LAHORE: Teenage batting sensation Haider Ali has said that Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma was an inspiration and he wants to emulate his batting style to produce a match-winning performance.
“As far as role models are concerned, mine is Rohit Sharma,” Haider said in a video press conference. “I really like him as a player, and want to give the side an aggressive start at the top, and hit the ball cleanly like him.”
“He is a man for all three formats, and he can adapt his game to all three formats. And the thing I like best is when he crosses 50, he moves on to a 100, and then he’s thinking of 150, and even 200. That’s what I want to do: to think about getting big scores, and when I get there, aim for even bigger ones. He finishes the game off for his side, and is a real match-winner.”
Haider Ali rose to national prominence after scoring a half-century during a defeat to India in the Under-19 World Cup semi-final earlier this year. He emerged as one of the most promising young batsmen by excelling in all three formats over the past few months.
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The 19-year-old said that the England tour will be a great learning opportunity for him and she is looking forward to interacting with batting coach Younis Khan and learning how to play sweep shots.
“It is a great opportunity for me, I want to learn as much as possible during this tour. We’ll be together for around three months and I will try to get maximum benefits from this tour,” he said adding he will do his best when he is part of the playing squad.
Haider said that he was comfortable in any format and batting position adding that he was looking forward to playing for his country.
“My aim was to represent Pakistan. My aim is to play all three formats, and my preparation for all three formats is great. I am comfortable with any format. I can do power hitting in the shorter format and I have played long innings in longer formats as well,” he said.
He also reflected on the third anniversary of Pakistan’s victory over India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, saying it brought a desire to be a part of the national side.
Recalling the moment when he was named in the team, Haider said that his father initially brushed aside the news which soon changed after the PCB made the official announcement.
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