KARACHI: There are documented instances in Pakistan cricket when some players have been virtually plucked out of obscurity and thrown into top class cricket.
Wasim Akram and Tauseef Ahmed are the last two examples of players who were selected for Pakistan without having any strong first-class cricket background and went onto become household names.
Now the former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif who runs his cricket academy in the city, also claims to have unearthed a cricketing talent who he says is destined to make a big name for himself at the top level.
For the time being Rashid has started efforts to have young Sohail Khan, a fast bowler, employed with the Allied Bank (ABL) team who he captains in domestic cricket.
"This fellow is a very exciting prospect and when I and Younis Khan first spotted him as he came to play for some club against our Malir Gymkhana side, we knew he was good. One look and we knew this was someone with a lot of spark and loads of talent and could go on to become a big name if he worked hard enough," Rashid said.
After that club game, Rashid met Sohail and asked him to immediately report to his academy for nets.
"It was easy getting through to him as he is from Mardan, the birthplace of Younis. And Younis managed to convince him that he needed to concentrate fully and give time to his cricket career seriously," Rashid said.
Sohail Khan, after just attending a few training sessions at the Rashid Latif Academy, had Pakistan players like Younis, Asim Kamal, Farhan Adil and Rashid himself ducking and defending and his lively spells were enough to convince Rashid the youngster was ready for first class cricket.
"I am trying to get him employed with our bank team and I am confident that in his first season this fellow will make everyone sit up and take notice of him," the former Pakistan skipper said with conviction.
Sohail, who is tall and well-built, for his part is yet to reconcile the attention being showered on him by such big names of Pakistan cricket. For him the real challenge will come when the domestic season begins this year.
Wasim Akram and Tauseef Ahmed are the last two examples of players who were selected for Pakistan without having any strong first-class cricket background and went onto become household names.
Now the former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif who runs his cricket academy in the city, also claims to have unearthed a cricketing talent who he says is destined to make a big name for himself at the top level.
For the time being Rashid has started efforts to have young Sohail Khan, a fast bowler, employed with the Allied Bank (ABL) team who he captains in domestic cricket.
"This fellow is a very exciting prospect and when I and Younis Khan first spotted him as he came to play for some club against our Malir Gymkhana side, we knew he was good. One look and we knew this was someone with a lot of spark and loads of talent and could go on to become a big name if he worked hard enough," Rashid said.
After that club game, Rashid met Sohail and asked him to immediately report to his academy for nets.
"It was easy getting through to him as he is from Mardan, the birthplace of Younis. And Younis managed to convince him that he needed to concentrate fully and give time to his cricket career seriously," Rashid said.
Sohail Khan, after just attending a few training sessions at the Rashid Latif Academy, had Pakistan players like Younis, Asim Kamal, Farhan Adil and Rashid himself ducking and defending and his lively spells were enough to convince Rashid the youngster was ready for first class cricket.
"I am trying to get him employed with our bank team and I am confident that in his first season this fellow will make everyone sit up and take notice of him," the former Pakistan skipper said with conviction.
Sohail, who is tall and well-built, for his part is yet to reconcile the attention being showered on him by such big names of Pakistan cricket. For him the real challenge will come when the domestic season begins this year.
