“I want to play for my country” – meet the Southampton state school cricketer aiming for stardom

Abdul was a nine-year-old, who was keen on football, but went along to the game with his family who hail from Afghanistan. Despite Afghanistan’s 62-run loss, Abdul had immediately found a new passion.

“He was so interested in cricket that we practised in our house,” Abdul father says excitedly.

“He was standing in the doorway in our hall and we batted and bowled at him. We had a really short distance so couldn’t do fast bowling. So, we started doing slow bowling with spin and he watched Rashid Khan. Slowly he became a leg spinner.”

Abdul’s remarkable journey in the six years since has not only seen him play on the same Utilita Bowl turf as his heroes that day, but has also kept his dream to one day be like them very much alive.

That has owed to the innovative pathways that Hampshire, and counties across England and Wales, have put in place to give more children from different backgrounds the opportunity to chase their dream.

It also owes to Abdul’s growing talent as he aims to be like one of Afghanistan’s greatest and most inspirational players.

“Rashid Khan is my favourite cricket player. I look up to him,” the now 14-year-old Abdul says. “He’s like myself, he’s a leg spinner and I like his style of play. He inspires me.”

If step one of his journey was playing non-stop in the family home, step two for Abdul was joining a local cricket club.

That year he joined Trojans CC where he learned of the Lord’s Taverners ‘Wicketz’ programme in Southampton. The programme’s weekly cricket sessions would benefit him and his family in more ways than one.

As well as enabling the state-school attendee to develop his passion, the sessions, aimed at young people living in deprived areas, were also an inclusive space where Abdul found a sense of community.

“When I first played cricket, I really liked it, plus where I am from it’s a really popular sport,” he said. “I knew lots of people who went to Wicketz so felt I had a bond with everyone there.

“Sam Moss [Urban Cricket Development Officer] really helped me grow my confidence. He helped me with my bowling, fielding and batting.”

Abdul’s father is full of praise for what the Wicketz programme has provided for his son as he, and many Afghans in the local community, have remained inspired from that World Cup day.

“The Afghanistan team was new and developing fast,” Mr Karimi said. “Everyone was talking about the team at the World Cup in England. It was really encouraging for the Afghan community here and encouraged them to switch sports to cricket.

“Nowadays in Southampton there are not many activities to keep kids busy. Wicketz uses exercise and sports to prevent kids going on the streets and [into crime]. I really appreciate those who made the programme.”

Two years after joining the Wicketz programme, Abdul’s journey towards his dream took another step forward when he became one of the first Wicketz participants to be selected for the Southampton hub of the new Hampshire Hawks City Academy.

Young players were afforded all-important access to high-quality coaching and facilities at Cantell School in partnership with Hampshire Cricket, meaning Abdul’s ambitions were no longer confined to recreational cricket.

“The Wicketz programme is quite good for local kids,” Mr Karimi added.

“I really liked how they saw talented players and introduced them to [the Hawks Academy]. Cantell School had Hampshire cricket coaching staff to observe and keep eyes on the players.

“Some of the players who were very good were picked up on the same day. Abdul was one of them. He played very aggressively and broke a bat that day!”

The next step in Abdul’s journey saw him play on the hallowed turf of the Utilita Bowl during the next summer.

The Southampton Hawks Academy faced the ACE programme in a competitive match when Abdul also got to meet professional cricketers Keith Barker and Mohammad Abbas.

It was there that Abdul’s cricket journey came full circle as he took a wicket on the very pitch he first saw his idols play on.

“It felt really good. It’s hard to put it into words,” he said.

Crucially though, some academy players gained wider recognition and access to the talent pathway, as Abdul’s hard work was rewarded with a place in the Hampshire Under 14 county age group squad last year.

Now, with the support of Hampshire cricket, the Southampton Hawks Academy, and his family, Abdul’s dreams can be far more expansive than he ever imagined.

“I want to play cricket professionally and I want to play for the Afghanistan national team,” the leg-spinner says confidently.

“It is a big achievement for Abdul. I’m very proud as a father to see him playing for the [Hampshire youth county] team,” smiles Mr Karimi.

By Evie Ashton, ECB Reporters Network