Son of a proud father coaching Dubai school cricketers, cracks double century in Test cricket as Pakistan records big win over Sri Lanka

By K.R. Nayar

When Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique smashed a double century in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds, securing his country an innings and 222-run victory over Sri Lanka, I was very happy for his father, Shafique Ahmed, who has been shaping the careers of thousands of Dubai school cricketers over the years as a coach at Gems Modern Academy.

 

I have extensively covered schools cricket and hence have been in touch with almost all school team coaches. One coach who would regularly call me to share his school's victories was Shafique Ahmed. He was always enthusiastic about highlighting his school's top performers. I believe that his son, Abdullah, who has now become a Pakistan Test star, is an exemplary testament to cricket rewarding those who love the game earnestly and strive to motivate youngsters to give their best.

 

Shafique Ahmed 

It is through my regular interactions with Shafique that I realised he was the elder brother of Arshad Ali, a heavy scorer in UAE domestic cricket and who later captained the UAE team. Shafique had played a pivotal role in grooming Arshad Ali from a very young age, and his incredible performances had earned him the nickname 'Desert Sachin'.

 

Arshad Ali 

In 2001, I had interviewed both Shafique and Arshad Ali together, and that's when I discovered that Shafique was also a prolific run-getter. By 2001, together they had scored a total of 80 centuries in domestic cricket - Shafique with 45 centuries in 13 years and Arshad with 35 centuries in just six years.

 

Coach Shafiq Ahmed with Dubai Gems Modern Academy team after winning a title 

At the time, our Pakistan Test match hero with a double century, was only a two-year-old child. Abdullah grew up listening to the exploits of his father and uncle in UAE's domestic cricket. Shafique worked as a coach, not only to earn an income but also to transform his son into a cricketer, just as he did for boys and even girl cricketers in the UAE. In one season, he ensured that his school won both, the boys' and girls' titles, in an interschool tournament.

 

Shafique Ahmed with Dubai Gems Modern Academy girls team after winning a title

Shafique took great pride in having his school boys' and girls' pictures published in newspapers, and was always ready with photos of the highest run-getter. Today, he must be a proud man, as his son's pictures are published in newspapers around the world, even making it to the front page of Pakistani newspapers without him having to request any reporter.

 

Abdullah Shafique who made his father and uncle proud 

Shafique had once shared with me about how, despite his impressive run tally, he could not get to play international cricket but was thrilled that Arshad went on to do so. He expressed his happiness each time his brother received an award. He is also glad that these days there is more recognition for good performances and that they even have the chance to be selected for international matches.

 

Shafique's own record of accomplishments includes hitting over 150 runs each in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final of the 1992 Sony Cup, piling up 700 runs and hitting 14 centuries in one season of the Bukhatir league, and scoring four consecutive half-centuries in one of the Sharjah night cricket tournaments.

 

Little did he think that one day his son would achieve greater laurels than him, and that cricket would reward him for the devotion and dedication with which he played and served the game. 

 

Abdullah Shafique joins the ranks of Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar through his feat  

Abdullah's achievements are far from simple. During the course of his double century, he joined the ranks of Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar as only the third overseas batsman to score a double century at the SSC.

Nothing could have made a father and uncle prouder and happier than what Abdullah accomplished in the second Test.