Waleed Ahmed of Insportz Blue picked four wickets against Dubai in the Under-11 Gulf Cup on Sunday to bag the man of the match award. This opening bowler is the son of former Pakistan Test player Tauseef Ahmed, who was an outstanding off-spinner in his playing days.
"When I grow up, I would like to bowl as fast as Glenn McGrath," remarked Waleed, who has a smooth action and maintains an excellent line and length.
Waleed was only a year old when Tauseef retired from cricket. He has not seen his father in action, except on video.
"He was not impressed by my off-spin nor did I try to teach him how to bowl it. From the very first day he wanted to bowl fast and I let him do what attracted him the most," said Tauseef.
"He's been brought to Dubai mainly for a better schooling. If he does well in cricket too, I would be very happy," remarked Tauseef, who is very particular that his son is well educated. Tauseef is a witness to many cases of talented players in Pakistan who neglected their studies to concentrate on cricket, and later had to struggle to earn their livelihood.
"If in the coming years Waleed shows the potential to become a good cricketer, then he can think of pursuing it fully," thinks Tauseef.
But Waleed is confident that he will prove himself in cricket and also do well in his studies.
"I practice at the Insportz thrice a week. I'm aiming to get into my school team, " said Waleed, a fourth grader at the Pakistan Islamia High School, Sharjah, one of the strongest teams in the Al Rawabi inter- school tournament.
"Waleed practices with my nephew, Kashif Ahmed (this year's DCC cricketer of the year award winner) even inside the house. To be a fast bowler he has to work on his fitness. I know what it takes to reach the top. He will have to be disciplined, committed and hard working," remarked Tauseef.
Waleed assures that he too will make it to Test cricket like his father, but as a fast bowler.
Gulf News 2003
