PakPassion.net present an exclusive interview with yet another exciting pace prospect for Pakistan who hopes 2012 will be a breakthrough year for him.

by Usama Ahmed (1st January 2012)

Having recently been on a terrific run of form, Tabish Khan continues to show promise as a pace bowler at the first class level. Tabish Khan plays for the Karachi Whites in Division 2 and has helped his team to third place in the points table.

Tabish Khan hails from the same city he plays for, which is Karachi. The 27 year old bowler is a player that can get the ball to nip around both ways, but prefers to remain reliant on his handy inswinger. A delivery with which he tends to pick up most of his wickets.

His last match for the Karachi Whites was one full of positives, similar to his entire season this year. He picked up 7 wickets in the match (3/29, 4/46) and helped his team to a 262 run victory. Tabish Khan continues to scale new heights as he becomes comfortable with his bowling.

Speaking to PakPassion.net, Khan spoke of his early days as a cricketer and his desire to move up the ranks and one day play for the Pakistan national team.R03;

"We simply used to play cricket at home and on the streets. As time went on, slowly I started to enjoy playing cricket, especially after watching the likes of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis on TV. This is where I slowly started getting into cricket."

Remarking on his progress from a keen enthusiast to a full out player, Tabish Khan was open to describing his journey.

"Actually, I started playing with some small local cricket clubs. They held some trials at the local clubs at the under 14-15 level about 4-5 years ago. I read about these trials in the newspaper and I decided to go and partake in these trials. At those trials, I did a little bit of bowling and got selected. There I got an idea that I could play cricket, I noticed I should start playing a little seriously."

"No one big spotted me, but I remember Iqbal Qasim being at the under 15 trials and selecting me.. At that time, I was in the same under 15 batch as Salman Butt, Najaf Shah, Khalid Latif and Khurram Manzoor. We all went into the under 17 as a group. I didn't actually play under 15 or under 17 cricket, I reached the final trials and than was not picked. However, I realized that if I could reach the final trials than I could play for Pakistan, as well."

Tabish cited one of his recent performances when asked for which one was most memorable.

"I'd have to say my most memorable performance would be my latest one in Karachi against Khan Research Labaratories. I took 14 wickets (7/38, 7/52) in the match. I thought I bowled very well in that match."

When asked to describe his bowling style, Tabish remained his candid self.

"Basically, for the past 3-4 years I haven't had the chance to test my speeds. There are no speed guns in domestic cricket so you never get to test your speed. However, a few years back they held a speed contest in which I participated through RBS. There I was recorded as bowling with speeds of around 140 KPH. At the moment, I don't know my speed, but I usually touch 130-135 with the occasional 140 KPH. My stock ball is the inswinger, it's the one with which I pick up most of my wickets."

When Asked about his favourite cricketers, Tabish Khan was slightly more conservative in his approach to answering the question.

"There are so many cricketers in Pakistan. My favourites were Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Asif Iqbal - I have been inspired by all. Pakistan is full of legends and legends and it's not fair to only select one specific player. Growing up, you tend to copy certain players like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar when he came into the side. As you copy each player, you slowly end up forming your own action. When you get into professional cricket, you realize that you can't play by copying the actions of others. It's better to pick certain points from their bowling and incorporate it in your bowling."

As with any cricketer, Tabish Khan also has a desire to play for the national team.

"You have to remember that you can't really play cricket without confidence. We'll see what happen in the future, if my name comes up I will certainly play with complete confidence. I had confidence in the past and I still have confidence, right now. Playing cricket without confidence is useless. If you look at my stats, I have already taken over 250 wickets in my career and I have seen people with only 100 wickets get selected. So, my performances have been good and hopefully I will see my name in the side team and in test cricket. I hope to make my debut this year. I am mentally preparing myself for everything and hopefully I will be mentally prepared. I am training and putting in the hard work, so I can reach that required level."

"I have had a chance to play with the Pakistan A team, three times. Unfortunately, I haven't had many chances, though. I came to Dubai to face England with Pakistan A. I made my T20 debut with the Pakistan A team, but I only played 1 T20 match and ended up sitting the entire series. After that, I headed over to Sri Lanka, where I got a chance in a 4 day match. It kept raining there, so I didn't get a chance there, either. All we did during that match was bowling as they didn't declare. There was also a tour to the West Indies, where I didn't get much of a chance as they sat me most of the tour. I only got one 50 over match on that tour and even that was ruined with rain. So, yes I did tour with them, but I didn't get much of a chance, I basically just sat and came back."

Tabish Khan refused to talk about being frustrated with his lack of playing time. He felt it was important to recognize what was the best for the team over selfish desires.

"No, I don't feel frustrated at all. You have to remember that other players are selected after performing, as well. The guys who had made the team had performed and made the team. There was nothing to be frustrated about. When I asked for reasons, people said they had got wickets in Division 1. You can't really argue with anyone on that fact. Everyone was selected on their performances, just like myself. The main part was that the team was winning, so it was best to stay quiet. There was no point in thinking about oneself when the team is winning, as that is all that matters."

When quizzed about the upcoming batting talent in Division 2, Tabish Khan was not as complimentary.

"To be really honest, when I used to play a few years back, there were some good batsmen. However, this time around, I haven't seen any real talented batsmen who has temperament. Sure, there might be some in division 2, but I haven't seen any outstanding player like there should be in domestic cricket."

Tabish was fine with proving himself at the division 2 level, when asked if he'd rather move to division 1 cricket.

"Well, this is the first time I am playing division 2 cricket. Before this, I used to always play division 1 cricket. Ever since I have made my debut in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy, all I have played is division 1 cricket. Most of the matches I played was against the department teams. This is the first time this has happened, otherwise I always used to play against the top region teams."

"Moin Khan was the captain when I made my debut in division 1. At that time, the Quaid-e-Azam trophy was split into two sections, one regions and the other departments. Players who were free from the department matches would go and join in to play the region matches. At that time, region matches were competitive, at times there were 9 test match players in one team. So, I have always played in such big matches. Big teams are those not with big players, but those that play against other big teams."

"This is the first time I have been sent into division 2 cricket. However, I said to myself that fine I have taken wickets in division 1 and now I will prove I can take wickets in division 2, just as well. I have done exactly that as I have performed in division 2 cricket."