ISLAMABAD: Hasan Raza was once the very epitome of the Pakistani dream. As a 14-year-old, he became the youngest-ever Test cricketer when he made his debut in 1996 against Zimbabwe in Faisalabad. Two decades later, things have decidedly gone downhill for the right-handed batsman. It has been more than 10 years since he last represented Pakistan in Tests and more than 15 since he played in an ODI. The 34-year-old is therefore understandably looking at pastures new. In five months\u2019 time, he will be eligible to represent the UAE. \u201cI am just five months away from being allowed to play for the UAE national side, and I\u2019ve been performing in UAE\u2019s domestic circuit for the past three years,\u201d said Raza, who played a total of seven Tests for Pakistan. Raza is still involved in Pakistan\u2019s domestic circuit, representing PTV in grade two of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
\n\u201cI will be 35 by the time I make my debut for UAE as, according to ICC rules, an international player has to be a resident of a country for three-and-a-half years before he can switch allegiances, while it is four years for a first-class cricketer,\u201d Raza told to a news website. \u201cI want to play as soon as possible for UAE since I am in good form these days.\u201d Raza, once touted as the next big thing in international cricket, said Pakistan have a lot of talent at their disposal but don\u2019t have enough facilities.
\n\u201cUAE has a lot of cricket – good grounds, good conditions and I enjoy playing for them. I have kept in touch with the UAE cricket management, and I will be able to play in April or May next year,\u201d he added. The soon-to-be UAE international will have to leave Pakistan\u2019s domestic cricket once he starts representing them. \u201cI am currently playing for PTV and will continue to do so for as long as I can,\u201d he said. Raza is not the only former Test player from Pakistan who has plans of representing the UAE. Fast-bowler Riaz Afridi, who turned out for the Men in Green in 2004, is just 10 months away from being eligible for the UAE and is also reportedly in the selectors\u2019 plans. Raza revealed Rana Navedul Hasan – who was recently appointed as the UAE bowling coach – reached out to him.
\n\u201cRana has been in contact with me and he said the UAE need a batman like me; they still some good players but they still require a middle-order batsman,\u201d he said.
\nRaza has already worn UAE colours, albeit in an unofficial match. It was a nightmare debut though in a two-day preparatory match against the West Indies during their tour of the UAE to face Pakistan. Raza was dismissed on a silver duck as West Indies ran through the UAE to leave them 20-7. \u201cIt was a tough day for us. They are a professional team, their preparation was very good, and it showed just how much hard work we need to put in if we are to improve,\u201d said Raza, already using possessive adverbs for his adopted him. Raza may soon find himself as one of the top dogs for the minnows, but he will always be remembered as the boy who peaked too early; forever haunted by the image of his 14-year-old self achieving what he in his peak could not.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD: Hasan Raza was once the very epitome of the Pakistani dream. As a 14-year-old, he became the youngest-ever Test cricketer when he made his debut in 1996 against Zimbabwe in Faisalabad. Two decades later, things have decidedly gone downhill for the right-handed batsman. It has been more than 10 years since he last represented […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8351,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-8339","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n