Karachi: Enthusiasm for Tabish Khan and Nouman Ali was not gone. And although the final 16-member Pakistan squad is yet to be announced, the two have said in a dream after joining the 20-man preliminary squad in the first Test against the South African team led by Quetin de Kock in the national. The stadium next Tuesday.
Speaking at a virtual media conference on Tuesday, Tabish, 36, who arrived on December 12, expressed years of frustration at the continued neglect by national selectors, who have been on a steady pace since the season in domestic cricket. Bowling and failing to perform the ideal season, while revealing that he was not expecting a call-up for the next series.
“It’s honest, but I had no idea there was a chance,” he said [of selection in the Pakistan squad]. In fact, when the team was being announced, I was busy with some work in my room when a friend told me that I had been added to the 20-member team, ”said Tabish, who was born in Karachi.
“I thought my friend must be joking, but at his insistence, I turned on the TV announcing the squad and had to wait a while for my name to be read for the last time. Only then did I realize that my friend was not joking. After that, I told my mother and family what had happened. But my mother, who was going out, kept saying: ‘Son, in the past, despite your excellent performances, you were constantly ignored. Someone is pulling your leg. ‘
However, when she returned soon after, she was thrilled to see the news on TV and immediately sat down on the mat, praying to God, like all the members of her family. Just can’t express the feeling I had at the time. But still I was very happy.
Tabish, who is just two embarrassed by the 600-wicket milestone at the first-class level, acknowledged the experience of playing cricket in Karachi for most of his 18-year career – he made his debut in 2002-03 and has so far Has played in 137 first-class games – will act as a confident booster if he plays in the first Test next Tuesday.
“Obviously, if you get used to the situation, it becomes relatively easier to absorb the pressure of Test cricket,” he said. So, I have an idea of how to handle the ball during the match. “If I get a chance to play in my own city, God willing, it will be a dream come true,” Tabish added. “But at the moment I like to be in a dream.”
Noman, who leads the North in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, said during his presidency that he would always like the moment when the team manager told him not to join the starting squad.
“It simply came to our notice then [Northern] The team manager came to me when I was busy in the practice session and said that I have been included in the Pakistan squad, and like Tabish it still feels like a dream, “said Noman, who was followed by 79 First. There are 285 wickets in class matches, first entered in January 2007.
In Sanghar district, known as the largest administrative unit in Pakistan, belonging to Khapro, Noman spent his early days there and started playing cricket at the school level until his father moved to Hyderabad.
Noman, whose uncle Rizwan Ahmed played ODI against Zimbabwe in Sheikhupura in February 2008, said: “I never gave up hope and continued to perform in the domestic tournament for Hyderabad, KRL. [Khan Research Laboratories] And now the north. The last two seasons have been fruitful for me [he was the highest wicket-taker in 2019-20 with 54 victims and second behind Sajid Khan’s 67 wickets with 61]”
Noman added that he sculpted legends like Wasim Akram and Brian Lara in the early days of his career.
“Since then, my role models have been big test spinners Daniel Vettori and Rangana Herath. [great Pakistan off-spinner] Saqlain Mushtaq. I admire his work ethic and the way he performs in international cricket.
“And if I am lucky enough to play Test cricket, it will be a huge boost for cricketers in Sindh and will encourage youngsters from other remote areas to play the game.”