Young, Fast and Raring to go

Young, Fast and Raring to go    

Pakistan has always been a fast bowling factory and even at his stage this factory is not gonna end any time time soon. Following is a list of upcoming bowling talents who are coming up through the ranks who are serious contenders of International berth in the near and distant future. And it also includes a few slightly more older players who have had great recent form at the domestic level.

Junaid Khan is one of the young bowlers in the frame in Pakistan Cricket

Thanks to our columnist Sarmad Hussain for this column for our premature features page

Sadaf Hussain

Just the one season and this guy has set the stage on fire with 85 wickets at an average of 15.24, best of 11 for 104.  A nice measured run up and smooth action swinging the ball away prodigiously. At 21 he can only improve from here. This guy might be representing Rawalpindi in Q.A Trophy but it wont be long before he gets a Job from one of the Top Departments as you expect the leading wicket taker to attract departments.

Junaid Khan

Very Close to National Call up

Since making his first-class debut for Abbottabad in January 2007, Junaid Khan has scalped 29 wickets in his first six matches at an impressive average of 18.79. He took a match haul of 13 for 77 against Peshawar in November 2007, and even scored a 71 later against Rawalpindi. Junaid's favourite player is Imran Khan, and he hopes to emulate the famous allrounder's feats. He is also 21 but with more experience and pace than Sadaf and he was close to selection to Pak Tour of NewZealand. 

Mohammad Talha

I want to be a 145kp/h+ bowler. I dont want to get slower, I just want to get faster and faster. Such is the confidence and attitude of the Young Mohammad Talha, believed by many as the fastest bowler in domestic circuit with the likes of Wahab Riaz and Akhtar. His stats might not be as impressive as the others but stats at this early stage of the career can not put down the immense amount of talent which he showed in the  Plate Final of Hong Kong Super 6 2 seasons back where he kept the all stars XI including Sanath Jayasuria to just 8 runs and won the game for Pakistan.

Asad Ali

Another member of this list who got famous for his exploits in Hong Kong Super 6s. Though not as spectacular as Mohammad Talha, the 22 year old has already snatched near to 250 first class scalps at 22 apiece. He is also a very good limited overs bowler with ability to bowl the yorkers consistently and his economy rate of less than 7 in 15 t20 games certify this.

Rizwan Akbar

These Rawalpindi guys really know how to bowl fast and bowl well. Another Young Bowler with over 200 FC Wickets already and he is hungry for even more. He has a tendency for picking up 5 wicket hauls so one can say that when he is in rythm he cashes in BIG TIME.

Anwar Ali

Anwar Ali's magical 5 for Vs Ind

Clearly the most recognised and famous of all players in this list, Anwar is a fast bowler out of the typical Pakistani mould, capable of swinging the ball, both old and new, at decent pace. He gave the world a brief glimpse of his talents with a destructive display in the 2006 Under-19 World Cup final against India, in Colombo, when his 5 for 35 spearheaded Pakistan's 38-run win. Since then he has always been at the door step of a national call but has missed out due to immense competition. He has re modelled his bowling action and has performed consistently for the A Team as well as in Hong Kong Super 6s. He has added value with ability to smack a few into the stands as well.

Mohammad Rameez

Another product of the U19s, Rameez has all what it takes for him to emulate his idol Waqar Younus and at the age of 20 he has a very bright future ahead. He has a very good strike rate at the FC level and has played his cricket in Sharjah as well for local teams there. And no prizes for guessing that he hails from Rawalpindi.

Sarmad Anwar

The latest of the Under 19 products and besides being splendidly named SARMAD, this guy can bowl fast and make it swing too. Still early days for this fellow but if this start is any indication then bigger accolades are waitng for this chap and in the U19 world cup he showed that he knows how to perform at the big stage.

Uzair ul Haq

The record of Uzair wont speak much about his ability but those who have seen him rate him very highly. With a short and hopping type run up he bowls good line and length and his strike rate in limited over fixtures is 23 so it means he can be useful in limited overs matches.

Nasarullah Khan

Another left armer bowler hailing from the Capital Territory same as a Sadaf Hussain. He is probably the least known in the domestic circles but a block who has 108 wickets in 20 FC matches at 20 must be some one special so I have him in this list.

Some OLDER players have resurrected too in the last season

Abdul Rauf

A very consistent performer at the Domestic Level in all forms and has been given limited oppurtunity at the top level in difficult conditions. His best perfromace came against India in Asia Cup when he halted the Indian Express but dismissing Sehwag and bouncing out Raina. But everyone counted him out after an average showing in Australia but credit to him for bouncing back with over 60 wickets this season in Q.A Trophy and 2nd in leading wicket taker's list.

Mohammad Khalil 

Khalil, comeback on the cards?

Mohammad Khalil led the ZTBL attack this year bowling in tandem with his left hand compatriot Sohail Tanvir and bowled magnificently. He was the joint 3rd Highest Wicket taker in Q.A trophy with 3 6 wickets haul. He was also given a chance in the 05 tour of Australia where he did not perform upto the mark (as did Mohammad Asif) but now he seems more focused and consistent.

Aizaz Cheema

Aizaz Cheema has spent 10 years in the domestic circuit but he never managed to show those strong perfromances to match the others but with the advent of t20 he developed in a very clever and tricky bowler with a hell of a lot of variety. The perfromances in t20D helped Lahore Lions in winning their first T20D tournament and gave Cheema the momentum to go into the Q.A Trophy and perfrom exquisitely taking 57 wickets at an astonishing average of 14 in just 8 matches.

          

 The selectors might feel hesitant in selecting an above 30 bowler but I feel if one is in this kind of nick then it does not matter even if he is 50 years old  and he is a specialist for t20 so about time that we pick right bowlers for right formats and pick Cheema in comparison to a Tanvir Ahmad(whose t20 record is below par)

All these with the current lot playing worldcup and other players such as M Irfan, Y Arafat, R Naved, Rao Iftikhar, M Sami, T Ahmad, Shabbir Ahmad ENSURE that Pakistan's Fast bowling resources are plenty and extremely talented as well.

Sarmad Hussain  with help of his knowledge and Cricinfo.