From ‘ignored’ to adored: Abid turns hero in Pakistan’s homecoming Test

Pakistan’s Abid Ali offers a prayer after scoring a century (100 runs) during the fifth and final day of the first Test cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on 15 December 2019 – AFP

Pakistan’s cricketer Abid Ali speaks during an open media session in Karachi on 16 December 2019 ahead of the second cricket Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Ali was once shunned by Pakistan selectors who thought he was overweight, but his persistence and patience paid off as he set a world first in the homecoming Test against Sri Lanka – AFP

RAWALPINDI (AFP): Abid Ali was once shunned by Pakistan selectors who thought he was overweight, but his persistence and patience paid off as he set a world first in the homecoming Test against Sri Lanka.

Ten years after a militant attack on Sri Lanka’s team made Pakistan a no-go zone for foreign sides, Ali was the hero in an otherwise disappointing return for Test cricket to the cricket-mad nation.

A weather-hit draw failed to set pulses racing but Ali completed the unique feat of scoring hundreds in both his ODI and Test debuts, hitting 109 not out in Rawalpindi following his 112 against Australia in his first one-day international in March.

International success has come late for Ali, 32, who has persevered despite constant snubs by selectors and coaches alike.

At one point Ali, who like legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram comes from Lahore’s Mozang area, was even discarded by city selectors.

He responded by playing out of the Islamabad region - and piled up the runs, 1,083 in the 2012-2013 season.

But despite his prolific batting, national selectors continually overlooked Ali, saying he was carrying too much weight and lacking in fitness.

The most recent snub came at this year’s one-day World Cup, where Ali was left out of Pakistan’s squad after being dismissed for just five against England.

It meant that Ali missed a rare chance to meet his idol, Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar, to whom he is sometimes compared because of his skill and diminutive stature.

“I had never grumbled on being ignored,” said Ali.

“I could not meet Tendulkar because I did not play the World Cup,” he added. “I had patience and I had a belief that my time will come and then I will prove what I am capable off.” 

‘I can’t match the greats’ 

Ali smashed 249 not out for Sindh in the revamped Quaid-e-Azam trophy in September, earning a place on Pakistan’s Test tour of Australia.

But he missed out on a place in the team for both Tests, which Pakistan lost heavily.

Finally, he was handed a green cap last week in Rawalpindi, the first Test in Pakistan since the 2009 militant attack that left eight people dead and several players and officials wounded.

Unfortunately, the game was badly affected by weather, with only 91.3 overs possible on the first three days and the fourth washed out completely.

But Ali got enough time on the fifth day to make it a memorable moment in his career, in front of a roaring home crowd.

“I knew someday I will get a chance and I was always ready for it. Thankfully I got it and a hundred on debut game is what else you ask for,” he said.

“I waited for long for this very day to come and here I am.” 

Ali is a similar height to Tendulkar and his batting is not unlike that of the Indian maestro, but despite his recent success he shies away from any comparisons.

“I am an ordinary player and I can’t match those great players,” Ali said. “I am Abid Ali and please see me as Abid Ali only.

“I am a down-to-earth person, so I would like to keep on performing and serve Pakistan with distinction.” He added: “I need to raise my game and with every chance I have to perform well. I have self-belief, I waited for my time and finally I got it. “