Afghanistan cricket team’s rise in international cricket has been a delight for cricket fans across the globe. A country, which is known to produce quality spin bowlers like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, now has a formidable pace bowler in Naveen-ul-Haq – who is making his country proud by plying his trade in top T20 leagues around the globe like the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as well as Vitality Blast.
Bowling to Andre Russell is nothing less than a nightmare for any bowler. However, Naveen is one of those rare bowlers to bowl four successive dot balls to the hard-hitting right-hander. In CPL 2020, playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors, Naveen did the unthinkable by producing four dot balls against a well-set Russell when the opposition needed 22 runs off 10 balls.
Against the West Indies, in the T20I series played in Lucknow in 2019, Naveen was also the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament from Afghanistan. He also has an impressive record in the CPL – where his best bowling figure is 4/14.
Speaking to timesnownews.com, Naveen, who is currently playing for Leicester in Vitality Blast, spoke about his rise as a fast bowler, his love for the Indian cricket team and his dream of playing under MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Bowling quick is the dream for any fast bowler. Which are some of your favourite pacers in the world?
It’s a dream for any fast bowler to play good cricket. About my favourite fast bowler, Afghanistan’s first World Cup was in 2010 – the T20 World Cup. I saw our own fast bowler – Hamid Hassan, who was a part of the team. But he has got injured now. In today’s cricket, I like Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling. I like the variation in his pace, how he changes his line and length, I like his bowling quite a lot.
Afghanistan have been known to produce quality spin bowlers like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman but you are now becoming a fast bowling sensation from the country. Do you want to bring a revolution for fast bowlers in Afghanistan?
Absolutely, there is a negative thought back home that a fast bowler cannot play in good leagues around the world. It’s a myth there that you can play in all the leagues only if you are a spinner. I want to break that myth and let people know that if you are a fast bowler, you might not have the express pace but if you have the skills, you can play in any top league.
In the Lanka Premier League (LPL) match between Kandy Tuskers and Galle Gladiators, you had a heated exchange with pacer Mohammed Amir. While you said it was Amir who abused you which led to the fight, he called you a liar. Tell us what exactly happened?
It’s done and dusted, it’s a story from the past and I would not like to reflect on it much. Such incidents happen from the heat of the moment but as long as it stays between two players, it’s fine, a country should not be dragged into it. I got angry when they dragged my country into it. I won’t respond to his liar statement. Everything has a limit. If you cross that, the other player will also respond no matter how senior or experienced you are. There should be a boundary line which nobody should cross.
You have been in excellent form since CPL 2020. What’s the secret to your success and what different have you been doing lately?
Yes, I have had a good run in the last one and half years. I always think a lot about the game. I watch other bowlers in the IPL, I watch a lot of cricket when I am free. I just back myself and I know what are my limits. I try to execute my plans on the cricket field.
How is it playing during covid times and tell us about the deal with Leicestershire Foxes? How did that happen?
These are difficult times, we don’t have any crowd, there are travel restrictions and isolations that leads to a lot of mental stress to be honest. About the Leicester deal, I was playing in the Abu Dhabi T10 league, the semi-final was against Lahore, after the match, I got a message from my manager Lahiri Kaustav and he asked me whether I was interested in playing for Leicester who was keen on signing me. My answer was yes as only lucky players get to play county cricket.
You are also a huge fan of the Indian cricket team. What memories do you have from watching India matches and which are some of your favourite Indian cricketers?
When I started watching cricket in 2005-07, Afghanistan was not playing cricket. I used to watch matches of the Indian cricket team and I was a big fan. I was a big fan of former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly. The moments I remember would be the 2007 World Twenty20 which was won by India. The most heartbreaking moment for me as a fan of the Indian team was India being knocked out of the World Cup in the West Indies. Even today, when I am not playing cricket, I watch matches of the Indian team. Rohit Sharma is my favourite Indian batsman and Jasprit Bumrah is my favourite Indian bowler.
To play in the IPL is a dream for every young cricketer. If given a chance, which team would you want to play for and why?
Yes, it’s a dream for every cricketer to play in the biggest league in the world. My dream is to play under MS Dhoni if he is still playing then. If he is not there, I would be 50-50 interested in playing in the IPL. But it’s a great competition. Since the 2007 World T20 which I watched as a kid, it was a dream to play against Dhoni or with him. I haven’t had the opportunity yet but I hope he continues to play in the IPL and I get a chance to play under him.
You have been participating in plenty of leagues even during the pandemic as well. Who keeps you motivated off the field?
Obviously, there’s plenty of mental fatigue during these Covid times with regards to the tests, isolation and travel restrictions. But I am keeping myself motivated because I have come from a country where people love cricket and they support us a lot. Their love and support have motivated me a lot and that’s the thing that keeps me going.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has been making the right noises in T20 leagues across the globe
- Naveen is also a huge fan of Indian cricket team and watches their matches whenever he is free
- One of the right-arm seamer’s dream is to play under MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League
Afghanistan cricket team’s rise in international cricket has been a delight for cricket fans across the globe. A country, which is known to produce quality spin bowlers like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, now has a formidable pace bowler in Naveen-ul-Haq – who is making his country proud by plying his trade in top T20 leagues around the globe like the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as well as Vitality Blast.
Bowling to Andre Russell is nothing less than a nightmare for any bowler. However, Naveen is one of those rare bowlers to bowl four successive dot balls to the hard-hitting right-hander. In CPL 2020, playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors, Naveen did the unthinkable by producing four dot balls against a well-set Russell when the opposition needed 22 runs off 10 balls.
Against the West Indies, in the T20I series played in Lucknow in 2019, Naveen was also the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament from Afghanistan. He also has an impressive record in the CPL – where his best bowling figure is 4/14.
Speaking to timesnownews.com, Naveen, who is currently playing for Leicester in Vitality Blast, spoke about his rise as a fast bowler, his love for the Indian cricket team and his dream of playing under MS Dhoni in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Bowling quick is the dream for any fast bowler. Which are some of your favourite pacers in the world?
It’s a dream for any fast bowler to play good cricket. About my favourite fast bowler, Afghanistan’s first World Cup was in 2010 – the T20 World Cup. I saw our own fast bowler – Hamid Hassan, who was a part of the team. But he has got injured now. In today’s cricket, I like Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling. I like the variation in his pace, how he changes his line and length, I like his bowling quite a lot.
Afghanistan have been known to produce quality spin bowlers like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman but you are now becoming a fast bowling sensation from the country. Do you want to bring a revolution for fast bowlers in Afghanistan?
Absolutely, there is a negative thought back home that a fast bowler cannot play in good leagues around the world. It’s a myth there that you can play in all the leagues only if you are a spinner. I want to break that myth and let people know that if you are a fast bowler, you might not have the express pace but if you have the skills, you can play in any top league.
In the Lanka Premier League (LPL) match between Kandy Tuskers and Galle Gladiators, you had a heated exchange with pacer Mohammed Amir. While you said it was Amir who abused you which led to the fight, he called you a liar. Tell us what exactly happened?
It’s done and dusted, it’s a story from the past and I would not like to reflect on it much. Such incidents happen from the heat of the moment but as long as it stays between two players, it’s fine, a country should not be dragged into it. I got angry when they dragged my country into it. I won’t respond to his liar statement. Everything has a limit. If you cross that, the other player will also respond no matter how senior or experienced you are. There should be a boundary line which nobody should cross.
You have been in excellent form since CPL 2020. What’s the secret to your success and what different have you been doing lately?
Yes, I have had a good run in the last one and half years. I always think a lot about the game. I watch other bowlers in the IPL, I watch a lot of cricket when I am free. I just back myself and I know what are my limits. I try to execute my plans on the cricket field.
How is it playing during covid times and tell us about the deal with Leicestershire Foxes? How did that happen?
These are difficult times, we don’t have any crowd, there are travel restrictions and isolations that leads to a lot of mental stress to be honest. About the Leicester deal, I was playing in the Abu Dhabi T10 league, the semi-final was against Lahore, after the match, I got a message from my manager Lahiri Kaustav and he asked me whether I was interested in playing for Leicester who was keen on signing me. My answer was yes as only lucky players get to play county cricket.
You are also a huge fan of the Indian cricket team. What memories do you have from watching India matches and which are some of your favourite Indian cricketers?
When I started watching cricket in 2005-07, Afghanistan was not playing cricket. I used to watch matches of the Indian cricket team and I was a big fan. I was a big fan of former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly. The moments I remember would be the 2007 World Twenty20 which was won by India. The most heartbreaking moment for me as a fan of the Indian team was India being knocked out of the World Cup in the West Indies. Even today, when I am not playing cricket, I watch matches of the Indian team. Rohit Sharma is my favourite Indian batsman and Jasprit Bumrah is my favourite Indian bowler.
To play in the IPL is a dream for every young cricketer. If given a chance, which team would you want to play for and why?
Yes, it’s a dream for every cricketer to play in the biggest league in the world. My dream is to play under MS Dhoni if he is still playing then. If he is not there, I would be 50-50 interested in playing in the IPL. But it’s a great competition. Since the 2007 World T20 which I watched as a kid, it was a dream to play against Dhoni or with him. I haven’t had the opportunity yet but I hope he continues to play in the IPL and I get a chance to play under him.
You have been participating in plenty of leagues even during the pandemic as well. Who keeps you motivated off the field?
Obviously, there’s plenty of mental fatigue during these Covid times with regards to the tests, isolation and travel restrictions. But I am keeping myself motivated because I have come from a country where people love cricket and they support us a lot. Their love and support have motivated me a lot and that’s the thing that keeps me going.
Most of the Afghanistan cricketers are very passionate about the game. As a group, what’s the ultimate dream for the team?
As a white-ball team, especially in T20Is, we have a team that can beat any team in the world. Our dream as a team is to win a T20 World Cup in the next four to five years. The kind of confidence our players have in white-ball cricket, it’s something that is certainly achievable
