Umar Waheed, 20, has been a consistent performer in various age group and domestic teams since 2010. He first drew attention towards himself in 2011 when he scored 211 runs in a U19 tournament in South Africa, involving the hosts, Pakistan and Zimbabwe, at an average of 52.75. He followed this performance by scoring 107 runs at 35.7 in three fifty over games against South Africa. The middle order batsman has once again impressed with his consistency in the ongoing season of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (Gold) where, representing National Bank of Pakistan, he has scored in excess of 300 runs so far in seven First-Class fixtures including 76 and 65 in the same match against the Karachi Dolphins.

In an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, the youngster discusses the gulf in quality between U19 and First-Class cricket, the experience of playing alongside established cricketers in the NBP side, the advice he has received from his NBP captain Kamran Akmal and the level of competition in the current season of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

By Farid Khan (23rd November, 2014)

PakPassion.Net : How do you view your performance in the current edition of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy? Are you satisfied with your batting?

Umar Waheed : My performance in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy so far has been a bit erratic. I admit I have not been as consistent as I would have liked to have been this season. So far, I have scored 321 runs in ten innings, with an average which is close to 36. Hopefully I’ll be able to register big scores in the matches to come and make up for the lapses of the past. In terms of satisfaction, all I can say is that I have been doing a decent job from the team's point of view. My seniors are backing me to convert my starts into three figures and Inshallah I hope to play a long innings or two in the next few games.


PakPassion.Net : We're seeing some low scores in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this season. Why do you think that is?

Umar Waheed : I feel that one reason is that the bowlers have been bowling well consistently and picking up wickets too. Having said that, I should add that the tracks being prepared this season seem to be more supportive for both bowlers and batsmen as compared to those from last season. This could explain why we have also seen some big scores this season.

Just recently, we scored a mammoth 542 against Lahore Lions. Later in the same match, Hammad Azam, who was outstanding with the ball, helped us restrict the Lions to 159 runs. So, it obviously depends on the quality of bowlers and how the batsmen tackle them. This pitch happened to be a good one and I hope to see pitches like this one in the upcoming matches this season.


PakPassion.Net : How big is the jump from U19 cricket to First-Class cricket in Pakistan?

Umar Waheed : There is a marked difference between U19 cricket and First-Class cricket because there are lots of big name players in First-Class cricket. At the U19 level, there are players of the same age group and experience level. In First-Class cricket, you also have to compete with national players so there is added pressure on you. One can, however, say that if you have played at the U19 level, you adjust well to First-Class cricket. I represented Pakistan U19 in twenty five matches and had an average of over 40. In First-Class Cricket, I currently have an average of 33.72 in 23 games which I'm satisfied with. Hopefully, I will be able to build on this performance in future.


PakPassion.Net : You are playing alongside some very experienced players at NBP which must be a great help for your development?

Umar Waheed : That is certainly the case. I have received a lot of help from my seniors. This could be one reason why I have performed better in this season compared to the last one. Kamran Akmal is our captain and he has helped me like an elder brother would. In addition, established players like Fawad Alam, Nasir Jamshed and Wahab Riaz have also supported me and helped in the development of my game.


PakPassion.Net : What's the best piece of advice you've received about your batting and who was it from?

Umar Waheed : My captain at NBP, Kamran Akmal, has always supported me and given me good advice. I have his backing and I respect him because he is the captain and is also like an elder brother to me. He has been taking me for net practice before the games which has been very helpful for me. His advice has been crucial to the development of certain areas of my cricket for example, there were balls which I would block but really should have scored on. On Kamran Akmal’s advice, I worked on shots to play against such deliveries and I can now score runs off them.

In addition, he has taught me how to play with patience and to spend as much time at the crease as I possibly can. I am following his advice and I now play the ball on its merit, and try not to play loose shots like I did before. I also try not to relax and lose concentration when I have scored around thirty runs which is important for playing long innings.


PakPassion.Net : Who is the best bowler you've faced so far in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this season?

Umar Waheed: At this stage in the competition, we have mostly played against the regions and I don’t think any bowler really stands out in terms of difficulty in facing his deliveries. In the near future, we will be playing against the departments where lot of international players will be playing. From Port Qasim Authority there are Mohammad Talha and Mohammad Sami, and, from Habib Bank, there is Ehsan Adil who is equally talented so I expect the challenge to be a lot tougher than it is now.


PakPassion.Net : Do you think that there is too much emphasis on T20 cricket among young batsmen in Pakistan?

Umar Waheed: Yes, that’s right. There is a craze for T20 cricket, not only in Pakistan but also in the world right now. The T20 fever is at its peak due to the number of high profile leagues around the world. There is no doubt that T20 cricket is entertaining, but the real test for a player can only be found in 4-day Cricket. It tests your temperament, your skill and your patience. We should focus more on our 4-day performances.

As for myself, I consider myself a suitable player for 4-day and One Day cricket because I have played more games in these formats than in the T20 format. In T20 Cricket I have played just 12 matches where I have performed fairly well, with a strike rate of 110. As you can see from my average in T20 which is close to 25, that I have tried to utilize every opportunity to play cricket and perform well, regardless of the format.


PakPassion.Net : A place in the Pakistan A side is probably the next big step in tour career. Do you feel you are any closer to selection for this squad?

Umar Waheed : To be honest, I don’t think I stand a chance of selection in the Pakistan A side with my current performance. That situation can, obviously, change if I am able to make a big score in the near future.

One has to remember that the PCB doesn’t select a player on the basis of one performance alone. They always aim to select players who are top performers over a period of time across different formats for their respective regions or their departments. When the time is right, the PCB gives its players an opportunity to play at the higher levels and to perform in line with their talent.


PakPassion.Net : We've seen ECB send some of their young players to play in Sri Lanka domestic cricket. Do you think the PCB should also send some of their young players to Australia or South Africa to play domestic cricket?

Umar Waheed : Yes, they should send players abroad. If there are no camps at the NCA or trials during the off-season, the players should be allowed and encouraged to take part in leagues abroad. As it is, our players do take part of their own accord in leagues in the UK or UAE when there is no domestic cricket in Pakistan.

However, the issue is that during our domestic season, the domestic season is also underway in most other cricket playing countries. Apart from the UK, all domestic seasons are in progress simultaneously so going abroad during our season is not alway practical.


PakPassion.Net : What has been the best moment of your short career so far?

Umar Waheed : Let me answer that by saying that in my view, the only type of cricket which carries weight is First-Class cricket. In that format, my top score of 183 has been the best innings of my career so far. It was a very memorable knock for me. I scored those runs against Abbottabad, playing for Rawalpindi last year. It is very special for me because it was my maiden First-Class hundred. I have had a few scores in the nineties after that innings and I also remember scoring 99 and 96. I have been dismissed a few times in the nineties too which is memorable, I suppose, for the wrong reasons.


PakPassion.Net : Your aims and targets for this season?

Umar Waheed : I aim to score three to four centuries this season and score 800 to 1000 runs. I am still hopeful as there are five to six matches remaining before the end of the season. I already have over 300 runs this season in 10 innings and still have a few matches in hand to achieve my aim.


PakPassion.Net : Do you dream of playing for Pakistan one day?

Umar Waheed : It’s a dream and a goal of every Pakistani to represent Pakistan one day. Inshallah, a time will come when the selectors will be compelled to select me on the basis of my performance on the domestic circuit. Like every other player, I dream of being handed a Test cap one day.     

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