The all-rounder is part of the 27-man training camp named by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) after impressing for Abu Dhabi in the ECB Al Ain Under-19 inter-emirate tournament in April.
It’s a familiar scenario for the 14-year-old, who 12 months ago reached the same stage but missed out on the Aaqib Javed’s squad for the ACC Premier League in Malaysia.
Figy is one of the in-form players in the camp having scored an impressive 2,075 runs including eight centuries in just 36 games this term. He also proved he can be lethal with the ball taking 24 wickets in those games.
The Abu Dhabi boy admits his form will give him a lot of confidence for the three-month training camp but is adamant he has to prove that he’s worthy of being one of the 15 faces to travel to Malaysia for the 2018 World Cup pre-qualifiers in September.
“It’s great that I’m in this stage of the process again and I really had a good season which has certainly been my best so far,” he said.
“That is a huge plus to have but I have to put that behind me because I’m full focused on making the UAE Under-19 squad.
“It was quite disappointing to miss out last year but I was the second youngest in the camp. I’m just more hungry to make the squad this time. Nothing is impossible.”
At 14, Figy is the second-youngest member in the camp but insists age is just a number. “My age doesn’t matter as long as you put the effort and keep working, then you will get results,” he said. “I just have to keep working hard and hopefully good things will come.”
As well as his abilities, he’s also banking on his fitness, something that he has worked on during the last year.
“In fitness, I’m getting stronger by doing a lot of time in the gym and that’s been a difference,” he said. “That’s a big help because during this camp, there’s a lot of gym work and fitness drills so hopefully that is something I can do well in.”
While he’s thankful for his coaches for his development, Figy also believes the ADIB NSL helped him in enhancing the game.
During this season’s tournament, he was in unstoppable form with the bat for Abu Dhabi Indian School in the Under-15 category. On their run to the final where they were being defeated by Our Own Zenith, his 594 runs (three tons and three half-centuries in six innings), saw him top the overall run-charts.
“The NSL has been a fantastic tournament for me as I got the chance to play against talented players from across the UAE and that can only be a good thing in becoming a better player.”
