Do you remember Hasan Raza? Hasan is the Pakistani cricketer who rewrote history when he became the youngest cricketer in the world to play Test cricket. All of 14 years and 227 days, Hasan made his Test debut against Zimbabwe at Faisalabad in 1996.
Unfortunately, despite being talented, Hasan failed to live up to the expectations at the highest level of the game. Since making his debut, Hasan has featured in only 7 Tests and 16 ODIs for his country. He averages 26.11 in Tests and 18.61 in ODIs. Now, at 34, Hasan dreams of playing for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to re-launch his international career.
“I am just five months away from being allowed to play for the UAE national side, and I’ve been performing in UAE’s domestic circuit for the past three years,” he said to The Express Tribune. And he added, “I will be 35 by the time I make my debut for UAE as, according to ICC rules, an international player has to be a resident of a country for three-and-a-half years before he can switch allegiances, while it is four years for a first-class cricketer.”
Hasan however hasn’t quit Pakistan’s domestic level playing for PTV in grade two of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. But his focus is now on representing UAE. And he says he is in good nick. “I want to play as soon as possible for UAE since I am in good form these days. UAE has a lot of cricket — good grounds, good conditions and I enjoy playing for them. I have kept in touch with the UAE cricket management, and I will be able to play in April or May next year,” he added.
Hasan will have to bid adieu to Pakistan’s domestic cricket after his official debut for UAE. “I am currently playing for PTV and will continue to do so for as long as I can,” he said. Hasan in fact, has company in former Pakistani seamer Riaz Afridi who will be eligible to play for UAE in ten months from now.
Rana Navedul Hasan, the UAE bowling coach has been in touch with Hasan. “Rana has been in contact with me and he said the UAE need a batman like me; they still some good players but they still require a middle-order batsman,” said Hasan who played for UAE in an unofficial match against West Indies where he didn’t trouble the scorers.