LONDON: Haider Ali made headlines over the course of the 2019-20 season on the back of his dazzling stroke play and impressive knocks across formats including the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2020.
Not surprisingly then Misbah-ul Haq, head coach and chief selector, shortlisted the 19-year-old batsman for the three T20Is against England.
“This is a dream come true for me,” said Haider about joining the senior team in a conversation with pcb.com.pk. “Every young cricketer wishes to be here. This is my first tour and though I have shared dressing room with established cricketers in the HBL PSL 2020, being in the Pakistan dressing room is altogether a difference experience.”
Younis Khan, Pakistan’s most prolific Test batsman who is in England with the team as the batting coach, praised Haider’s work ethic.
“Haider has that will and skill which turn a youngster into a good player. He has that spark and he is always eager to learn.
“I believe he is an upcoming star of Pakistan and he will perform whenever he gets a chance. He is strong and his fitness is improving day-by-day. He has a bright future and the ability to play all formats for Pakistan.”
Haider comes into the side after a prolific 2019-20 season in which he made 645 first-class runs at 49.62 and amassed 239 runs at a staggering strike rate of 158.27 in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 to finish as the joint second-highest run-getter for his team (Peshawar Zalmi) along with veteran Shoaib Malik.
His 14 sixes were the most by any Zalmi batsman in the fifth edition of the league, which was played in Pakistan.
“I did not get to bat much in matches during my club cricket days. I used to spend a lot of time in nets and focused on cover drives as it is my favourite shot,” he said. “That practice helped me improve this shot.”
“He plays well-calculated cover drives, quite like Babar Azam’s which are world renowned. I like his initial movement and the way he approaches the ball,” added Younis.
The right-handed top-order batsman scored his maiden first-class hundred against Balochistan in Rawalpindi in the fourth round and capped his first Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with a fighting second innings 203-ball 134 against a star-studded Central Punjab at Karachi’s National Stadium.
“I had no prior experience of four-day cricket but I got a lot of motivation from the coaches and senior players in the side,” he said.
