Lahore Qalandars owe it to their talent-hunt programme

Abu Dhabi: Lahore Qalandars may not have made a significant impact in the Pakistan Super League in the last three seasons and finished at the bottom of the table, but their Players’ Development Programme is clearly yielding high dividends and proving to be a perfect supply chain for Pakistan national team.

With Aaqib Javed at the helm of affairs at the Lahore Qalandars, the team has gone to the remotest of places in Pakistan and tapped talent from the dusty terrains where most play cricket just as a pastime.

Lahore won their first major tournament in Abu Dhabi T20, beating the formidable South African side Multiply Titans and the cricketing world got an opportunity to unearth some serious talent.

 "I was playing tape ball cricket when Aaqib Sir pulled me out of it. I had never played hard ball cricket till then and here I’m. This is my first major tournament."

 — Haris Rauf | Lahore Qalandars

Keep a close watch on Harris Rauf; one should be hearing more of this lad in Pakistan cricket. The 24-year-old from Rawalpandi is in the same league as Shaheen Shah Afridi and has been tapped from wthe ilderness.

The Titans needed 19 in the last over and they had two of the best finishers of white ball cricket, Albie Morkel and Chris Morris at the crease but Rauf bowled some brilliant toe crushing yorkers and all that the duo managed was a mere four. Rauf even hurled deliveries at 148kph during that effort which coach Javed labelled as a ‘phenomenal achievement.’

“Had it not been for the Players Development Programme, I wouldn’t have seen this day,” said Rauf, trying to hide his tears of joy. “I was playing tape ball cricket when Aaqib Sir pulled me out of it. I had never played hard ball cricket till then and here I’m. This is my first major tournament and to do well against some of the best in the world feels so good,” said Rauf.

Pointing to the stands, Rauf said: “Those are my first few fans and I can’t believe it is happening. I have to click a few pictures with them. This is the first step towards realising my dream of playing for Pakistan.”

Javed asserted that he would make sure that Rauf reaches 160kph. “I’m telling you he will reach that mark. Shaheen and Rauf are the two bowlers we at Lahore Qalandars will be giving to the national team. This is what the management wanted us to do. Not win tournaments but to find players who can serve the nation. If not for the programme, this would have never happened.

Spinner Farzan Raja showed promise in his four wickets for 24 runs to see Qalandars into the finals while Mohammad Faizan was equally good with the willow with knock of 58 off 44 against Australia’s big bash side Hobart Hurricanes.

Skipper Sohail Akhtar also led from the front and followed up scores of 100 and 37 in the first two matches with another top score of 56 in the final.

“Harris is our latest find and he is an extraordinary talent and had not played any form of cricket till now. Huge switch from tape ball cricket and he has made it count. Shaheen is the future, we all know and he did what was expected of him.

“We needed effort from the young lot on the ground and that we got. Result didn’t matter but when you give full effort it automatically comes. These are platforms these boys want. I’m also happy that I also managed to contribute with the bat in all the games,” said Akhtar.

Sameen Rana, COO of the Lahore Qalanders said: “We have had a tremendous tournament, obviously culminating in the pinnacle of becoming the Abu Dhabi T20 champions. Tournaments like this open up huge opportunity for our up-and-coming young players. Our thanks to Abu Dhabi Cricket and Abu Dhabi Sports Council for making this tournament a reality.”