[VIDEOS] Talent Spotter : Haseebullah Khan

[MenInG]

A profile of Pishin-born wicket-keeper batsman, Haseebullah Khan, who has performed well at the regional Under-19 level and has aspirations to represent Quetta Gladiators in the future and play Tests for Pakistan.

Full Name: Haseebullah Khan

Date of Birth: 20, March 2003, Pishin

Major teams: Pakistan Under-16s, Quetta Under-16s, Balochistan Under-19s, Balochistan Under-16s

Batting style: Left-handed

Fielding position: Wicket-keeper



Interest in cricket:

Cricket was a very important part of my family life whilst growing up as both my father Azizullah Khan (17 First-class games) and my uncle Hameedullah Khan (21 First-class games) were accomplished cricketers so there was plenty of inspiration for me to follow the same route in sports. In addition, my younger brother Abdul Saboor is also doing well for Balochistan Under-16s. So, of course, watching my father and uncle play cricket at the First-class level really filled me with the hope that even I will be able to attain their stature one day and so all my thoughts were directed towards cricket. Regardless of my passion for cricket, I am proud to say that I have completed my studies up to the FSc level and hope to complete a degree in English, time permitting.


Pride associated with being a Balochistan cricketer

It has been tough for me to develop as a cricketer as historically there has been a lack of training facilities in Pishin but that is in the past now. Beforehand, people in my area would look at me quizzically for taking up cricket as a career but now after I have played for Pakistan Under-16s, a lot of people come up to me and congratulate me and have been inspired by my success and they all want to play cricket.


Starting hard-ball cricket with Quetta Under-16s

My introduction to hard-ball cricket was not through any normal route of a cricket club or academy, especially as we have very few such facilities in our area. I was fortunate to have my father as my coach and mentor who taught me the basics of the game and that lead me to appear at the Quetta region Under-13 trials in 2015 where I was declared over-age which was a little disappointing. I then continued working hard with my father in the nets and without playing any proper cricket in the interim, appeared for Quetta region Under-16 trials as a wicket-keeper batsman which was mainly due to my uncle Hameedullah Khan’s influence who himself was a ‘keeper. You have to remember, at this point I hardly knew how to put on my wicket-keeping equipment so appearing for trials was a huge jump for me and for that I can only thank my father. Playing in my first season at the Under-16 level in the PCB-PEPSI Stars U-16 One-Day Tournament 2017/18, I had a rather disappointing 128 runs to my name in 6 innings. My next season in the same tournament was much better as I hit 250 runs in 5 innings, with 109 as my highest score. This put me as the 3rd highest run-getter in that tournament which was great for my confidence.


Representing Pakistan at the Under-16 level

I was first selected for the Pakistan Under-16s for the tour of UAE to play Australia in 2018/2019 but it wasn’t a memorable one for me as I made quite a few mistakes and gave my wicket away after having settled down. The next Pakistan Under-16 assignment for me which was the tour of Bangladesh proved to be much better as I was the 2nd highest run-getter in the One-Day matches where I scored 154 runs in 2 matches, with a highest score of 129 to my name.


Excelling at Under-19 cricket

As a member of the Balochistan Under-19 squad, I took part in the National Under-19 One-Day Tournament 2019/20 and scored 113 runs in 4 innings and in the next season of the same tournament, I scored 209 runs in 10 games. My wish was to play for the Pakistan Under-19s but our tour to Bangladesh was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, but I am still hopeful of representing my country at the Under-19 level in the Asia Cup or the World Cup. I have recently taken part in the 8-week high-performance camp for Under-19 players which was conducted by Ijaz Ahmed which should provide me the right preparations for the season ahead and possibly a place in the 2022 Men's Under-19 World Cup squad for Pakistan.


My father is my only Role Model

I know that in his playing days, my father always dreamt of playing cricket for Pakistan. Whilst he was not able to fulfil his own aspirations, he made sure that he has done what he can for me to prepare for a possible future role in the Pakistan side. He always tells me to not waste time and work on my game for which he is always available to help me. For the guidance and inspiration, he has provided me all my life, my father is my role model. Amongst the players I admire, Fakhar Zaman is one whose batting style is really good and in terms of inspiration I also look up to Ijaz Ahmed especially when I see how after serving Pakistan in his playing days, he is now working hard with the youngsters to make them good players as well.


Dream to play for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL)

Like any other young cricketer at my level, I would also like to play in the PSL and to play for Quetta Gladiators would be a dream come true for me.


Aspire to play Test matches for Pakistan

I am hoping to become part of the Pakistan Under-19 side and perform well in it. If that happens then doors for selection for the national side will open. Whilst I would love to play in any format for my country, I have always been a fan of Test matches and wish to play Test cricket for Pakistan in the future.

[Last Monetarist]

Well it's heartening to see a young cricketer from Balochistan aspiring to play test cricket for Pakistan. I'd rather hear that than a player talking about white ball rubbish.

Long way to go and it'll be a tall order, but the praise for Ijaz Ahmed in one of his responses suggests that he knows buttering the right people would definitely help.

[MenInG]

Well it's heartening to see a young cricketer from Balochistan aspiring to play test cricket for Pakistan. I'd rather hear that than a player talking about white ball rubbish.

Long way to go and it'll be a tall order, but the praise for Ijaz Ahmed in one of his responses suggests that he knows buttering the right people would definitely help.

I think the main thing to watch for with such budding cricketers are their aspirations - and I liked what he said about his interest in Tests.

[Bewal Express]

Balochistan is untapped gold mine in every sense. Build lots of grounds and organise lots of tournaments and the talent will take care of the rest

[b.lesner]

A top 3 of Wahid Bangulzai, Haseebullah and Abdul Hanan seems to be good for future of Balochistan and Pakistan cricket

[Saj]

Good luck for the future.

Heard good things about him.

Investment in Balochistan cricket could really reward Pakistan cricket.

[MenInG]

Haseebullah was Balochistan’s top scorer with 68:

Pool A

Balochistan (W) v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (W) at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot

Balochistan Whites 224 all out, 79.4 overs (Haseebullah 68, Mohamamd Uzair 42, Qudratullah 36, Duniya Khan 34; Mohammad Umar 5-32, Ayaz Khan 3-27)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Whites 6-0, 2 overs

[Last Monetarist]

Haseebullah 8th on the list of top scorers in the u19 championship:

[MenInG]

In a Pool A fixture being played at the Jinnah Stadium Sialkot, Northern U19 Whites recorded a comfortable 10-wicket win over Balochistan U19 Whites. On the third-day Northern U19 Whites chased down the 23-run target without losing a wicket after Balochistan U19 Whites were rolled over for 129 in their second innings.

Skipper Haseebullah (55) was the only one to offer some resistance as he scored a half-century. Left-arm-pacer Jahandad Khan starred for Northern in the second innings with a five-wicket haul while Usman Khan took three wickets.

Northern U19 Whites beat Balochistan U19 Whites by 10 wickets: Balochistan U19 Whites 138 all out, 53.2 overs (Mohammad Muddasir 31, Mohammad Nasir 24; Hasnain Sabir 4-28, Shan Khan 2-3, Jahandad Khan 2-41) and 129 all out, 54.1 overs (Haseebullah 55, Qudratullah 26; Jahandad Khan 5-26, Usman Khan 3-67. Northern U19 Whites 248 all out, 74.4 overs (Syed Hashim Mir 83, Suleman Asif 57, Abu Huraira 4-61, Hikmatullah 3-39) and 23 for no loss 3.4 overs

Now 6th in batting

[b.lesner]

Haseebullah 116 and his team all out for 223 and other team is 225/7 , looks like he scored a ton on tricky pitch.

[Giannis]

Well it's heartening to see a young cricketer from Balochistan aspiring to play test cricket for Pakistan. I'd rather hear that than a player talking about white ball rubbish.

Long way to go and it'll be a tall order, but the praise for Ijaz Ahmed in one of his responses suggests that he knows buttering the right people would definitely help.

Balochistan is untapped gold mine in every sense. Build lots of grounds and organise lots of tournaments and the talent will take care of the rest

A top 3 of Wahid Bangulzai, Haseebullah and Abdul Hanan seems to be good for future of Balochistan and Pakistan cricket

Well he's from the Pashtun belt so it's no surprise that he would make the team eventually, we need more players from southern Balochistan where the ethnic Baloch populace is - Bangulzai is one but I'd like to see more take an interest in cricket.

[MenInG]

Haseebullah 116 and his team all out for 223 and other team is 225/7 , looks like he scored a ton on tricky pitch.

This is the video highlights of his innings

[Last Monetarist]

He seems to have a very compact technique and able to adjust to the line of the ball quickly.

I'd be interested to see how he plays fast bowling as there were a few false strokes against the seamers in that video.

[MenInG]

On the first day of the Pool A fixture between Balochistan U19 Whites and Central Punjab U19 at the Sports Stadium in Sargodha, Balochistan were bowled out for 294 in 80 overs. Haseebullah top-scored with 133, hitting 12 fours and two sixes. Duniya Khan scored 65 off 76, hitting three fours and five sixes.

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Selected for the ICC U-19 WC.
Good to see a player from Balochistan getting a chance, deservedly so.
Looks compact and has a good technique, he will only get better with time.

[shamaan]

Well deserved good player of the short ball.

[MenInG]

Decent performance by Haseebullah today against the UAE U19s, scoring 39 off 48 balls

[Saj]

Disappointing performance at the ACC U19 Asia Cup tournament.

11 3 39 0

[MenInG]

Haseebullah Khan - Pakistan's current Under 19 wicket-keeper #Cricket pic.twitter.com/UxX4jqofQL

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) January 5, 2022

[Saj]

Heard that he's a pretty tidy wicket-keeper and the clips show that.

Lets see how he does at the upcoming U19 World Cup.

[Omer2002]

Had an awful Asia cup lets hope he does better in world cup

[Bewal Express]

Haseebullah Khan - Pakistan's current Under 19 wicket-keeper #Cricket pic.twitter.com/UxX4jqofQL

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) January 5, 2022

What's this game

[MenInG]

Video profile of Haseebullah

[Last Monetarist]

83 not out against Zimbabwe at the moment.

[Last Monetarist]

He's reached his century now, 100 from 134 balls.

[MenInG]

He's reached his century now, 100 from 134 balls.

Brilliant hundred moment for Haseeb

[Last Monetarist]

Dismissed for 135 from 155 balls.

[MenInG]

Superstar in the making ��

What a spectacular performance from Haseebullah Khan!#PAKvZIM | #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/O9cGWtWoVi

— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) January 17, 2022

[Last Monetarist]

[moghul]

I watched his inning, very impressive , particularly the way he steadied the inning after two early wickets . Another WK-batsman for the future.

[shamaan]

He did well in steadying the ship however he must improve his strike rate in the early stages of his innings.

[MenInG]

Disappointing for Haseebullah vs Afg

[MenInG]

Out for 79 (107) vs Bangladesh U19s

[MenInG]

[MenInG]

[MenInG]

Graeme Swann "Haseebullah Khan is equally good against seam and spin. He looks like a true left-handed opening batter and a really good player" #U19CWC #Cricket pic.twitter.com/ARdMJqVB03

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) February 3, 2022

[MenInG]

Great future ahead for Haseebullah

[shamaan]

When scoring a 100 your strike rate should be close to run a ball.However it's good that he can bat long and should target a position in a domestic squad.

[Angrez Pakistani]

Hope he gets a full season in QAE trophy next season for Balochistan. I remember Balochistan struggling to find a single regular wk in one of the games they played against Northern this past QAE season.

[RedwoodOriginal]

Some players you watch at these U-19 World Cups, and you just know they are going to be stars for their country one day.

Got that feeling with Kohli, Southee, Rabada, Markram, Shaheen and Gill in the past. And definitely got that feeling watching Haseebullah bat at this World Cup.

Could be the first major cricketer from Balochistan which would be great for encouraging youngsters from that province. A kid with his talent should be playing QEA Trophy cricket ASAP and I think QG would be really stupid if they miss out on selecting him at the PSL Draft next season.

[RedwoodOriginal]

Some players you watch at these U-19 World Cups, and you just know they are going to be stars for their country one day.

Got that feeling with Kohli, Southee, Rabada, Markram, Shaheen and Gill in the past. And definitely got that feeling watching Haseebullah bat at this World Cup.

Could be the first major cricketer from Balochistan which would be great for encouraging youngsters from that province. A kid with his talent should be playing as much QEA Trophy cricket as possible and I think QG would be really stupid if they miss out on selecting him at the PSL Draft next season.

[finalfantasy7]

Some players you watch at these U-19 World Cups, and you just know they are going to be stars for their country one day.

Got that feeling with Kohli, Southee, Rabada, Markram, Shaheen and Gill in the past. And definitely got that feeling watching Haseebullah bat at this World Cup.

Could be the first major cricketer from Balochistan which would be great for encouraging youngsters from that province. A kid with his talent should be playing as much QEA Trophy cricket as possible and I think QG would be really stupid if they miss out on selecting him at the PSL Draft next season.

made some big scores, plays a sweep against spinners beautifully - but he struggles to rotate strike and his strike rate in the wo1rld cup for most of the innings is between 55%-75% - he goes for it too late on.
Hop he works on it and he improves - all the best to him

[krazystrong]

made some big scores, plays a sweep against spinners beautifully - but he struggles to rotate strike and his strike rate in the wo1rld cup for most of the innings is between 55%-75% - he goes for it too late on.
Hop he works on it and he improves - all the best to him

When scoring a 100 your strike rate should be close to run a ball.However it's good that he can bat long and should target a position in a domestic squad.

It's U19 cricket, can't judge it like international cricket. These guys are young, not even close to finished products.

[RedwoodOriginal]

made some big scores, plays a sweep against spinners beautifully - but he struggles to rotate strike and his strike rate in the wo1rld cup for most of the innings is between 55%-75% - he goes for it too late on.
Hop he works on it and he improves - all the best to him

Agreed. But looking at his technique and the way he bats, it feels like he gets alot of the basics of batting right which is important for a young batsman. Some T20 exposure could be good in regard to rectifying this issue. As would working with his favorite player Mohammad Yousuf at the NHPC.

[RedwoodOriginal]

The fact that he is a wicketkeeper also makes me hopeful that we might finally have atleast a half-way competent understudy for Rizwan.

[shamaan]

It's U19 cricket, can't judge it like international cricket. These guys are young, not even close to finished products.

Am not judging it like international cricket am judging It based upon u19s cricket .

[shamaan]

The fact that he is a wicketkeeper also makes me hopeful that we might finally have atleast a half-way competent understudy for Rizwan.

Hopefully he is plays domestic cricket for bolochistan who are in need of a keeper.

[krazystrong]

Am not judging it like international cricket am judging It based upon u19s cricket .

The standards can't be the same. Run rates and strike rates are always lower in lower level cricket.

[finalfantasy7]

It's U19 cricket, can't judge it like international cricket. These guys are young, not even close to finished products.

we know that, but if you compare him with the the u19s off india, aussie,india - they generally played thr innings at 70% and upwards, throughout thr whole innings.

i do still believe our youngsters are still being taught the outdated process in batting, thr too slow in the first 15overs - bar against sri lanka.

just mohammed shehzad bats the way a opener should

[finalfantasy7]

Agreed. But looking at his technique and the way he bats, it feels like he gets alot of the basics of batting right which is important for a young batsman. Some T20 exposure could be good in regard to rectifying this issue. As would working with his favorite player Mohammad Yousuf at the NHPC.

thats good to hear, im hearing good things about moyo coaching

[finalfantasy7]

The fact that he is a wicketkeeper also makes me hopeful that we might finally have atleast a half-way competent understudy for Rizwan.

indeed, his wicket keeping was very good

[Rana]

He is poor and useless against quality pace bowling. Decent keeper.

The kind of guy who will pile runs against poor bowling but will go missing against proper bowlers

[finalfantasy7]

He is poor and useless against quality pace bowling. Decent keeper.

The kind of guy who will pile runs against poor bowling but will go missing against proper bowlers

so who did he struggle against?

[shamaan]

The standards can't be the same. Run rates and strike rates are always lower in lower level cricket.

Am comparing it to the strike rates and averages of other players who played in this u19s tournament.

[RedwoodOriginal]

thats good to hear, im hearing good things about moyo coaching

Yes apparently helped Faheem Ashraf alot, according to Faheem's own admission.

[RedwoodOriginal]

Hopefully he is plays domestic cricket for bolochistan who are in need of a keeper.

He has played a few QeA Trophy matches. Not sure if they were for Second XI or first.

Balochistan have been backing Bismillah Khan for quite some time but he hasn't really made a mark in any sort of meaningful way.

[RedwoodOriginal]

He is poor and useless against quality pace bowling. Decent keeper.

The kind of guy who will pile runs against poor bowling but will go missing against proper bowlers

He's an U-19 cricketer, how did you judge him to be "poor and useless against quality pace bowling" when he hasn't even played professional cricket yet?

[anonymous_guy]

Hope he gets a full season in QAE trophy next season for Balochistan. I remember Balochistan struggling to find a single regular wk in one of the games they played against Northern this past QAE season.

Definitely remember that game and it was hilariously embarrassing!

Bismillah Khan was injured, so he was not a part of playing XI. Umar Akmal was assigned to be the wicketkeeper, he got injured then Azeem Ghumman kept wicket, he got injured and then someone else kept he got injured.

In the end Jalat khan who is a left arm spinner was asked to keep wickest as a substitute. Pure comedy and completely lack of planning from the Balochistan management for that game.

Now with Bismillah, Bangalzai, Haseebullah and Akhtar Shah Balochistan can work on developing a good solid core of local players and along with players from other regions they can be a good team.

If I remember correctly last year Umar Gul had applied for a coaching role in the Balochistan fc team but Faisal Iqbal was preferred over him. After Faisal's shenanigans Umar Gul should be made a part of their management and he can be good mentor for these new Baloch kids.

[Rana]

so who did he struggle against?

I saw what I needed to see against Afghanistan and Australia.

He is a minnow basher

[finalfantasy7]

I saw what I needed to see against Afghanistan and Australia.

He is a minnow basher

well the australian attack is very good and so is the afghani attack.

but you cant mention any names?

[Saj]

He's been named in the ICC U19 World Cup team of the tournament:

Haseebullah Khan from Pakistan is named as one of the openers after scoring 380 runs across the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, his high score of 136 one of two centuries he made in the tournament, Brevis was the only other batter to make two centuries.

Haseebullah is also selected as the wicketkeeper having taken eight catches and two stumpings, the fourth best return of the competition.

[MenInG]

Haseebullah stars with 142 (134) for Balochistan against Southern Punjab

[silentkiller187]

Lahore, 10 March 2022: Centuries from Haseebullah and Asad Shafiq led Balochistan to a 105-run win over Southern Punjab in the fifth round match of the Pakistan Cup at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. In other matches, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won their matches against Central Punjab and Northern, respectively.

After being put into bat, Balochistan scored 320 for four in 50 overs. Opening batter Haseebullah top-scored with a 134-ball 142, hitting 20 fours and one six. The left-handed batter added 182 runs for the third wicket with Asad Shafiq, who returned undefeated on 101. The right-handed Asad innings included 15 fours and one six that came off 78 balls

[shamaan]

Good to see the youngster take his opportunity and going above run a ball.He has improved bolochistan considerably.

[ElRaja]

will get a good long run given in first class given the lack of local talent in balochistan xi, could really work in hsi favour.

[shamaan]

will get a good long run given in first class given the lack of local talent in balochistan xi, could really work in hsi favour.

I generally think he can be second keeper for Pakistan only in tests thou the only one who can give him competition is Rohail.

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Pakistan Cup 2022:

At the Multan Cricket Stadium, Haseebullah’s unbeaten century led Balochistan to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Southern Punjab. Chasing 192 to win, Balochistan achieved the target for the loss of two wickets in the 28th over. The left-handed Haseeb struck 16 fours and one six in his 82-ball 106 innings.

[Bewal Express]

Rauf and Dahani would give our attack some bite. On these flat wickets we need something better than Faheem and spinners with less bite than a dead sheep

[shamaan]

Rauf and Dahani would give our attack some bite. On these flat wickets we need something better than Faheem and spinners with less bite than a dead sheep

Fahim was the best bowler in the first Innings.

[Bewal Express]

Fahim was the best bowler in the first Innings.

That says more about the others than anything about his skill levels. A guy that can't land the ball on the Seam after a decade in FC needs his head examining. Send him to me for 20min I will correct this terrible mistake

[shamaan]

That says more about the others than anything about his skill levels. A guy that can't land the ball on the Seam after a decade in FC needs his head examining. Send him to me for 20min I will correct this terrible mistake

Who else can we consider please don't say Wasim Jnr.

[Markhor]

9 matches in the Pakistan Cup, average of 53 at a SR of 97.

Heartening to see a local lad from Balochistan perform well.

[Saj]

131 today. That's 3 hundreds and 1 fifty for him in the Pakistan Cup. He has 569 runs at an average of 56.90 and a strike-rate of 100.35

[MenInG]

Brilliant by Haseebullah

[shamaan]

Very good Innings top two run score in Pakistan cup with a good strike rate.

[PakEngFan]

I find him very average. I hope he proves me wrong.

[shamaan]

I find him very average. I hope he proves me wrong.

He would be good back up keeper for tests only

[PakEngFan]

He would be good back up keeper for tests only

He will be exposed even more with his technique or lack of.

[Rana]

He will be a glorified minnow basher

You heard it here first.

[realitygaf]

He will be a glorified minnow basher

You heard it here first.

So like inzamam ?