Moiz Qazi will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father and brother and represent the UAE on the international stage this summer.
The 17-year-old all-rounder is one of 25 hopefuls bidding for a place in the UAE’s 14-man squad for next month’s Under-19 ACC Premier League tournament in Malaysia.
To achieve that feat, Qazi, who was selected in the provisional squad having shined in the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Al Ain inter-emirate competition in April, needs to impress coach Aaqib Javed in the final training camp this week. The final squad for the 50-over tournament is expected to be named early next week.
He can gain confidence from the fact that his dad Ayub played for the senior team in the 1990s, while sibling Moaaz competed in the Under-19 World Cup and travelled with the seniors to Bangladesh for the 2014 World Twenty20.
“It would be a great dream and a very good achievement to follow them and represent the national team,” he said. “It will be a nice trend to continue since it falls in the family. Maybe it was an expectation that I am in this provisional squad and hopefully I can now get selected and then go on to the senior team.”
He added: “My dad gives me a lot of tips all the time. He wants me to do well and sometimes tells me to work on my fitness more, do more bowling, fielding and batting, and be prepared mentally because when you’re on the field, you need to have a cool head and remain composed.”
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The Cambridge High School pupil also got tips from his brother Moaaz, 19, who he wants to emulate.
“He told me whenever you hit a six, don’t think twice and just hit it as hard as you can.
“I tease him saying I’m going to be better than him but that’s what sibling rivalry is all about. But having him is a big boost for me because it gives me confidence that my brother has reached that level and that motivates me a lot.
“I have a long way to go and hopefully making the final 14 will be the start.”
If Qazi is selected, it will be second time lucky for the MCC Zayed Cricket Academy student, having missed the tour to Kuwait last year due to visa problems.
“I was selected for the competition (ACC Premier League) last year but unfortunately I couldn’t go, so to be selected again would be great. Everyone in the family would be proud,” he said.
With plenty at stake, he admits he has gained a lot during the training camp so far.
“I have learnt how to keep a cool mind and not to get nervous in match pressure situations,” he said.
“There is a lot of pressure in training but the coaches tell us to remain calm and don’t rush anything, plus think how you would do things when you are in a normal situation, whether it’s in the nets or during a warm-up.”
