Ali making most of the chance with Multan Sultans

Dubai - Nauman Ali took two wickets conceding 14 runs in Multan's six-wicket win

Not all make it through the system an into the international spotlight. There are plenty of cricketers who have continuously performed well and knocked on the doors but haven't found a way through.
It could be various factors, circumstances or just, plain luck. And Nauman Ali is one of those. The left-arm spinner has taken bucket loads of wickets on Pakistan' domestic circuit for over 11 seasons but failed to break into the National team.
Now, 32, chances of that are bleak but he continues to be a servant of Pakistan's domestic cricket. And Ali is making the most of the chance with his stint with the Multan Sultans in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Playing only his second game in this edition, Ali played his part in Sultans' six-wicket win over defending champions Islamabad United with 2-14 in Dubai.
And Ali was grateful to have got the opportunity.
"I had the confidence because of my performances. Multan Sultans were watching me (on the domestic circuit," said Ali.
"Iqbal Imam, my coach in Hyderabad, supported me and spoke to me about my performances and thanks to that I got a name for myself here," he added.
Ali, who hails from Sind, Hyderabad, has consistently scalped wickets for Khan Research Laboratories over the years.
Ali was the leading wicket taker with 17 scalps in nine matches in the Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup in the 2018-19 season and he also took 43 wickets in eight games in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
On his spell against Islamabad United, Ali revealed that the coach Johan Botha and captain Shoaib Malik had told them to go in with an attacking mindset.
"The coach and captain told us to bowl attackingly. They told us to try and get them all out because if you take wickets in T20 cricket, the pressure will be on the opposition. That was our plan. We wanted to put maximum pressure on them, especially in the Powerplay.
And thankfully, it worked well for us as we got three or four wickets and that put a bit of pressure on them and they got out quickly," Ali said.
james@khaleejtimes.com