QUETTA – Two six-year-olds have become social media sensations incricket-mad Pakistan with videos of their bowling “blowing away” the likesof Shane Warne and Wasim Akram, who have been giving the pair tips onimproving their game.
Eli Mikal Khan, from the southwestern city of Quetta, has been nicknamed“Shane Warne Junior” after videos posted on Twitter of his astonishing legbreak bowling attracted awe from fans around the world and drew tips andencouragement from the Australian legend.
Another six-year-old, an aspiring pace bowler named Hasan Akhtar, hasmeanwhile been dubbed “Little Wasim Akram” after the former Pakistanicaptain — who also saw videos of him on Twitter and insisted on trackinghim down and meeting him.
The two children have been widely feted by Pakistani media, as thecricket-obsessed country celebrates the successful staging of the thirdPakistan Super League final in Karachi — a hugely symbolic step towardsbringing international teams back amid improving security.
Eli, who spoke to AFP at his home in Quetta, said he dreams of playing forPakistan.
“I love cricket… I want to become a perfect leg break bowler,” he said.
He said he enjoys the adulation he has received — particularly from legendssuch as Warne, who first tweeted encouragement to Eli after seeing one ofhis videos in March.
This week Warne retweeted another video of Eli, writing: “Absolutelyfantastic, blown away on how good the ball comes out of your hand,especially at the age of only 6 — well done and keep up the great work. Onetip — get that bowling arm a little higher!”
Eli, whose father and coach Abdullah Khan maintains his Twitter account,said he had been honoured by the tweet, adding: “I will definitely work onthe given tip by Sir “.
*Pakistani hopes lifted*
Admiration of the two six-year-olds comes as Pakistan enjoys guardedoptimism over the return of international cricket, driven from the countryafter a deadly militant attack targeting the Sri Lanka team in 2009.
Last weekend Karachi became the second major venue to host internationalmatches after Lahore hosted five international matches against Zimbabwe in2015, as well as the PSL final in March last year, three World XI matchesin September and one against Sri Lanka a month later.
If Eli’s dream of playing for Pakistan bears fruit, he could be joined byfellow Twitter sensation Hasan, videos of whom drew Akram’s notice in lateFebruary.
“Where is this boy???” he said, retweeting one of the videos and callingfor a “platform” to discover such talent in Pakistan.
On Monday he tweeted images of himself with the six-year-old, who he calleda “young sensation” with “unbelievable skills”.
“Really enjoyed myself spending quality time with Hasan,” he wrote, addingthat the child’s knowledge is already “unreal”.
Hasan’s father Muhammad said that before he realised how talented his sonwas, he found the bowling habit “annoying”.
“Our home floor is made of mud and Hasan would break the surface bowlingall day,” he told AFP by telephone from their village of Chichawatni, some200 kilometres from Lahore.
One of Hasan’s seven older siblings posted the initial video of him, whichthe family did not know had gone viral until a cousin phoned to say it wasplaying on television and that news reporters were looking for him.
The meeting with Akram took place in Karachi, Hasan’s father said, addingthat it was “beyond imagination”.
Hasan said Akram had been “very kind”, adding that other heroes includePakistan’s Muhammad Aamir and Australia’s Mitchell Starc.
“We did not expect the amount of love and support he has shown to us,”Hasan’s father said. “He coached Hasan how to hold the ball properly, theimportance of the run-up and how to deliver the ball and he insisted thatHasan should continue his studies.” – APP /AFP