Arshad Ali has a voracious appetite for runs

Arshad Ali scores at least one century in every local tournament he plays. Such is his appetite for runs that he has been pocketing the best batsman award in almost every tournament.

In 1999, he bagged the Dubai Cricket Council's B division cricketer of the year award, and in 2000, he continued his scoring spree to win the A division cricketer of the year award.

With six consecutive centuries in A division this year, he is sure to corner the limelight in the Dubai Cricket Council's annual award function again.

Opening the innings for Expats Cricket Club, Ali has scored 1156 runs from just 13 matches, this year.

Having completed five years of residence in the UAE, he has also emerged as the best candidate for a place in the UAE team, to play in the International Cricket Council tournament in Canada.

"I love to open innings and make huge scores. So far I have scored 29 centuries in local cricket here," remarked the 23-year-old Ali proudly.

Born in Sialkot in Pakistan, Ali began playing the game from the age of 14. "I used to play for Pioneer Club. It was the team for which Test players Ijaz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik played. My brother Shafiq Ahmed, played first class cricket in Pakistan and it was he who taught me the basics of the game."

Ali reached Dubai when he was only 17 on a visit. "I played for a team in Sharjah, called Al Zayed Packaging cricket team, and scored 160 not out against the Exapts Cricket Club, in the Sony Jumbo Cup tournament. B.S. Shetty of Expats Cricket Club was very impressed with my knock. He got me a visa and offered me a job to play for his team."

Ever since he began opening for Expats, his team has got off to a rousing start. "My highest score has been 194 not out against Nava Lanka in 1998, but my best knock has been my 98 not out against Union National Bank in the day-night Ramadan cricket tournament," he recalled.
"I am proud of that knock, despite not being able to get the century, because it was my knock which helped my team win the match, in that 30-over match."

Ali is a team man and is an excellent fielder too. "I also bowl leg spinners, when required," he adds.

Ali works hard at the nets for atleast two hours every day. "Shetty has been providing me with all help to progress in the game and I practice at my club's net regularly."

Ali loves to bat on bouncy wickets. "I love bounce, and so the cement wickets here has not been a problem for me."

"I like to bat like my idol, Sachin Tendulkar. I always watch him closely whenever he bats," says Ali, who does not hesitate to have a go at the bowler, when needed.

Modelling his batting like Tendulkar, he has torn apart the best pacers in the UAE. This year he won the best batsman award in the Easy Line, NMC and Emirates Cup. Having compiled huge scores, he is also in line to bag the Bukhatir league best batsman award.

Ali now aims for more opportunities. "I will be delighted if I can get the exposure to play at a higher level and keep scoring at the same pace," he remarked.