Rawalpindi: Irfan Khan Niazi who earned a maiden call to represent the national team for the five-match T20 series against New Zealand was confident to earn a permanent place on the team exhibiting consistent performance.
Talking to the media, Irfan said it had been a long journey from a raw village talent to winning the confidence of selectors. “I will not let go of the opportunity easily. I have traveled a long way starting from a raw village talent to the Pakistan national team. On my way to the top I faced many challenges and hurdles but kept on pursuing excellence. Now my only aim is to stay long and make my best efforts to earn permanent place on the team,” Irfan Khan who was adjudged the best fielder of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Nine, said.
The energetic young gun from Mianwali narrated his story of emergence to the national level. “It was no fluke but a consistent hard work that helped me secure a place on the national team. There were no cricket facilities in Mianwali for getting noticed at the national level so after representing district I shifted to Faisalabad where I started playing for the region as well as for national under-19. My performance for national under-19 especially during the South Africa tour and later for in the World Cup earned me a place in the PSL.” Irfan Niazi said that all these years his parents felt his absence.
“When my younger brother died there was no one to look after my parents as I was away in Faisalabad. But they never complained and often traveled to Faisalabad to meet me instead. They sacrificed their well-being to see me flourishing in the field of cricket. They also prayed for my success and helped me in every respect.”
The stunning fielding ability earned Irfan praise in PSL Nine. “The PSL Nine gave me a real boost and I got noticed due to my batting and fielding abilities.” Irfan added that the brightest moment of his cricketing career came when he was picked by national selectors on the team for the series against New Zealand. “I was sitting along with my family when I heard this news and celebrated it along with family members.”