Future of UAE fast bowling arrives at ILT20 as Khuzaima Tanveer makes dream debut for Desert Vipers

Man-of-the-match pacer takes four wickets for 22 against Sharjah Warriorz in eight-wicket win

Khuzaima Tanveer, left, of Desert Vipers celebrates after taking the wicket of Tim Seifert of Sharjah Warriorz in their DP World International League T20 eight-wicket victory at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on January 25, 2025. ILT20

Khuzaima Tanveer of Desert Vipers celebrates after he bowled out Tim Seifert of Sharjah Warriorz. ILT20

Khuzaima Tanveer of Desert Vipers celebrates with his teammates after clean bowling Tim Southee of Sharjah Warriorz. ILT20

Khuzaima Tanveer of Desert Vipers, who finished with figures of four for 22, celebrates the wicket of Tim Seifert of Sharjah Warriorz. ILT20

Tom Kohler-Cadmore of Sharjah Warriorz stumped by Azam Khan of Desert Vipers. ILT20

Khuzaima Tanveer started Saturday as an anonymous squad member of the Desert Vipers, the as-yet-unused fourth guy in the franchise’s domestic player quota.

He ended it by taking four wickets for 22 runs, doing three separate TV interviews, one with the great Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis, and carrying off the player of the match award after a dream debut at the DP World International League T20.

The 25-year-old fast bowler has had to wait his turn patiently at this competition. His side have been a well-oiled machine since the start of the season, racing to the top of the table in formidable fashion.

He has had to watch as Tanish Suri, Ali Naseer, and Dhruv Parashar – all UAE players of great promise, and each of whom is younger than him – have each had their chance in the starting XI.

Sitting pretty at the top of the table with five wins from six matches at the start of the day, he was given his chance for the first time against Sharjah Warriorz at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

He had played in front of the TV cameras in the Abu Dhabi T10 earlier this season, but this was his first T20 fixture of any significance, and the cast list of players on either side was a starry one.

His own teammates included his hero, Mohammed Amir, as well international players from his homeland like Fakhar Zaman and Azam Khan. Alex Hales and Sam Curran are T20 World Cup winners from England, while the opposition included Jason Roy, Tim Southee and Adam Zampa.

If he was nervous about being in such vaunted company, he did not show it. He took to his surroundings in thrilling fashion, picking up four wickets. Three of those – including Tim Seifert, the New Zealander who has played IPL and PSL cricket in the past – were clean bowled.

After catching his breath after his stunning salvo, he was picked to give the interview between innings to the broadcasters.

He had the microphone again immediately after the Vipers had set the seal on their dominant eight-wicket win when he was presented with the match award. And shortly after that, he had the honour of talking Waqar through exactly what had happened.

He would have been forgiven for thinking it was all a dream, and he acknowledged he was thrilled by his first day on the big stage.

“I think this is a dream debut for me as a franchise cricketer,” Khuzaima said. “It is my first franchise T20 match, so to take four wickets and become the man of the match is a dream for me.

“Playing with international players and great players like Mohammed Amir, Sam Curran, David Payne and Azam Khan, I didn’t expect this to happen to me. And I didn’t think I could perform like this.

“I got a great reception from all my senior teammates. I hadn’t quite imagined that first, I would get to share the dugout with such great players and then receive such a nice reception after that kind of performance.

“It felt really good especially after receiving such warm comments from my teammates. It feels great to execute a plan handed to you by your captain.”

Having been made to wait till the seventh game of the season for his chance, Khuzaima said the nerves had intensified.

“When the Vipers picked me I was excited that I would have the chance to perform here,” he said. “Then I didn’t get any matches. I was out of the side for six matches, so obviously I was a little bit nervous when I got my chance.”

Khuzaima moved to the UAE from Karachi 16 months ago “to play cricket and support my family”. He was given a chance by Karwan Strikers, the domestic side, and caught the eye of the data analysis team who help put together the Vipers squad, for his performances in UAE cricket.

He is ineligible to represented the national team just yet, as per the ICC’s residency regulations. He is intent on doing so, though, and may form part of an enviable battery of new pace bowlers if this tournament is anything to go by.

Farhan Khan has caught the eye for the Dubai Capitals. Ibrar Ahmed has done similar for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Both of them are in a similar situation to Khuzaima in aspiring to play for the UAE once they are eligible.

“Definitely I want to play for the country and perform well,” Khuzaima said.

“ICC’s criteria is that we have to spend three years here. If these fast bowlers – Farhan, Ibrar, Shahid Bhutta [also for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders] and me – can spend that time here together, then hopefully we can assist UAE cricket.”