Sohail Khan (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Sohail Khan also known as Sohail Pathan, is a Pakistan
i cricketer. A right-arm fast-medium bowler, he gained instant recognition during his debut first-class
season in 2007 when he broke Fazal Mahmood
's record for the best bowling figures by a Pakistani in a first-class match. Shortly afterwards he made his international debut, in an ODI against Zimbabwe.
in Pakistan
's North-West Frontier Province
. He played tennis-ball cricket from a young age and bowled at a lively pace, something he says he owes to the muscle strength he built up from throwing stones and swimming in rivers and streams present in the mountainous environment. Realising his potential and on the advice of a friend, he moved to Karachi
to play professional cricket.
and attained top position, his speed of 85 mph was also the third fastest in the country. A stint at Millat Club, in Malir, was followed by a place in Sind Police's team. A few months later he was spotted by Dr. Shah, a renowned individual in Karachi's cricket fraternity, who convinced him to play for his team, A.O. Club. While playing for Shah's team, Sohail was spotted by former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif
who offered him a place at his cricket academy, which he accepted. During his time at the academy he also played for Deewan group, before joining Sui Southern Gas Company's (SSGC) cricket team. He picked up 21 in his initial matches for SSGC, and the team was promoted to first-class cricket shortly afterwards.
Sohail made his first-class debut for SSGC against Pakistan Customs in the 2007/08 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He impressed in his first innings with the ball, picking up a five wicket haul for only 59 runs off 25 overs, and followed up with another five wicket haul in the second innings for 75 runs off 23 overs, to finish with a ten wicket haul on debut. In SSGC's final game of the competition, Sohail broke Fazal Mahmood's long-standing record for the best bowling figures by a Pakistani in first-class cricket with a match haul of 16-189 off 52.5 overs against WAPDA at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi. He finished as the highest wicket-taker for the competition, with 65 wickets at an average of 18.43 including eight five wicket hauls and two ten wicket hauls.
Playing for Sind
in the 2007/08 Pentangular Cup, Sohail took four wickets in his team's opening match of the competition. He followed that performance up with consecutive five wicket hauls against Baluchistan and Federal Areas in the next two matches. Against Punjab he took six wickets, including Salman Butt
, Misbah-ul-Haq
and Kamran Akmal
, helping Sind to victory in the tournament. Sohail was subsequently named bowler of the tournament, leading with 23 wickets at an average of 16.69, meaning he ended his debut first-class season with 91 wickets from 14 matches.
He was selected to replace Mohammad Asif in the 16-man squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh
in June 2008, which involved the hosts and India, after Asif was detained at Dubai International Airport
.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i cricketer. A right-arm fast-medium bowler, he gained instant recognition during his debut first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
season in 2007 when he broke Fazal Mahmood
Fazal Mahmood
Fazal Mahmood was a Pakistani cricketer, regarded as the finest pace bowler of his country's early years. He played in 34 Test matches and took 139 wickets at a bowling average of 24.70...
's record for the best bowling figures by a Pakistani in a first-class match. Shortly afterwards he made his international debut, in an ODI against Zimbabwe.
Early and personal life
Sohail was born and raised in Malakand DivisionMalakand Division
Malakand Division was an administrative division of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, until the reforms of 2000 abolished the third tier of government....
in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
's North-West Frontier Province
North-West Frontier Province
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province and various other names, is one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the north-west of the country...
. He played tennis-ball cricket from a young age and bowled at a lively pace, something he says he owes to the muscle strength he built up from throwing stones and swimming in rivers and streams present in the mountainous environment. Realising his potential and on the advice of a friend, he moved to Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
to play professional cricket.
Domestic career
After playing some minor cricket in Karachi, Sohail entered a speed hunt talent contest held by former Pakistan bowler Sikander BakhtSikander Bakht (cricketer)
Sikander Bakht is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in 26 Tests and 27 ODIs from 1976 to 1989. He is remembered for demolishing the Indian team for just 126 runs taking 8 wickets in the innings in the 2nd Test match of the 1979 tour of Pakistan to India.He was included in the team in place...
and attained top position, his speed of 85 mph was also the third fastest in the country. A stint at Millat Club, in Malir, was followed by a place in Sind Police's team. A few months later he was spotted by Dr. Shah, a renowned individual in Karachi's cricket fraternity, who convinced him to play for his team, A.O. Club. While playing for Shah's team, Sohail was spotted by former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif
Rashid Latif
Rashid Latif is a former Pakistani wicket keeper and a right handed batsman who represented the Pakistani cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International matches, between 1992 and 2003. He also served as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team in 2003...
who offered him a place at his cricket academy, which he accepted. During his time at the academy he also played for Deewan group, before joining Sui Southern Gas Company's (SSGC) cricket team. He picked up 21 in his initial matches for SSGC, and the team was promoted to first-class cricket shortly afterwards.
Sohail made his first-class debut for SSGC against Pakistan Customs in the 2007/08 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He impressed in his first innings with the ball, picking up a five wicket haul for only 59 runs off 25 overs, and followed up with another five wicket haul in the second innings for 75 runs off 23 overs, to finish with a ten wicket haul on debut. In SSGC's final game of the competition, Sohail broke Fazal Mahmood's long-standing record for the best bowling figures by a Pakistani in first-class cricket with a match haul of 16-189 off 52.5 overs against WAPDA at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi. He finished as the highest wicket-taker for the competition, with 65 wickets at an average of 18.43 including eight five wicket hauls and two ten wicket hauls.
Playing for Sind
Sind cricket team
The Sindh cricket team was a cricket team representing the province of Sindh in Pakistan and pre-partition India.Sindh's first first-class game was in December 1932, when they drew with Ceylon at the Gymkhana ground in Karachi. From 1934–35 until 1947–48 Sindh participated in the Ranji Trophy...
in the 2007/08 Pentangular Cup, Sohail took four wickets in his team's opening match of the competition. He followed that performance up with consecutive five wicket hauls against Baluchistan and Federal Areas in the next two matches. Against Punjab he took six wickets, including Salman Butt
Salman Butt
Salman Butt is a former Pakistani cricketer who was a regular Test and ODI left-handed opening batsman. He made his Test debut on 3 September 2003 in the third Test against Bangladesh, and a year later made his ODI debut against West Indies on 22 September 2004. He was appointed captain of the...
, Misbah-ul-Haq
Misbah-ul-Haq
Misbah-ul-Haq Khan Niazi is a Pakistani cricketer and the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team for s and s...
and Kamran Akmal
Kamran Akmal
Kamran Akmal is a Pakistani cricketer who has played Tests, ODIs and T20Is for Pakistan as a wicket-keeper.- International career :He is a quick-scoring batsman and a wicket-keeper, who has achieved 6 centuries in Test innings...
, helping Sind to victory in the tournament. Sohail was subsequently named bowler of the tournament, leading with 23 wickets at an average of 16.69, meaning he ended his debut first-class season with 91 wickets from 14 matches.
International career
Sohail made his international debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in the fourth match of the five ODI series. He was expensive on the flat wicket, although managed to pick up one wicket, finishing with figures of 1/38 off 7 overs. He then played in the third and fourth ODIs against the visiting Bangladeshis in April 2008, going wicketless in the first and picking up three wickets in the second.He was selected to replace Mohammad Asif in the 16-man squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in June 2008, which involved the hosts and India, after Asif was detained at Dubai International Airport
Dubai International Airport
Dubai International Airport is an international airport serving Dubai, the largest city of the United Arab Emirates. It is a major aviation hub in the Middle East, and is the main airport of Dubai. It is situated in the Al Garhoud district, southeast of Dubai...
.