Farhan Ali - health is wealth
Veterans Cricket ACT | August 30, 2024
On a cool Saturday night in July 2000, around 8:30 pm, I touched land down under. For me, it was a major change to go from Karachi, my hometown, with a population of around 20 million, to a country with an overall population of 20 million.
My first day at Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, feels like it was yesterday. It was quite overwhelming. Being unfamiliar with the local language, culture, way of life, and surroundings required a tremendous amount of adjustment.
I remember my first lecture I couldn't follow the lecturer. Any word was beyond my comprehension. After my first day, I saw Ms. Rose Dunn, the international advisor. I admitted to her that I was having a really hard time understanding what my teacher was saying. She comforted me and boosted my confidence. She said that while things take time, you are brave for travelling so far to study. Days flew by, and I soon began to feel assured and at ease. All of my teachers were really kind and supportive, but Helen Francis, Barney Dalgarno, Geoff Fellows, Ken Eustace, Roger Box, and John Wackett stood out in particular. Being taught by one of the top teachers in the world was a true blessing for me.
English is a humorous language. When one of my Bangladeshi classmates was questioned by one of my professors, "How are you going?" he responded, "by Bus." ??
Burgess Rawson are proud sponsors of Veterans Cricket ACT
The finest sporting country town in Australia, in my opinion, is Wagga Wagga. For Wagga Wagga, I participated in first-grade cricket and acquired a lot of dependable friends. My captain Shane and my coach Shaun are two of my best mates who still keep in touch with me. With my cricket teammates, I picked up several Aussie slang phrases. I can still recall being in Pakistan when my sister invited me at dinner. In a gesture of hospitality, she politely requested that I should eat more. I said, "Thanks, but I just pigged out." All eyes were fixed on me as everyone froze. I failed to notice that the word "pig" is forbidden in Pakistan. I knew how many seconds were in a minute because I could count ??
On April 9th, 2003, I graduated from Charles Sturt University's Wagga Wagga campus with a Master of Information Technology. At that point, I had already fallen in love with Australia and wanted to make it my home. I so applied for Australian residency. After becoming a naturalized citizen, I applied for and was offered a graduate position at one of the federal government agencies. My tenure with this organization will reach 17 years next month.
David Goggins once stated: “Living a life avoiding failure does only one thing for you; it never gives you the opportunity to see what you are truly capable of.”
Never give up; perseverance always pays off is the lesson of my tale. I wanted to express my gratitude to all the CSU teachers that assisted me and provided me with invaluable support.
God bless Australia!
Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi
Cheers
Farhan Ali
Farhan Ali has recently been selected to represent ACT Veterans Over 50s in the Australian National Championships in Newcastle in November 2024.
Farhan is a talented allrounder cricketer who grew playing a high standard of cricket in Pakistan before moving to Australia to study Information Technology.
He studied at the Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga in the Riverina region of NSW and played first grade cricket for Wagga RSL.
In more recent years Farhan has played in Canberra grade competition for Eastlakes Cricket Club.
Let’s find out more about Farhan’s journey in the game.
What year you were born?
1974
Can you remember you first game of cricket
I think, I was 10 years old but still remember the rubbish Kashmir willow cricket bat I used.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I played most of cricket in Karachi - Pakistan (Under 14, Under 16, under 19, Grade Cricket for Karachi & a lot of cricket in UAE). I also played for Wagga Wagga and first grade for RSL Wagga.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in senior cricket?
That’s donkey years, I think, I was in school when I first started playing senior grade for the club called Pakistan Cricket Club. All I can recall is that my father used to be very critical of me for my academic achievement, and my sister was an excellent student. My younger sister, who is currently a heart surgeon, was a smart student. She received a promotion during our time in school and was placed in my year 6 class. Dad used tell me a lot of nice words ??, saying things like, "Look at your sister, she got promoted," and I would respond, "Dad that doesn't mean that I got demoted." He laughs now when we get together and chat about that.
What was the highest grade you played, and can you remember how you performed in your first game in that grade?
In Australia, I played first grade cricket for Wagga Wagga. I scored a ton in the first-grade game against Lake Albert cricket club. Last year I took my kids to the cricket ground where I scored my 1st hundred in an Australia soil.
"Standing on the cricket pitch where I scored my first ton on Australian soil 2 years ago. 1st Grade Game (Wagga RSL v Lake Albert) Kincaid St, Wagga Wagga NSW. The grass even smelt wonderfully nostalgic."
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I’m an allrounder (who still believe that he can bat and bowl ??)
What were your strengths as a player?
Playing for enjoyment and making friends is my strength.
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Shoaib Akthar (really fast and after every ball he came to me and used the F… word that if I try to hit him for 4, he will kill me).
Mohammad Zahid (extremely fast and furious, faster than Shoaib especially in short pitches but really nice guy). Thank God, I got out that day otherwise I would have been long dead ??).
Ben Oakley from Wagga Wagga. Very competitive, mentally strong and arrogant (which is I believe imperative to become a good fast bowler). I think, he also played first grade for the Western District Cricket Club. We both played for Wagga Wagga and RSL.
Mohammad Zahid
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Deshabandu Handunnettige Deepthi Priyantha Kumar Dharmasena (can turn the ball more than the spelling of his name ??. In 1998, during the Ramadan cricket competition, I played against him at the Sharjah cricket ground. He is currently an extremely skilled umpire.
Saqlain Mushtaq (against PIA colts, he was only 18 (on paper ??, I think).
Ali Hussian Rizvi (one of the best leg spinners I have ever faced in my life. He played only one test for Pakistan against South Africa).
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Younis Khan (I played with him representing Muslim Commercial Bank – MCB Karachi) back in 1994 also against him in the club cricket.
Shahid Afridi (played a lot of club cricket with him in Karachi).
Moin Khan (played a lot of club cricket with him in Karachi).
Younis Khan
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
When it comes to wicket keeping, Rashid Latif is the King. When I asked him who he believed to be the greatest keeper in cricket history, he named Ian Andrew Healy.
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Shaun Coote (Wagga Wagga first grade coach) and Shane Vincent (Wagga Wagga first grade skipper)
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Can’t recall banter but I do remember my first job at Grace Brothers Sydney Macquarie Centre in my early days in Australia. The Virgin Music Department once existed. I was requested to go check if they still needed boxes by my manager. When I asked a female employee, "Hello, are you a Virgin?" she said, "Excuse meeeeeeeeeee!" I quickly realized—I apologize—are you a virgin staff member? God spared the Queen, but on that particular day, God spared me??.
Who was your childhood hero?
Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (former Pakistani Cricketer)
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Sachin Tendulkar
Ricky Thomas Ponting
Aravinda de Silva
Ricky Ponting
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Sharjah Cricket Ground – UAE (it’s a batting paradise)
Was there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
One day games Australia against Pakistan ??
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
In 2001 Wagga Wagga first grade, 2-day game, we were 5 for 30 and chased down the target of around 380 runs.
You’re now playing over 50s cricket, what’s the best part of playing veterans cricket and what advice would you offer anyone over 50 who is thinking about playing again?
You are never too old for passion. Age is just a number, it’s no limitations!
The only limitations are the ones you set for yourself
Winning trophies for Eastlakes Cricket Club in Canberra
What are your hobbies?
Reading books, particularly memoirs of athletes
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Health is Wealth
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
We need to organise more T20 games in the grade cricket
Every 2 – day game should have 4 innings
