This article is the one sent from PakPassion to cricinfo on the rise of Mohd Irfan and how PakPassion played a major role: http://www.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/430669.html

Pakistani cricket is characterised by flair, the unpredictable and the unconventional. The domestic infrastructure may be amongst the poorest and under resourced in world cricket, with scouting and selection being far from a meritocracy. However Pakistan remains a nation which has always excited and pushes the boundaries of conventional cricketing norms. From the likes of Qadir bringing back the art of leg spin, Saqlain bamboozling batsmen with his doosra to Pakistani pacers inventing and perfecting reverse swing, Miandad’s reverse sweep – just a few of the memories that Pakistan has brought to this wonderful game. However such is the predicament of Pakistani cricket and the way it is administered that one wonders how much talent may have been squandered through the years. Often for a player to make a mark, all that is required is some support and backing but perhaps most of all simply opportunity to orchestrate their talents on the pitch. An opportunity to make it from rags to riches.

On the other side, there are the fans that yearn for such mercurial and enigmatic talents to come and amaze them. On the backdrop of this desire began a miraculous story about cyber patronage, about both cricket loving fans and their hopes and prayers, taking a young man who had given up hope and lost interest in cricket to a contract with a first class team.

In March 2008, PakPassion.net a cricket forum website run solely by Pakistani cricket fans in their spare time, interviewed Multan’s assistant coach and Waqar Younis’ old bowling partner at Multan - Nadeem Iqbal. Iqbal a prodigiously fast bowler in his youth and one who can perhaps claim himself to be one of many lost to the Pakistani system, spoke of his cricket academy. He mentioned in passing of a 7 foot left arm fast bowler at his academy, Mohammad Irfan. The story immediately caught the attention of fans on the website and they immediately begun hypothesising as to his potential, as only ardent fans can. Imagine a 7 foot tall left arm bowler capable of touching 140 kph. A green shirted giant running in to bowl at the best batsmen in the world and landing the ball on a good length, terrifying the batsmen as it rises towards his helmet. Who wouldn’t be excited?
However an immediate dilemma arose which would curtail any such dream. Irfan was slowly becoming disillusioned with cricket, coming from a humble background and lacking the contacts required within Pakistani cricket hierarchy to force himself into a first class side. Thus in August that year, Irfan gave up on cricket to concentrate on full-time employment to provide for his family. Seemingly another player lost forever for non-cricketing matters. It could only happen in Pakistan.

Upon this news suggestions started flowing on the forums about how this Irfan could be saved from the cricketing wilderness. Donations and other options are suggested to keep him in the game. Through discussions and debate a lifeline is provided. Pakpassion through a lot of hard work are able to arrange an interview with ex-cricketer and National Cricket Academy (NCA) senior coach Aaqib Javed. During the interview, Irfan’s story is mentioned and after some convincing Aaqib agrees for Irfan to come down to the NCA to be assessed by him. In early 2009, Irfan comes to the academy and immediately makes an impression on Aaqib. Although Irfan doesn’t possess the pace yet, his height and bounce made him an exciting prospect for Aaqib, who subsequently tells him to pack his bags and start training at the NCA straight away.

Aquib's excitement was mirrored by fans on PakPassion. A photo of Aaqib Javed standing next to Mohammad Irfan and only shoulder length to him keeps the forum buzzing. His every progress is reported on the website and fans are constantly giving their well-wishes. It was not long before Irfan joins a local Lahore club playing alongside Abdul Razzak and Imran Nazir. Continuing to work hard at the academy and playing a few games for the NCA and his local club impressing many along the way, including figures of 4/45 against Pakistan A. First class team Khan Research Lab’s (KRL) opener Azhar Ali plays against Irfan and informs his team management to pursue this exciting young bowler.

The situation looked promising, PakPassion met KRL skipper and former Pakistan international Mohammad Wasim and mentioned Irfan to him. Wasim shows considerable interest and asks for Irfan to go to Rawalipndi for a trial with KRL. After bowling to Mohammad Wasim, the dream is finally realised when Irfan is awarded a one season contract with KRL. It’s the news that all of PakPassion has been waiting for. Irfan’s hard work has paid off, but more was required as now he was competing for a spot in a first class team which boasted the likes of Shoaib Akhtar, Yasir Arafat and Yasir Ali.

Irfan finally made his first class debut against PIA on October 10th 2009 (http://www.cricinfo.com/pakdomestic...ch/427813.html). Although he went wicketless on a dead pitch, he bowled with enough control for his 25 overs to only concede 79 runs. At the end of the game, Irfan told his fans on PakPassion that he was overjoyed with his performance and very optimistic about his future with KRL. Within one game, he began repaying the faith shown in him by picking up 9 wickets against Habib Bank Limited, claiming the wickets of current and former internationals such as Ahmed Shehzad, Imran Farhat, Saleem Elahi and Hasan Raza.

His old coach, Nadeem Iqbal who was interviewed after his debut game summed up Irfan. "I'm absolutely delighted for him. Irfan once he settles into first class cricket will show signs of maturity. His main aim should be to obviously take as many wickets as possible and to remember the advice that he has been given about bowling wicket to wicket and not to bowl too short. With his height, if he maintains a good length he will trouble a lot of batsman in Pakistan".

His fans will be hoping for plenty more success in the years to come and his meteoric rise to continue.