Together they've scored 80 centuries in domestic cricket. Shafiq Ahmed and his younger brother Arshad Ali have been piling up runs at a tremendous pace. While Ahmed amassed 45 centuries in a span of 13 years, his brother accumulated 35 in just six years.
"I am proud of what my younger brother has achieved and want him to score many more centuries," remarked Ahmed, who guided Ali to cricket and taught him the basics of the game.
Ali has made his brother proud. He has not only represented the UAE in the ICC Trophy in Canada, but also scored a century in an international match.
He has repeatedly won awards for the best batsmen in domestic cricket, notable among them being the Dubai Cricket Council's junior cricketer as well as senior cricketer of the year awards.
Again, in the Abu Dhabi NMC tournament and in the Sharjah Ramadan cricket he emerged as the best batsman.
"I am very happy each time my brother bags an award. In the past there were no awards like the cricketer of the year. Today there is more recognition for good players and one could even get selected to play in international matches," said Ahmed, who in the 1992 Sony Cup hit over 150 runs each in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final.
In the Bukhatir league, Ahmed piled up 700 runs and hit 14 centuries in one season. In one of the Sharjah night cricket tournaments, he scored four consecutive half centuries.
Born in Sialkot, Ahmed reached Dubai when Arshad was only 10 years old. Before leaving Pakistan, he had played in first class cricket and represented the Pakistan South Zone team in a match against the Sri Lankan Under-22 team.
"I was inspired by my brother's knocks and like him went on to become an opening batsman," remarked Ali.
Whenever Ahmed used to go for holidays, he used to spend most of his time coaching his younger brother, and by the time Ali reached Dubai he had learnt most of the batting techniques.
"In the beginning he was very hasty to play his shots. I taught him how to control his shots and when to go for his shots. Today, he knows which ball deserves punishment and which one needs respect," said Ahmed, who coaches Ali at the DCC nets regularly.
Thirty-nine-year-old Ahmed plays cricket even now and cracked a 150 for Welfit Cricket Club recently.
"I go and watch every match that Ali plays whenever I do not have a match. It's a thrill when he scores a century, but I do remind him of all the mistakes he committed during the innings when he returns to the pavilion," says Ahmed, who dreams of Ali scoring a century in the next Asia Cup for UAE.
Shafiq shows the way for Arshad to glory
Together they've scored 80 centuries in domestic cricket. Shafiq Ahmed and his younger brother Arshad Ali have been piling up runs at a tremendous pace. While Ahmed amassed 45 centuries in a span of 13 years, his brother accumulated 35 in just six years.