Champions Trophy: UAE pacer troubles Virat Kohli and threatens to break Rohit Sharma’s foot

Dubai: For Awais Ahmed and Wasim Akram, it was a moment they had long dreamt of — charging in with the new ball, Rohit Sharma at one end, Virat Kohli at the other.

The two Pakistan-born pacers, who had struggled to break through in their homeland, moved to the UAE for a fresh start. Now, as net bowlers, they found themselves bowling to some of the world’s best, testing their skills against India’s top batters as the team prepared for the Champions Trophy.

Making the most of the moment

On a wicket offering some assistance, Awais, a left-arm pacer, and Akram, a right-armer, seized their chance. With the new ball in hand, they troubled Kohli and Rohit, extracting movement off the pitch and testing their defences. Every delivery was a learning experience, and every reaction from India’s batting stars was validation that they belonged at this level.

“Virat and Rohit bhai praised me after I bowled the same length that Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled to them,” Awais said. “Kohli was happy that I maintained the line and length. My stock delivery is inswingers, but I beat him with the outswinger and could get the new ball moving both ways.”

The 23-year-old, who plays for Seven Districts Club, previously featured for Lahore Sikandar in the Pakistan Super League before moving to the UAE 15 months ago. Rohit Sharma even praised the pacer in a video, joking that Awais was trying to break his foot.

Lessons from the Best

“A lot of people just want to meet him, but for me to get an opportunity to bowl to him, I am really lucky,” Awais said, reflecting on his session with the Indian team. He also soaked up advice from Mohammed Shami, who offered insights on bowling in T20 conditions.

“I’m happy that I got to learn a lot from Shami. He taught me how to bowl in UAE conditions,” Awais added. “He told me to stick to my natural bowling and gave me the confidence that I am doing everything perfectly.”

Akram, too, relished the experience, especially after managing to beat Kohli’s bat multiple times and inducing an edge.

“It was a great experience to bowl to Shubman Gill, Rohit, and Kohli,” said Akram, who hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and plays for Alif Pharma in the UAE domestic league. The right-armer bowled tirelessly for nearly two hours to the Indian stars.

A glimpse of the future

Both Awais and Akram agreed on one thing — Rishabh Pant was the toughest batter to bowl to.

Their time in the nets was more than just a one-off opportunity; it was a glimpse into what could be. With the UAE’s qualification pathway open to them, the duo hope to build on this experience and one day bowl on the international stage — not just in training, but in the heat of competition.