FATA’s Umer Khan aims to deflate batsmen

DUBAI: Umer Khan, whose father repairs tyres, is in the UAE featuring in PSL determined to deflate batsmen with his swift and cunning left-arm spin.

Former Test spinner Nadeem Khan, now Multan Sultans’ Manager, brought Umer to United Bank Limited and groomed him. It was on Nadeem’s advice that Umer was given a chance for Pakistan Under-19 in the Junior Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in 2016. Umer took two wickets in one match but never got another chance at the junior level.

“My friends spotted him while he was playing with some kids outside Peshawar cricket stadium. They were impressed with his action. I recruited him in UBL and we quietly groomed him,” said Nadeem, who later recommended Umer to Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

Umer made an instant impression, taking one for 70 and six for 37 on his first-class debut for SSGC against Peshawar.

“I am from FATA. I started cricket when I was in class five. There were very few opportunities as FATA did not have many facilities and my family was not well off, but it did not deter me as I always wanted to be big in cricket,” said Umer.

Umer would work tirelessly in the nets to get maturity in bowling. He would use abandoned tyres as stumps and bowl for hours.

“I played for FATA and played Under-19 for Pakistan. I live in Taxila and work hard on my cricket. I took six wickets in an innings on my first-class debut where Kabir Khan watched me and told Karachi Kings about me,” said Umer.

Umer was impressive in the warm-up match against Peshawar Zalmi at ICC academy in Dubai on Tuesday, bowling to players like Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sohaib Maqsood and Dawid Malan.