Speedy six-foot Abu Dhabi truck driver-cum-pacer impresses Pak coach Waqar

ABU DHABI - A 25-year-old truck driver in Abu Dhabi has impressed the Pakistan cricket team manager, Intikhab Alam, so much that he has invited the 25-year-old to the elite National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.

The talented six-feet-tall pacer, Abdul Haq, hails from the Mir Ali region in Pakistan’s tribal area of South Waziristan, and represents Abu Dhabi Gymkhana in the local league, the Daily Times reported.

Haq, who drives heavy-duty trucks for a construction company, impressed Pakistan coach Waqar Younis and assistant coach Aaqib Javed as well, during the net sessions with the Pakistan team before the second Test at the Shaikh Zayed Stadium.

“I am happy that I got the opportunity to bowl at Pakistan batsmen in the nets and clean bowled Misbahul Haq, Imran Farhat and Adnan Akmal,” he told reporters, and thanked Pakistan team officials for inviting him to the NCA.

The fast bowler has only been playing 50-over matches in the United Arab Emirates’ A-division league, and has not had a chance to play first-class level four-day matches.

“I had a great passion for the game and wanted to play at the top level. Who knows I may get a break for Pakistan,” he said.

Haq, who was one of the few local bowlers requested by Pakistan to bowl at their nets session, played domestic cricket in Pakistan at the Under-19 level before he was forced to move to the UAE because of poverty.

“I was playing cricket in Pakistan but was not making any money for my family. Now I earn about 100,000 rupees monthly here in UAE,” the bowler said.

Praising Haq for his express pace, Intikhab said that he could be ‘groomed’ if he got to train at the NCA.

“He showed a lot of pace and was very impressive. We would try to groom him,” The News quoted Intikhab, as saying. (ANI)