Talent Spotter: Arish Ali Khan

[MenInG]

A profile of the Karachi-born off-spinner who lead Pakistan Under-16s at the start of his career and recently impressed with figures of 4/28 in Quetta Gladiators final game of PSL 6.

Full Name: Arish Ali Khan

Date of Birth: 20 Dec 2000 Karachi

Major teams: Quetta Gladiators, Pakistan Under-16s, Pakistan Under-19s, Karachi Zone VI Under-19s, Pakistan Railways, Karachi Zone V Under-19s, Pakistan Air Force, Sindh, Karachi Under-16s, Port Qasim Authority, Sindh Under-19s

Batting style: Right-handed

Bowling style: Left Arm orthodox

Interest in cricket

Almost all members of my family were interested in watching cricket, but no one had ever played it to any proper level. Like most youngsters of my age, I used to play street-cricket with a tape-ball and one day, I told my father that I would like to join an academy to learn to play the game properly. My father, possibly thinking that this was some passing fad for me during the summer break, decided to enrol me at the age of 10 in the National Bank Cricket Academy hoping that I would grow out of it and move on with my life. How wrong was he!


Continuing education despite playing cricket

I am studying for a degree in Computer Science and have continued to take my education seriously and am indebted to my teachers for helping me keep up with my studies whilst pursuing my passion for cricket.


Big jump from academy cricket to Karachi Region Under-16s in 2014 and then captain of Pakistan Under-16s

I played for 2-3 years for my academy during which I impressed the coaches to no end and then in 2014, I was invited for trials for Karachi Region’s Under-16 side but could not make it into the side in that year but did well enough in the subsequent 2 years. Along the way in 2015, I was appointed captain of the Pakistan Under-16s for the tour of Australia where we won the One-Day and T20 series. This was a side which consisted of the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haider Ali and for me to not only be selected for this tour but to be named as captain was a huge achievement. I was to captain the Under-16s again in the tour of UAE in 2016 where we played against Australia Under-16s. On this tour, I lead a team that consisted of players such as Rohail Nazir and Naseem Shah. I must admit that I was surprised myself when I was named captain for both these tours, but I assume the selectors saw some leadership qualities in me and this proved to be a great experience for me.


Experience of playing Grade 2 cricket since the age of 15

I have always felt that playing cricket in Karachi is not for the faint-hearted as you get to play on very tough surfaces but if you do well, then it does make things easier for you later on in life. This is why along with my appearances for Karachi and Pakistan Under-16s, I was also able to play very competitive Grade 2 cricket starting with Pakistan Railways in Patron's Trophy (Grade II) 2015/16 where I took 15 wickets in 4 matches against some high-quality players, then with Port Qasim Authority in Patron's Trophy (Grade II) 2016 to 2018 seasons taking a total of 17 wickets. Needless to say, that the experience and exposure in playing in such competitions was amazing and has helped me shape my career so far.


Moving up to Under-19 cricket

I have played One-Day and Three-Day games at the Under-19 level since 2017 with a lot of confidence boosting success. In the Inter Region Under-19 One Day Tournament 2017/18, I took 16 wickets in 10 games for Karachi Whites and then in the Regional Inter District Under-19 One Day Tournament 2019/20, I took 12 wickets in 5 matches. Similarly, I have performed well over the years in Three-Day competitions at the Under-19 level where in the 2017/18 season I took 24 wickets in 7 matches in the Inter Region Under-19 Three Day Tournament for Karachi Whites, and then followed it up with 12 wickets in 4 games in the next season. But my crowning achievement at this level came when I became the second highest wicket-taker for Sindh Under-19s in the National Under-19 Three Day Tournament 2019/20 with 30 wickets in 6 games.


The Pakistan Super League experience

I was selected in the emerging category for Quetta Gladiators in the fifth edition of Pakistan Super League but did not get to play any games. Of course, the whole experience of training and sharing the dressing room with some top international players was amazing and an experience that I wanted to be able to draw upon in the future. My plan at the PSL has always been to interact with as many foreign players as I could to understand their mindset and learn how they plan and prepare for games.

The opportunity to put all that I had learned into practice came in the next edition of the PSL in the second stage of the tournament in Abu Dhabi when our captain Sarfaraz Ahmed told me the night before, that I would be playing the final game of the tournament for Quetta. This was an opportunity I had been waiting for a long time and my attitude was to go out there and do my best and not to worry about failure and not to take unnecessary pressure on myself. This helped me bowl so well in this game that I ended up with figures of 4/28. I suppose, the wicket of Martin Guptill on my first ball of the spell really set things in motion for me as that removed any pressure I had on my shoulders. And then the wicket of Sharjeel Khan was the icing on the cake for me as these were two very dangerous opposition batsmen. Knowing how the Abu Dhabi wicket behaves I bowled in a way that made it difficult for batsmen to hit out against me. I guess sometimes, things do according to plan, and this was that day. After that game, Sarfaraz Ahmed spoke to me at length and told me to continue working hard and I was very pleased with the support I got not just from our captain but our team management as well and I am hoping that this performance will open more doors for me in the future.


Bowling philosophy in white-ball cricket is simple – frustrate the batsman into making mistakes

I always try and bowl wicket to wicket with the objective of frustrating the batsman into making a mistake. This strategy in T20s and 50-over matches can be very effective as in these formats the batsmen are looking to score off every ball and not being given that opportunity makes them make wrong decisions or play risky shots. As Twenty20 cricket has become very tough for bowlers, I am looking to bowl more dot-balls and use the Chinaman as a variety in my bowling and hopefully that will help me take wickets too. In terms of role-models, Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath has always been someone I follow and copy in terms of bowling in the red-ball version of the game but when it comes to the shorter formats, I draw a lot of inspiration from and idolize Mohammad Nawaz for the way he contains the batsmen and also for his batting skills.


Aspirations to play in the next edition of the PSL and to represent Pakistan

I am preparing myself to play in the upcoming domestic season in the 2nd XI or the first XI for Sindh and hope that at some stage, I can play First-class cricket as that is a great honour for any cricketer. In addition, hopefully, my performance in the only game I played in PSL 6 will play some role in my possible selection for the next season. Whilst I do wish to specialize as a Twenty20 player, I have no issue in playing all formats and am looking forward to wearing Pakistan colours in the not-so-distant future.

[Saj]

Looked pretty good in the PSL considering he was making his debut and was playing in a struggling side.

Looks like he has some decent pedigree having played at Under 16 and Under 19 levels and in Grade II.

One to keep an eye on.

[Firebat]

Love watching an off spinner bowl. Hope he develops well over the next few years.

[Bewal Express]

Saw him in the PSL and didn't see anything special. Hopefully he will develop to become a good bowler

[MenInG]

Saw him in the PSL and didn't see anything special. Hopefully he will develop to become a good bowler

You saw one game in PSL in which he took for 4/28.

[Bewal Express]

You saw one game in PSL in which he took for 4/28.

With young spinners I look for the drop or dip and maybe it was the format or maybe its just my instinct about makes a good finger spinner but I didn't see that spark. It doesn't mean he won't improve.

[MenInG]

With young spinners I look for the drop or dip and maybe it was the format or maybe its just my instinct about makes a good finger spinner but I didn't see that spark. It doesn't mean he won't improve.

Video of his 4/28 in PSL

[Bewal Express]

Video of his 4/28 in PSL

The 3rd delivery showed promise going forward

[Saj]

Wouldn't be a bad idea for some of these youngsters to get 2 or 3 year deals from PSL franchises.

[MenInG]

Part of 2021/22 Sindh squad - expecting big things from him this season.

[MenInG]

Debuting for Peshawar Zalmi

[MenInG]

Trial by fire!

[Wahid1234]

This guy seems bang average no variations what so ever. Pakistan desperately need a mystery spinner like ajmal.

[shah_1]

Finger spinners have no chance in modern day white ball unless you are tall like Daniel Victorri. Extra bounce makes it difficult for batsman

[zacattakk]

Poor captaincy by Peshawar to have the new inexperienced kid bowling in the powerplay against an inform Zaman. He clearly wasnt good enough to be doing that

[shamaan]

Poor captaincy by Peshawar to have the new inexperienced kid bowling in the powerplay against an inform Zaman. He clearly wasnt good enough to be doing that

Definitely poor captaincy I was surprised they dropped the opener who I thought looked good .

[MenInG]

Arish taking part in the 2nd phase of the conditioning camp