DHAKA // Mohammed Naveed, the UAE fast bowler, has been backed to land a contract in one of the leading Twenty20 leagues after his outstanding displays at the Asia Cup.
Aaqib Javed, the UAE coach, and Amjad Javed, the captain, both believe Naveed would be a valuable recruit for sides in competitions such as the Bangladesh Premier League or the Pakistan Super League.
Although some players from beyond the Test sphere have featured at that level in the past, UAE players have yet to have been hired.
For example, Ryan ten Doeschate, the former Netherlands all-rounder, is a regular in a variety of leagues around the world.
Afghanistan’s Mohammed Nabi also caught the eye playing for Quetta Gladiators in the first PSL in Dubai and Sharjah.
UAE players have been close to recognition in the past. Saqib Ali, the former UAE batsman who retired last year, was once offered a BPL contract, but was unable to take it up due to visa issues.
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Shaiman Anwar, the leading batsman in the national team currently, was part of the player list for the first PSL, but he went undrafted.
Naveed, though, was one of the main reasons the UAE were competitive against the likes of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the first Asia Cup to be played in the T20 format.
Aaqib believes it would be a massive boost for a player who works in a bank in Al Barsha, Dubai, if he was to join the ranks of a professional T20 franchise.
“He is a proper international bowler,” Aaqib said. “If somebody can take him on and work on him on a daily, professional basis, it would really help him.
“We only have a lesser opportunity to work with the players because they are busy working in their respective jobs.
“I think he has got everything. He hits the seam in the right area of the pitch. His head is working. I think he is a genuine international player.”
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Naveed proved during the past two weeks in Dhaka that he thrives on the big stage.
When the UAE faced the hosts Bangladesh, in front of the biggest crowd most of them have played before, Naveed performed at his very best.
The bowler, 28, who works as an accounts clerk for UBL Bank, was thrilled that the speedgun registered him bowling at 147kph in that game. “It gives you a boost and you begin bowling faster than usual,” Naveed said of playing in front of the big crowds in Dhaka.
He has taken 17 wickets in 11 T20 internationals in 2016, and has an economy rate of just 5.22 despite playing against sides of the calibre of India and the rest at the Asia Cup.
“Naveed was bowling really quick,” Amjad said. “He reached 147kph. These pitches suited him and it might be that people noticed.
“There is the BPL, the IPL, the PSL, and people will definitely be watching him and they might want to hire him next year.”
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