Ali Zaryab opens up about PSL aspirations and following in Huraira's footsteps

Pakistan emerging cricketer, Ali Zaryab has opened up about his aspirations to excel in all formats of the game and his journey so far.

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Zaryab, who has made a significant impact in first-class cricket, expressed his desire to achieve similar success in white-ball cricket.

"I want to play in all three formats. However, I have gotten more opportunities in first-class cricket, but not as many in List A or T20. I would like to have the same consistent run and proper chance in white-ball cricket as I have had in first-class," Zaryab said.

Zaryab is particularly enthusiastic about T20 cricket, recognizing its rapid growth and the plethora of opportunities it presents.

"T20 cricket is progressing rapidly and is in high demand with numerous leagues worldwide. I also want to play in domestic National T20, perform well there, and then participate in various leagues. Ultimately, I aim to represent Pakistan in all three formats," he further added.

Reflecting on his recent performance in first-class cricket, Zaryab mentioned the challenges he has faced despite getting good starts.

"I got off to good starts in departmental first-class cricket. I was scoring 30, 40, 50 in every innings but for some reason, I couldn't convert those into hundreds. However, that's cricket, and you have to learn from these mistakes," he explained.

Zaryab also talked about his cricketing idols and reflected on the impact these players have had on his career.

"I have always admired Saeed Anwar. Over the years, I have followed David Warner closely because he was a run machine in all three formats. I liked him because he wasn't confined to just one format," he said.

When discussing the competitive nature of Pakistan's domestic cricket, Zaryab acknowledged its quality and the pressure it brings.

"Our domestic cricket is very good and highly competitive. However, it also depends on the player and how they handle the pressure of international cricket—whether they can perform at the international level as they do in domestic cricket. All this matters," he remarked.

Zaryab recalled proudly one of his most memorable moments in his career which was his double century in first-class cricket against Karachi, which he scored in a single day.

"My most memorable innings was my double century in first-class cricket, which is my highest score, against Karachi. The highlight was that I scored the double century in a single day, which was a significant achievement for me," he said.

Handling pressure is a crucial aspect of cricket, and Zaryab believes in the importance of a strong work process.

"To handle pressure, you have to trust the work process. The process is more in your control than the performance. I try to keep my process strong so that I can overcome challenges when they arise," he explained.

Zaryab also praised senior players like Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq for their support and guidance.

"Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq are very friendly with youngsters. Whenever I played against them, they supported me and gave me a lot of tips. I enjoyed it a lot. Watching them bat also taught me a lot," he shared.

Like many young cricketers, Zaryab dreams of playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

"Every player wishes to play in the PSL. I also want to play in the PSL. But before that, you need to complete the steps in National T20. The whole world is watching PSL, and I also wish to play in it,' he said, expressing his desire to showcase his talent on such a significant platform.

However, he holds no particular preference for any PSL team, stating, "I don't have any particular choice; all the PSL teams are good. Whichever team picks me, I will dedicate myself fully to them."

Looking ahead, Zaryab is focused on the upcoming first-class season starting in September or October.

"The upcoming first-class season, which will start in September or October, is very important for me. I aim to complete 1000 runs this season and back up my performance from the previous year when I also completed 1000 runs,' he said.

Zaryab emphasizes the importance of consistent performance over two years, drawing parallels with players like Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Huraira.

"Performing well for two consecutive years is important. For example, take Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Huraira; they performed well for two consecutive years, added pressure on the selectors to include them in the Shaheens team, and then they will be considered for Test and One Day cricket. My goal is the same: to perform well this season and get my name forwarded for A team tours," he concluded.