In the Pakistan Super League’s ninth season, Khawaja Nafay made history on Monday against the Lahore Qalandars (PSL). Thus, Karachi is the place of birth for Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, a reserve player for the Quetta Gladiators. According to the report, Nafay is one of the athletes who was discovered using Facebook. Additionally, when he was 22 years old, he used to upload his films to Facebook.
Who is Khawaja Nafay of the Quetta Gladiators?
#abdulnafay
Sarfaraz Ahmed, the former captain of the Gladiators, was asked what Nafay’s “untold story” was. “Nafay likes to post his videos on Facebook,” Sarfaraz retorted. Therefore, Nafay’sKhawaja Nafay selection for the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was the best thing that happened to the team last year.
The previous “Coach Liaquat has helped Nafay’s career,” stated the Pakistani captain. Khawaja Nafay was not from Karachi the last time played cricket. For the PSL 9, the Gladiators acquired Khawaja Nafay for this reason.
The way Khawaja Nafay made the most of his opportunity to play in the Gladiators was to put everything in front of everyone. Children like Nafay can do great things for the country. If they are given the chance stated Sarfaraz Ahmed.
When the Gladiators selected Khawaja Nafay in the rising category, it also became his desire to compete in the premier domestic tournament. The periphery player helped his club defeat the Gladiators with a fantastic 61 off of 30 balls, which included four fours and three sixes.
Ever since Nafay played this knock, there has been a sense of intrigue in the cricketing fraternity about the story of the 22-year-old, who could be the next big thing in Pakistan cricket.
Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Stadium, many would have squinted in an attempt to recognise the baby-faced batter who had just smashed Shaheen Shah Afridi over long-on for six, and was carting Haris Rauf around the park. Twenty-two-year-old Khawaja Nafay turned what was a steep target of 188 into a canter at the end, smashing an unbeaten 60 off 31, and catapulting himself to national recognition – and perhaps even stardom – overnight. ESPNcricinfo caught him with him to find out where he’s been all this while.
Most people didn’t know much about you until that innings against Lahore Qalandars. Tell us a bit about yourself.
My cricket journey began like most people, watching it on TV. I caught the bug and wanted to play cricket myself. I went to Sir Liaquat [Ali Khan], who has been my coach since childhood. I worked very hard with him, and he used to put us through different kinds of practices. We didn’t have proper nets so we used to improvise in different ways. I went to India for an U15 tournament, and after that played the regional U16s and U19s. I haven’t played enough PCB-mandated cricket, just one year in the age groups. I played in the seniors and then grade 2, and then after that I was drafted in the BPL. After that I performed in Ramzan cricket, and because of that I was picked up in the PSL. I also went to the T10 competition, where Nadeem Omar was also present. This is kind of how it started.
Most of your cricket has been outside of the PCB’s official pathways. Why is that the case?
I don’t fully know why, but my performances weren’t that great either. I just kept working hard and thought “next year I’ll get a chance”. I kept my faith strong, regardless of whether I was getting opportunities or not, my job was to work hard and play cricket. That’s what I was doing, and now I’ve got the PSL.
My coach Liaquat continued to back me. Every time I used to wait for my name to come up at the National T20 or some other tournament, but it never used to happen. It’s not anyone else’s fault, I take all the blame myself. I just committed to working hard and forcing my way back into the system one day. It’s difficult because if you’re in the U-19 and you perform there, you get an opportunity at the PSL and stay within the system. In my mind I was just determined to work with my coach.
