They say dreams don’t work, unless you do. To dream is a natural phenomenon, but only those who have the courage to pursue them through hard work achieve their dreams. Pakistan’s latest cricket star, Aamer Jamal, is one such youth who not only pursued his dream of becoming an international cricketer with his hard work but coupled it with commitment and punctuality.

Like many young people, Aamer featured in Pakistan’s Under-19 season in the 2013-14 season but did not manage to break into any first class team. A little frustrated, he tried his luck in Australia and managed to feature in grade cricket for six months for Hawkesbury in Perth. He kept his dream alive, working odd hours and managing to share a house with local player Pat Lawrence and his brother.

“I was disheartened after not getting chances following the Under-19 tournament,” Aamer reminisces about his early struggles. “Luckily, I met someone who hailed from Australia. He praised my hard work and promised to invite me to Australia. He sent me a letter and, before I knew it, I was there to play a season. But when I got information about a Pakistan Under-23 tour, I told my club that I wanted to try my luck, so I came back,” he shrugs.

But luck deserted him as he was neither selected for the tour nor for the Grade-II season. To make ends meet in Pakistan, Aamer started driving a cab. Still, he did not let go of his dream of donning the green cap.

“I took a loan and bought a car on lease because I had to support my family,” recalls Aamer. “Then I had to divide my time between earning and playing cricket. I used to wake up at 5am every day and until 11am I used to drive the cab. Then, from 11am to 1pm, I would bowl in the nets.

From cab driver to star cricketer, Aamer Jamal has achieved his dreams by dint of sheer hard work and perseverance

“After Namaz, I would do batting practice,” he continues. “From 3pm to 7pm, I would be back online to complete my rides. Then again, from 7pm I used to go to the gym to work on my fitness. I would return home when my family members were sleeping, so I used to tell my mother not to keep dinner for me, as I used to eat outside.”

Slowly and gradually, practising and working, Aamer progressed, dreaming day and night. He landed a contract with Pakistan Television in domestic cricket in 2018, but his best came for the Northern Cricket team in the 2022 National Twenty20. He scored 165 runs in eight innings, at a strike rate of 194, in addition to grabbing nine wickets.

The then chief selector, Mohammad Waseem, noticed his performance and awarded him with a T20I selection in the series against England, just a month before the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022.

Aamer’s dream of playing for Pakistan came true. From a bowler in the nets to the Pakistan XI, he had come a long way.

“When head coach Saqlain Mushtaq told me about my inclusion in the team, I was close to crying,” he recounts. “It was really a dream come true for me.” The fifth match of the series saw Aamer become Pakistan’s match winner, as he defended 15 in the last over against an established T20I hitter, Moeen Ali of England, while conceding just eight, to give Pakistan a win by six runs.

Aamer’s next chance came for Pakistan Shaheens on the tour of Zimbabwe. He was the best bowler in the one-day series, fetching 16 wickets, while his tally in the only unofficial Test was five scalps.

Last year, Pakistan were looking for an all-rounder in red ball cricket for an arduous tour of Australia, someone who could bowl long spells and score useful runs down the order. One such candidate was Faheem Ashraf, while selectors also took the bold decision of selecting Aamer for the Tests. Many felt it was against logic — selecting someone on the basis of white ball performances in the longer format — but they said that, since Aamer had experience of playing in Australia, he would come handy.

What Aamer achieved on the tour of Australia was beyond expectations. For the Perth Test, very few had expected that Aamer would come out as the best Pakistan bowler from the match.

Pakistan started the match on the wrong foot, when both Australian openers, David Warner and Usman Khawaja, were dropped by Pakistani fielders. That cost Pakistan dearly. Australia piled up 487, which could have been more had Aamer not taken 6-111 in a sustained 20.2 overs, with Australia losing their last five wickets for 76. Pakistan lost the match by a big 360-run margin.

Aamer was again the star performer in the second Test in Melbourne, taking 3-64 and 2-74 in the two innings, but his 33 not-out kept Pakistan within reach of Australia’s first innings total.

The third and final Test in Sydney capped an all-rounder show for Aamer, as he put up a brave show with the bat, notching 82 that helped Pakistan to a fighting total of 313 in the first innings. And when Australia looked certain to gain a substantial lead, his pace and guile gave Pakistan a slender 14-run lead. Aamer destroyed them by taking 6-69.

It was a top drawer performance by a newcomer. Pakistan again fell cheaply for 115 in the second innings, giving Australia an easy eight-wicket win. It was a sixth consecutive Test whitewash of Pakistan in Australia, but one of the main positives for the tourists was Aamer Jamal.

He was declared ‘Player of the Match’ in Sydney, finishing with 18 wickets and 143 runs in the series — a stellar show. He was the joint top wicket-taker with Australian skipper Pat Cummins.

Aamer says he was ecstatic at receiving the award. “Yes, I waited long to get here. I am thankful to everyone who came to watch the third Test. It is an incredible feeling. I am over the moon. Performing against a great Australian side isn’t easy, but I stuck to the basics, so I succeeded in batting. I loved every moment of this series,” he shares.

Although it being his farewell match, David Warner took away the limelight of the Sydney Test, most Australian pundits were still full of praise for Aamer. “The SCG members will rise to him. This has been heroic. Well done son,” praised former Australian spinner Kerry O’ Keeffe from the commentary box.

Assenting in praise was former New Zealand wicket-keeper Ian Smith. “Jamal has been the pride of Pakistan. He has just inspired them. This will go down as one of the best at this venue. Such a special, special performance … brilliant, absolutely magnificent,” said Smith.

The Sydney Test also capped a fairytale ending for Aamer. This was the ground where he and teammate Pat Lawrence had watched Pakistan playing Australia in January 2017, as spectators. Lawrence was again in the stands ... this time to watch Aamer walk through the stands to collect his Player of the Match award.

When Aamer saw Lawrence, he waved for his old mate, as if saying, “Hi, mate I have fulfilled my dream. Didn’t I tell you I would one day?”

Aamer has worked hard to realise his dreams. Now he has to keep his feet on the ground and not let this dreamy start go haywire. He has all the ingredients to become a top all-rounder.

The writer is a senior cricket analyst.
X: @hashmi_shahid

Published in Dawn, EOS, January 21st, 2024