UAE cricket prodigy Ali Naseer aims to make the most of ILT20 chance

Teen prospect cannot wait to go up against international cricket’s elite when he plays for Desert Vipers

Ali Naseer at the Desert Vipers jersey launch and press conference on Monday, January 9, 2023, ahead of the new International League T20. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ali Naseer, right, with captain Colin Munro, centre, and Tymal Mills at the Desert Vipers jersey launch. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ali Naseer at the Desert Vipers jersey launch. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ali Naseer, right, with Desert Vipers captain Colin Munro with Tymal Mills at the jersey launch. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE's Ali Naseer in the game between the UAE and Pakistan during the Under 19 Asian Cup at the ICC Academy, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak/ The National

The UAE's Ali Naseer in the game between the UAE and Pakistan during the Under 19 Asian Cup at the ICC Academy, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak/ The National

The UAE's Ali Naseer in the game between the UAE and Pakistan during the Under 19 Asian Cup at the ICC Academy, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak/ The National

UAE bowler Ali Naseer celebrates the wicket of Nathan McGuire of Ireland. Photo: ICC

In some respects, Ali Naseer will be fulfilling his father’s dream this month when he plays alongside some of the stars of international sport, for a Glazer-owned team, wearing red and black.

The teen prodigy from Dubai is one of four home-based players in the Desert Vipers squad for the ILT20, which starts on Friday.

The fact they are owned by Lancer Capital, the parent company of Manchester United, will strike a chord with Naseer Sr.

Aamer is, after all, a keen fan of the Old Trafford club and first nudged his son in the direction of football rather than cricket. It was why Naseer was a relatively late starter in cricket, only taking to the sport at the age of 12.

“He tried to get me into football at an early age, but I wasn’t very good,” Naseer, 18, said.

“He said, ‘OK, fine – you can try cricket’. I was pretty good for my age, and that is where it started.”

To say he took to it quickly is an understatement. After immediately showing promise, his mother, Talat, enrolled him in training at the ICC Academy in Dubai.

By the time he was 15, he was already good enough to be selected to play for the UAE at the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa.

When he played again at the competition in the Caribbean two years later, he scored a rapid half-century against England, and later helped UAE claim a ground-breaking win against West Indies.

Less than a year later, he has been recruited to play alongside the likes of Alex Hales, Wanindu Hasaranga, Colin Munro and Tymal Mills in the UAE’s new T20 league.

Naseer found out the good news when he woke up in his room at his student accommodation in the UK.

He attends university in Leeds, where he dovetails studying sports business management with attempting to earn a place in the MCC Universities side.

Desert Vipers captain Colin Munro with Tymal Mills, centre, and UAE Under-19 international Ali Naseer as they unveil the team's new jersey in Jebel Ali on Monday, January 9, 2023, ahead of the launch of the UAE's International League T20, which starts on Friday, January 13. All images: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Captain Colin Munro and Tymal Mills in the new Desert Vipers jersey.

Captain Colin Munro arrives by boat in Jebel Ali for the Desert Vipers' jersey launch and press conference ahead of start of the International League T20.

Captain Colin Munro arrives by boat.

Colin Munro arrives by boat.

UAE Under-19 international Ali Naseer shows off the new Desert Vipers jersey.

Captain Colin Munro speaks to the press at the Desert Vipers jersey launch.

Desert Vipers head coach James Foster, right, and bowling coach Azhar Mahmood.

Ali Naseer at the Desert Vipers jersey launch.

Desert Vipers chief executive Phil Oliver at the launch.

Captain Colin Munro speaks to the press.

Director of cricket Tom Moody speaks to the press.

Captain Colin Munro.

Captain Colin Munro with Tymal Mills and Ali Naseer.

Director of cricket Tom Moody speaks to the press.

Ali Naseer at the Desert Vipers jersey launch.

Ali Naseer shows off the jersey.

When he opened the message from the Vipers, it was not the only reason he was eager to get back home.

“When I got [to the UK for his first semester] it was 2 degrees, and when I left it was -4 degrees and snowing,” Naseer said. “I love being back in Dubai.”

Now he could be just days away from bowling against the likes of Kieron Pollard or Nicholas Pooran. A daunting prospect for a raw teen? Naseer cannot wait.

“I’ll be nervous of course, but I think cricket is about enjoying the game,” Naseer, who was born in Pakistan before moving with his family to Dubai when he was aged four, said.

“I would just go out there and have fun, and just enjoy myself.

“As of now, all of us UAE players are a mystery. That can play to our advantage, as they won’t immediately know how to play us, or how to bowl to us. It is a good opportunity to make a name for ourselves.”

Mudassar Nazar, the former Pakistan international who coached Naseer at both ICC Academy and with UAE U19s, reckons his former charge is primed to make an impression.

“He likes to get on with it, and sometimes he can be rash,” Nazar said.

“But if I were to pick one guy from the U19 squad, he would be the one. So much so, that I feel that if he were in Pakistan, and coming through the academy system, he would have played for Pakistan [already].”

Naseer is keen to catch the eye for reasons other than just to help the Vipers excel. The UAE national team will play two crucial World Cup League Two tri-series in short order after the conclusion of the ILT20.

They need to revive their World Cup qualifying prospects, and Naseer hopes to be part of the solution.

“If I have a good tournament, I could be knocking on the door of the UAE men’s team,” he said.

“I know they have World Cup qualifiers coming up, which they need to win. I’m hoping to be in that team.”