, Feb 15 (APP):Umer Khan’s father repairs punctures on vehicles and inflates them, and Umer targets deflating a batsman with his swift and cunning left-arm spin.
A hard working father who could not afford money and lacked opportunities in his native FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Areas, bordering Afghanistan) had never deflated Umer’s passion
of making it big in cricket, said the information made available here on Friday by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Nadeem Khan, a former Pakistan Test spinner and now Multan
Sultans’ manager, brought Umer to United Bank and groomed him
without making it public. It was on Nadeem’s advice that Umer
was given a chance for Pakistan U-19 in the Junior Asia Cup in
Sri Lanka in 2016. Umer took two wickets in one match but never
got another chance at the junior level.
“My friends spotted him while he was playing with some kids
outside Peshawar cricket stadium. They were impressed with his
action. I recruited him in the UBL and we silently groomed
him,” said Nadeem, who later recommended Umer to Sui Southern
Gas Company (SSGC).
Umer made an instant impression, taking one for 70 and six
for 37 on his first-class debut for SSGC against Peshawar.
“I am from FATA and I started cricket when I was in class
five. There were very few opportunities as FATA did not have
much facilities and my family was not well off; but it did
not deter me as I always wanted to be big in cricket,” said Umer.
Hard work paid off, as Umer would work tirelessly in the
nets to get maturity in bowling. He would use abandoned tyres
as stumps and bowl for hours.
“I played for FATA and played U-19 for Pakistan. I live
in Taxila and work hard on my cricket. I took six wickets in
an innings on my first-class debut where Kabir Khan watched
me and told Karachi Kings about me,” said Umer.
Umer was impressive in the warm-up match against Peshawar
Zalmi at ICC academy in Dubai on Tuesday, bowling to players
like Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sohaib Maqsood and Dawid
Malan.
“I was feeling well and excited that I am bowling to some
great players like Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq and Dawid Malan,
and when I did well all Karachi Kings staff and players praised
me. It made my heart big.”
Umer feels more and more players from poor backgrounds
in FATA will come to cricket as peace has returned to
the region.
“It’s exciting that peace is returning to FATA. Some of
our players go to Peshawar and play cricket there. We have
two grounds, one in Bajaur Agency and the other one in Khyber
Agency. We have our U-19 district there. Now, its good and some
players are coming,” added Umer.
Sri Lanka great Rangana Herath is Umer’s ideal and he
wants to make as big as the Sri Lanka master did.
“Herath was a world-class bowler,” accepts Umer. “He is
my role model and I want to achieve as much as he did.”
In the Karachi Kings’ camp, skipper Imad Wasim, head
coach Mickey Arthur and president Wasim Akram are big motivation
for young Umer.
“Maddy Bhai (Imad) tells me a lot of things on how to bowl
to such and such batsmen. He told me that I need variation
in Twenty20 cricket and that I am learning,” said Umer.
“Wasim Akram and Mickey Arthur gave me confidence, they
keep telling me and giving me encouragement that I can be
a big player.”
Umer has the talent to go places and the PSL has provided p
him with that launchpad.