ISLAMABAD: Waseem Sardar Yousafzai, a cricketer hailing from the Swabi district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, turned his dream into reality by securing a place in the Under-19 Swabi team.
Waseem Sardar Yousafzai, born in the educated and literary family of the historic village of Turlandai in the Swabi district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, showcased his ability to turn the impossible into possible. He proved himself by transforming his dreams into reality and was selected for the Under-19 Swabi team.
During his childhood, Waseem Sardar Yousafzai, who had shifted from his ancestral village Turlandai, Swabi to Islamabad, had a keen interest in watching cricket matches on TV screen. He would eagerly observe the bowling and batting skills of players like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and others.
This passion ignited a desire within him to become a cricketer as well. To pursue this passion and prove himself, he started playing tape ball cricket in the local grounds of Islamabad with his brothers and cousins. Soon, his extraordinary skills caught the attention of his father.
In 2019, Waseem Sardar's father, the renowned journalist and poet Sardar Yousaf Zai, introduced him to a local club in Islamabad, which played a significant role in shaping Waseem's cricket career. This marked a transition from tape ball to hard ball cricket, as Waseem's aspirations transformed into reality.
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Initially, Waseem Sardar became part of the U-16 category and quickly secured a place in the U-16 Islamabad region. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, he had to face a severe injury that kept him out of the game for over two years and he was unable to participate in any tournaments.
Despite the excruciating pain, he refused to accept defeat and focused on improving his batting skills during the period of recovery. It was during this time that he discovered his innate talent as a batsman. With unwavering determination, he successfully recovered from his injury and resumed fast bowling.
In 2022, Waseem's perseverance paid off once again as he earned a spot in the Under-19 team. However, his luck took a turn when the new Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) implemented changes in the domestic structure, resulting in the cancellation of tournaments.
Despite this setback, Waseem remained determined, firmly believing that quitting was not an option. He continued to impress with consistent performances, participating in local practice matches in Islamabad, showcasing his skills.
Former first-class cricketer and Waseem's coach, Yasin Bari, is putting in tremendous effort to enhance Waseem Sardar's abilities and transform him into a top-level player. He is highly impressed by Waseem's immense talent and the variations in his bowling style.
According to Yasin Bari, Waseem possesses the capability to become the next Mohammad Asif for the Pakistan national team, with his excellent In and out-swing bowling skills.
Yasin firmly believes that as long as Waseem remains dedicated and continues to work hard, nothing can hinder his progress. Furthermore, Waseem constantly strengthens his abilities by maintaining a high level of fitness, allowing him to further enhance his potential.
Recently, Waseem Sardar participated in the trials for the DCA Under-19 Swabi team and earned a place in the team due to his exceptional line and length bowling and his ability to trouble batsmen in deep with his dangerous In & out-swing and showcased a brilliant performance in the tournament. He maintained an excellent economy rate while taking three wickets.
Along with being famous for his exceptional fast bowling, Waseem Sardar has also made a name for himself in batting. He is known for his ability to play long, powerful and flat-hatting shots, much like Pakistan cricket team's all-rounders, Abdul Razzaq and Anwar Ali.
Waseem Sardar, who was selected for the Under-19 Swabi team, expressed his joy and said that everything is a result of the immense love, support, and encouragement from his respected father, Sardar Yousafzai, and the relentless efforts of his coach, Yasin Bari.
Waseem Sardar's father, Sardar Yousafzai, who has been associated with journalism and Pashto literature in Islamabad for a long time, expressed his thoughts on his son's success and said that, "Today, I am extremely happy that my son has been selected for the Under-19 Swabi team. The child in whom natural abilities reside has been brought from the world of dreams to the real field."
"I have complete confidence that while representing Pakistan at an international level, he will shine standing alongside likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and other fast bowlers." he added
He extended special thanks to Waseem Sardar's coach, Yasin Bari, emphasized that, "Today, where Waseem stands is due to the pivotal role played by his coach, Yasin Bari. We will never forget him."
On Waseem Sardar's selection in the Under-19 team, the political, social, literary, and public circles of Swabi and Islamabad have expressed their joy and extended congratulations to him and his family.
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