15-year-old shows how it should be done as hosts finish without a win
A star was born yesterday. But will this star - Irfan Ahmed - remain in the Hong Kong firmament or disappear over the horizon to Pakistan. As the SAR disappointingly bowed out of the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong International Sixes without a win to their name, their was a silver lining in the team's despondency.
Irfan, 15, showed tremendous courage and determination to finish the tournament as one of the best bowlers for Hong Kong - a fact noted by Pakistan team manager Haroon Rashid, who yesterday revealed that he had been highly impressed with the youngster and would encourage him to continue his career back in Pakistan.
'I like this boy. He has tremendous potential. I asked him what he is doing here. He needs to work on a regular basis and needs to play against stronger competition. If he wants to improve he has to go and play against tougher opposition,' said Rashid.
Irfan, who is the youngest ever player to appear in the history of this tournament (he is still in Form Three at Delia School), saved his best for the 'big' match against his country of birth, Pakistan, in the Plate semi-finals.
Bowling against the likes of legend Moin Khan, a former test captain, the teenager was unflappable as he sent down six superb deliveries which the batsmen (the other being Mohammed Hafeez, who has also represented his country at the highest level) could only manage to push for singles.
