Sadaf Hussain is another in the seemingly endless line of Pakistani left-arm pacers coming through in recent times. The 23-year-old has an excellent domestic record, taking 190 wickets at 18.13 in just 39 matches in First Class cricket, and 28 wickets at 23 in List A matches.

Sadaf's prolific form saw him selected for Pakistan's limited-overs series in the West Indies in 2011 despite having only made a handful of First Class appearances at the time. Although he ultimately didn't end up in the starting line-up, Sadaf stated working with coach and bowling legend Waqar Younis was beneficial and the results were fruitful. He returned to domestic cricket to record career-best match figures of 15 for 154, including 9 for 37 in an innings.

This season, the Chakwal-born fast bowler has made the switch from regional cricket for Rawalpindi to departmental team Khan Research Laboratories and immediately made an impact, picking up 5/36 in his first innings and eight wickets in the match, to help his side to victory. 

With the national selectors not shying away from selecting an all-left arm pace attack, Sadaf could well be the next pacer to debut for Pakistan.

PakPassion.net caught up with Sadaf to talk about his experience of playing for KRL, his thoughts on how his career has progressed and his aspirations to play for Pakistan.

by Farid Khan (23rd November 2013)

PakPassion.net: You are yet to receive an international cap despite performing well at domestic level, why do you think that is? 

Sadaf Hussain: As a cricketer, I have to accept that these things can happen. Every player wants to represent his country and I'm no different. From my side, I'm putting in every effort to perform well and God willing my name will be included one day. There is no bigger honour than wearing the cap of your country and I am doing my best to get a call-up to the national side. Almighty ALLAH has blessed me in the past and I am confident that with my determination, I will make it to the national team very soon. 

The fact is that I have been fairly consistent with my performances in domestic cricket and I average less than 19 with the ball after 38 First Class games, and under 24 in List A cricket. A player's job is to perform and the rest is up to the selectors. It’s their job and whichever player they feel they should select for a specific tour, they will select him. I feel I am performing well so it's up to the selectors as to when they decide to give me a chance.

In a way this is also sometimes down to luck as this can play an important part in your selection. A cricketer cannot be a consistent performer for too long. Someday, you have a great day, the other day don't perform so well and that's where luck plays a big role. The selectors do their job very well and know which player to play and when to play him. I am also hoping that I will get a chance to play for Pakistan due to my fortunes. 


PakPassion.net: You've moved to KRL this season, how has that been for you?

Sadaf Hussain: Alhamdullilah, I am doing really well there, even though there is high pressure on me to perform. As you know, I had played and performed well for Sui Gas and Rawalpindi before joining KRL. This obviously put pressure on me as everyone knows what I am capable of and there were a lot of expectations from me to do well with my new department as well. I am happy to say that it’s been a great experience so far and Inshallah, in future, I expect things to continue in the same way.


PakPassion.net: KRL has a number of quick bowlers, the competition must be intense to get in the starting line up?

Sadaf Hussain: Yes, there is a healthy competition for places in our team. I always believe the competition motivates you to do well. When I joined the team, Rahat Ali and Mohammad Irfan were on international duty so Yasir Arafat, Umaid Asif, Yasir Ali and I were part of the team at that point in time. I got the opportunity to prove my worth in the first two matches I have played this season and Alhamdullilah, I performed well in them and took eleven wickets. I hope I will continue to get such opportunities in the future to show my worth to the team. 


PakPassion.net: You mentioned Yasir Arafat who is a very experienced bowler. What have your learned from playing alongside him?

Sadaf Hussain: Definitely, Yasir Arafat has a lot of experience and knows a lot about swing bowling. I'm playing a lot alongside him so I'm gaining more and more experience. He also knows the art of bowling reverse swing with the old ball very well and that is one skill that can get you a lot of success. I am quite happy bowling with the new ball, but Yasir Arafat has given me tips on how to reverse the old ball and I feel it has really helped my bowling. 


PakPassion.net: Domestic cricket is poorly attended in Pakistan. Is it demoralising playing in front of empty stadium? 

Sadaf Hussain: Yes, that’s an unfortunate fact. People in Pakistan don’t turn up at all for domestic matches, but I feel they ought to come out and support their teams. This way newer players feel more passionate about the game as they can see themselves being appreciated by enthusiastic crowds. Its important that people should attend more domestic cricket. The PCB should also telecast the matches played at the bigger venues like the Gaddafi Stadium. In this way, people will show up and the newer players will get a reason to perform and catch the eyes of not only the selectors, but also the public. 


PakPassion.net: You're not an out and out quick bowler, but are very effective in Pakistani domestic cricket. What do you put that down to?

Sadaf Hussain: I rely more on my swing bowling and not my pace. I feel swing bowing is an essential tool for a pace bowler and one must have command over it. I always try to bowl in the right areas and the right lengths. Alhamdullilah, I have been very successful with that. I have over 200 wickets in first-class and List A games so my bowling is very effective. Although, I am not that quick, but I do touch the 135kph mark regularly. 


PakPassion.net: Do you think Pakistani bowlers are losing the art of reverse swing?

Sadaf Hussain: No, I don’t believe that Pakistani bowlers are losing the art of reverse swing. I have known several bowlers who could reverse swing the ball at will and even now, there are many bowling in our domestic cricket, who can make the ball reverse swing. Those bowlers in domestic cricket who have a bit of pace can reverse swing the ball quite easily. Reverse swing is natural to Pakistani bowlers, we have grown up with it and there is enough experience amongst us for this skill to be taught from generation to generation.


PakPassion.net: What are the coaching standards like in Pakistan domestic cricket? Do you get given nutritional advice as well?

Sadaf Hussain: I feel the standards of coaching in our domestic cricket are not as bad as one would assume, especially when you talk about department cricket. We have Ali Naqvi and Nadeem Abbasi amongst our coaching staff. Both of them are highly experienced and guide us really well. Even the coaches of other departments are fairly good and that’s one of the reasons the teams win matches. The job of a coach is to guide the players and provide them with the game plan, which could help them win a match. The rest is up to the players. They step on to the field and they have to implement the plans set up by the coaches. 

Regarding nutritional advice, it depends on the player and it varies from player to player. In department cricket, we are paid to play, so we buy our own food. During the matches, we get lunch and the breakfast in the hotel, but providing us dinner is not the job of the department. As players we know what to eat and what to avoid. 


PakPassion.net: What are your future plans and aspirations?

Sadaf Hussain: Whenever a domestic season starts, my aim is to give my 100% on the field and take as many wickets as possible to benefit the team. The main thing is to help your team win. I always try to take at least 6-7 wickets in every match and my target is to end the season as the top wicket-taker. The main goal is to make it to the national team and everybody dreams of it, so the competition is tough. I know I have it what it takes to play for Pakistan. I have been performing for the region and now, it’s my first season with KRL - I’ve had a great start. I have picked up 17 wickets in four matches in the President's Cup. There are still plenty of matches to go and I hope I can do well and get the attention of the selectors, if not this year, then the next year Inshallah.

  Discuss!