What's new

Talent Spotter : Shahzaib Ahmed

S

Saj

PakPassion Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 1, 2001
Runs
96,141
The latest Talent Spotter entry on PakPassion speaks with highly rated leg spinner Shahzaib Ahmed who was recently awarded the best bowler of the tournament award after he topped the bowling charts in the Patrons Trophy Grade II tournament.

shahzaib_ahmad_2.jpg​

Full name : Shahzaib Ahmed Khan

Born : September 8, 1991, Karachi, Sind

Current age : 23 years

Major teams : Karachi Blues, Karachi Dolphins, Karachi Electric Supply Company, Karachi Whites, Karachi Zebras, Karachi Zone IV Under-19s, Pakistan Under-19s, Port Qasim Authority, Quetta Bears

Batting style : Right-hand bat

Bowling style : Legbreak


Getting Into Cricket

My father used to play cricket and he was the reason why I started playing cricket at the age of 14. I started from academy cricket and progressed from there. My father really wanted me to become a professional cricketer and thankfully I have fulfilled his dream.


Role Models

Imran Khan is my role model. I have seen a lot of videos of him and I was inspired by his attitude, the positivity and his fighting spirit. Other than that, Shahid Afridi is the one I am greatly inspired by. He is a leg spinner and a superstar of our country. I follow him and I aim to be his replacement in future.


Selection for Pakistan U19s

I was selected for the Pakistan U19s on the basis of my performance at the Karachi district level. I was the top wicket-taker and got 30 wickets in 6 matches. It was a national record and that performance of mine caught the eyes of the selectors and I was then named in the Pakistan U19s squad.


Performance at the U19 level

Alhamdulillah, last season I got 75 wickets in the regional U19 cricket circuit. For the Pakistan U19s, I have bowled at an average of 19 and have taken three 5-wicket hauls and two 4-wicket hauls.


Selection for Karachi Dolphins

I played senior district cricket in Karachi and was the second highest wicket taker. That's how I was selected for the Karachi Dolphins. Mashallah, last season I was the top spinner in the golden league, but unfortunately got injured during the season. I made a comeback and took a lot of wickets, so it was a very positive experience for me.


Performance for K-Electric

I topped the charts in the recently concluded Grade II Patrons Trophy and was declared the best bowler of the tournament. I enjoyed the standard of cricket there. There was very little difference in standard as compared to first-class cricket. Many first-class cricketers, who represent regions, were taking part in that tournament.


Experience at Port Qasim

I was selected for Port Qasim due to my performance in regional cricket. There is a lot of difference between regional cricket and departmental cricket. The competition in departmental cricket is quite tough. There are players waiting as backup and if you fail to perform, they take your place in the side. I have enjoyed my time at Port Qasim. Rashid Latif is a great coach and he is very supportive towards younger players. He points out mistakes in players individually and that gives you a lot to learn.


Views on lack of cricket in Pakistan

Unfortunately, there is very less cricket being played in Pakistan right now. Moreover, the crowd doesn't show up for matches, which doesn't help our players once they represent Pakistan internationally as the number of people there are huge and there is added pressure. When people are watching you, you are encouraged to do well and when matches are being telecast, players tend to do well to catch the eyes of people and make a name for themselves.


Focus on fitness and training

Yes, I pay special heed towards physical training off season. I don't take part in any foreign leagues and my only focus in on keeping myself fit and healthy. I stick to my routine, whether it's during the season or off season. Imran is my trainer here in Karachi and I do a lot of workouts with him throughout the season.


Future aspirations

I have been selected for the Pakistan 'A' team and my aim is to do well in the upcoming season, so I can get selected for the national team. The upcoming series against Sri Lanka will be very important and provided, I am among the top performers, there is a very good chance of my selection for Pakistan. As far as goals are concerned, every player has goals. I aimed to take 50 wickets last season, but unfortunately got injured and fell short of that target. Alhamdullilah though I made up a bit for that after I was the top wicket taker at the Grade II level.


Potential Pakistan call-up

I am expecting to make it to the national team this year and I am fully focused on achieving this aim. As I mentioned before, the upcoming 'A' series against Sri Lanka is very important and my selection depends on that. As soon as I get a chance, hopefully I will make the most of it. I am mentally and physically fit and I am sure I will perform if I am given a chance anytime soon.
 
Last edited:
Excellent prospect! Hope he does good things in SL tour.
 
Have seen him bowl. Looks a really good prospect.

Classical action and has good variations, including a good googly. Has a lot more upside than Yasir Shah, who is pretty ordinary.
 
Cannot have bowlers who cannot bat in modern cricket, our tail is already too long as it is ..
 
Mamoon said:
Have seen him bowl. Looks a really good prospect.

Classical action and has good variations, including a good googly. Has a lot more upside than Yasir Shah, who is pretty ordinary.
Click to expand...

what are you smoking these days? Yasir plays for national team yet no one knew this kid before this thread.
 
badsha001 said:
what are you smoking these days? Yasir plays for national team yet no one knew this kid before this thread.
Click to expand...

A lot of people know about Shahzaib. He's been playing domestic cricket for a few years now and also was top wicket taker in Grade II in the Patrons Trophy tournament.
 
Syed1 said:
Cannot have bowlers who cannot bat in modern cricket, our tail is already too long as it is ..
Click to expand...


He will be our next boom boom Afridi. He will hit sixes at will. While hit fours while drinking tea.
 
Saj said:
A lot of people know about Shahzaib. He's been playing domestic cricket for a few years now and also was top wicket taker in Grade II in the Patrons Trophy tournament.
Click to expand...

His action reminds me of Shane Warne and guys I am not comparing him to Shane Warne. I am just saying his action looks a lot similar to Shane Warne and I hope he possess the guile of Shane Warne.
 
badsha001 said:
what are you smoking these days? Yasir plays for national team yet no one knew this kid before this thread.
Click to expand...

Speak for yourself. Plenty of people have been advocating for him and Zafar Gohar to be in the team and have labeled them two of the finest prospects we have in the country.

If Shahzaib fulfills his potential, he'll be remembered as one of the finest spinners Pakistan has ever produced. He bowls well beyond his years and if people think that his stats are not "impressive" then they need to learn that leg-spinners mature much later than your regular bowlers. I actually believe he's already a better option than Yasir and the Zafar/Shahzaib combo has a lot more to offer Team Pakistan than Zulfi/Yasir.
 
Great player. Miles and miles ahead of Yasir Shah in LOI
Has a unplayable googly. Massively underrated
 
Googly looks good.

Pretty tall by Pakistani standards for a leg-spinner.
 
Good prospect

have followed him and regularly used to run through opposition batting lineups at junior and school level :danish
 
Good interview of a very good future prospect. I think we should try him soon.
 
Best of luck to him for the future.

Definitely a player to keep an eye on in future.
 
What happened to Shahzaib Ahmed, the leg spinner?

He was pretty good at under 19 level. And good in FC. But now seems to have vanished. Lower quality leg spinners are playing in PSL but he is not. Strange.
 
There was one more leg spinner who featured in Under19 world cup team which was heldd in UAE. Karamat Ali , what happened to him, the guy could spin the ball miles and his googly was top notch .. He was also a very handy batsmen.I have not heard of him ever since that world cup which Pakistan lost to South Africa.
 
shaaik said:
There was one more leg spinner who featured in Under19 world cup team which was heldd in UAE. Karamat Ali , what happened to him, the guy could spin the ball miles and his googly was top notch .. He was also a very handy batsmen.I have not heard of him ever since that world cup which Pakistan lost to South Africa.
Click to expand...
played few FC seasons but was ordinary.
 
DRsohail said:
played few FC seasons but was ordinary.
Click to expand...

This will always be the case if there is no robust Domestic system where fringe players can earn a decent living. For PAK players, it's about National team and may be another 30-35 fringe players - net, net 50 players who can focus entirely on cricket for 20 years. This base of 50 has to go to at least 250, so that there is a professional cricketer class - good number of 250-300 cricketers who earns their living entirely on cricket and pays Tax from that as well.

This has been a common problem in PAK - young players have to make it count between the age of 19-23, otherwise most of them moves for a 2nd career, therefore there are many many promising youngsters who have missed out either for not getting opportunity, or being ill treated or the entry being too competitive. Shahzaib actually was quite a promising potential, but Leggis take time to mature, therefore players like Shazaib, Karamat, Usman (Qadir) couldn't stick to cricket and develop their game, Usama is probably heading that way also, while Shadab & Ibtesham are lucky to crack the PSL code at right time. This is not only for Leg spinners, more of less example is applicable for any skills - Jamshed Ahmed, Adnan Raza, Rameez Aziz, Rameez Alam, Ziaul Haq .... comes to mind instantly, while Kamran Ghulam, Amad Butt, Md. Taha, Arshad Khan ..... even Saud Shakeel - these players might go to same route.

I am not saying that there is absolutely nothing in PAK or other Countries like BD, SRL, WIN, NZ (Top 4 has a by far better system, so not to mention them) has it perfectly, but after 65+ years of Test cricket, PAK should have a much better & robust Domestic structure, which looks after the next 200 cricketers (after top 50). It's not about what Kohli, Shakib or Babar is earning from domestic cricket, rather it's about what a regular player for Mumbai Ranji team or NBL QeA team or South Zone player in Bangladesh National League (Or Dhaka PL) earning from domestic cricket is more important - it keeps the fringe players pushing always the top few and keeps next generation esteemed to be a Pro cricketer.
 
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] personally i Rated him highly and just checked his list A record is decent was no mug with the bat as well but yes we have pathetic system of nurturing younger players and taking care of our players which should at least be 300 on PCB pay roll if not more.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Have been out of action for the past 4 years for no fault of my own, but it hasn’t stopped my will or determination<br><br>Still working hard and I’m confident I will represent Pakistan one day&#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816;&#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816; <a href="https://t.co/NJonhYhtqF">pic.twitter.com/NJonhYhtqF</a></p>— Shahzaib (@Shahzaib_77) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shahzaib_77/status/1226089821187252224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Last edited:
2nd best after zahid a little better than usama
 
Asked him what happened.

He says some issues regarding local selectors not liking him, so he was dropped and kicked out.
 
Last edited:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Working hard <a href="https://t.co/13iwgoRsij">pic.twitter.com/13iwgoRsij</a></p>— Shahzaib Ahmed (@Shahzaib_77) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shahzaib_77/status/1308120102144036864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
He played only 40 FC matches in last 13 years and zero in last 3.
serious questions are needed to be asked.
 
The most unlucky cricketer in Pakistan

Had more potential than any cricketer to be a top world level star

Much much better than Shadab

I went with him to bowl to the Pakistan test team in 2016 in the nets, seriously, he was unplayable. Got Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq out MULTIPLE times!

A brilliant bowler who was wasted

His career is finished now. No point talking about him.
 
Bullet Drive said:
The most unlucky cricketer in Pakistan

Had more potential than any cricketer to be a top world level star

Much much better than Shadab

I went with him to bowl to the Pakistan test team in 2016 in the nets, seriously, he was unplayable. Got Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq out MULTIPLE times!

A brilliant bowler who was wasted

His career is finished now. No point talking about him.
Click to expand...

The same Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq you don’t rate at all?
 
EqumtKQXYAE86Iu.jpg
Picture source is Twitter.

Its when he took 5 wickets against a touring team maybe West indies or Australia

Shahzaib Ahmed Khan was considered the best leggie in 2015 after world cup even selectors said he is better than Zulfiqar Babar and other spinners playing at that time but never got a chance to play
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Bullet Drive said:
The most unlucky cricketer in Pakistan

Had more potential than any cricketer to be a top world level star

Much much better than Shadab

I went with him to bowl to the Pakistan test team in 2016 in the nets, seriously, he was unplayable. Got Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq out MULTIPLE times!

A brilliant bowler who was wasted

His career is finished now. No point talking about him.
Click to expand...

What was the reason he didnt play ?
 
Bullet Drive said:
The most unlucky cricketer in Pakistan

Had more potential than any cricketer to be a top world level star

Much much better than Shadab

I went with him to bowl to the Pakistan test team in 2016 in the nets, seriously, he was unplayable. Got Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq out MULTIPLE times!

A brilliant bowler who was wasted

His career is finished now. No point talking about him.
Click to expand...

In U-19 also Usman qadir used to take his place ehen usman wasn't 1/1000 bowler he is today


And i believe there is still cricket left in him he is best Legspinner in tests in Pakistan even beeter than yasir

For limited overs Zahid is best spinner.
 
He is still posting videos of his bowling on Instagram, so not sure why he has not played for three years?
 
Pakpassion need to raise their voices and atleast get him in PSL
 
Mamoon said:
Have seen him bowl. Looks a really good prospect.

Classical action and has good variations, including a good googly. Has a lot more upside than Yasir Shah, who is pretty ordinary.
Click to expand...

If [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] had good words to say about him, you know he is pretty special.
 
MMHS said:
This will always be the case if there is no robust Domestic system where fringe players can earn a decent living. For PAK players, it's about National team and may be another 30-35 fringe players - net, net 50 players who can focus entirely on cricket for 20 years. This base of 50 has to go to at least 250, so that there is a professional cricketer class - good number of 250-300 cricketers who earns their living entirely on cricket and pays Tax from that as well.

This has been a common problem in PAK - young players have to make it count between the age of 19-23, otherwise most of them moves for a 2nd career, therefore there are many many promising youngsters who have missed out either for not getting opportunity, or being ill treated or the entry being too competitive. Shahzaib actually was quite a promising potential, but Leggis take time to mature, therefore players like Shazaib, Karamat, Usman (Qadir) couldn't stick to cricket and develop their game, Usama is probably heading that way also, while Shadab & Ibtesham are lucky to crack the PSL code at right time. This is not only for Leg spinners, more of less example is applicable for any skills - Jamshed Ahmed, Adnan Raza, Rameez Aziz, Rameez Alam, Ziaul Haq .... comes to mind instantly, while Kamran Ghulam, Amad Butt, Md. Taha, Arshad Khan ..... even Saud Shakeel - these players might go to same route.

I am not saying that there is absolutely nothing in PAK or other Countries like BD, SRL, WIN, NZ (Top 4 has a by far better system, so not to mention them) has it perfectly, but after 65+ years of Test cricket, PAK should have a much better & robust Domestic structure, which looks after the next 200 cricketers (after top 50). It's not about what Kohli, Shakib or Babar is earning from domestic cricket, rather it's about what a regular player for Mumbai Ranji team or NBL QeA team or South Zone player in Bangladesh National League (Or Dhaka PL) earning from domestic cricket is more important - it keeps the fringe players pushing always the top few and keeps next generation esteemed to be a Pro cricketer.
Click to expand...

Almost 5 years out of professional cricket, do you think he can still play? He's 29 'officially' is it still possible?
 
He was in Karachi Zone 4 in city cricket but wasn't picked in any squad and not even in 2nd xi very disappointing
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
[PICTURE/VIDEO] Talent spotter: Mohammad Shan
Replies
4
Views
130
Muhammad Saad
M
Ball Blazer
"My goal was always to deliver notable performances wherever I played, whether it was domestic cricket or county cricket": Imam-ul-Haq
Replies
4
Views
242
Cryin Out Loud
C
Ball Blazer
“Badtameez Aadmi Hai”: Irfan Pathan slams Shahid Afridi
2
Replies
119
Views
4K
Tera Gawaandi
Tera Gawaandi
M
Why our young talent is just not getting established at International level?
Replies
7
Views
341
stani_pak
stani_pak
The Bald Eagle
"I feel it's the best Pakistan T20 team we've ever had": Hassan Nawaz
Replies
16
Views
667
GoUgandaCranes
GoUgandaCranes
Back
Top