Because the Scotland Males’s U19 squad fly to Netherlands as we speak, no one can have a much bigger smile on their face than Bahadar Esakhiel.
The 17-year-old all-rounder will likely be an vital participant for the younger Scots as they attempt to qualify for a 3rd successive ICC Males’s U19 World Cup, and his story to achieve this level is nothing in need of inspirational.
Whereas Bahadar’s journey is an unbelievable one, he’s relishing the stress of serving to Scotland shine on the worldwide stage as soon as once more.
“It actually means rather a lot, truthfully, to put on the Scotland badge,” mentioned Bahadar. “It’s like some sort of dream, you already know. To win this qualifier and to have the possibility to symbolize Scotland at a World Cup can be a really huge factor, particularly having come from one other nation. It’s only a nice dream.
“I arrived in Scotland from Afghanistan in 2016. I don’t discuss a lot about my time there, however there have been issues. I had by no means performed cricket there, and there wasn’t a lot social media to see what was occurring within the recreation.
“After I got here right here, every part was nice. The primary couple of weeks I used to be in Scotland, I didn’t actually know the place I used to be! However as soon as I went to highschool, and made pals, it was higher.
“I began enjoying cricket in 2018. I really favored soccer greater than cricket at first, however then one in all my pals mentioned, why don’t you attempt enjoying cricket as an alternative? I went alongside and it simply occurred.
“After I moved to highschool in Glasgow, there the love of cricket simply grew. I had performed for Ferguslie for a few seasons, after which I joined Clydesdale for a number of years. I used to be at Langside for a season the place I first acquired the chance to play premier league cricket, and I’ve to thank all of the administration and the captain there for that likelihood. This 12 months I went again to Paisley and re-joined Ferguslie.
“The very first thing I might say [to anyone in a similar situation] is, imagine in your self and do what you get pleasure from. Stick with the plan, work exhausting, know what you wish to get from life, and I feel you possibly can obtain something, mainly. Anybody can do that – in the event that they actually wish to, they will do it.”
The Scotland squad, captained by Owen Gould from RH Corstorphine, go into the qualifier as favourites to progress, and video games in opposition to Guernsey, Jersey, Netherlands, Norway and Italy will decide in the event that they attain subsequent 12 months’s World Cup in Sri Lanka. Bahadar believes the group spirit will drive the U19s in direction of success in the event that they face any adversity within the competitors.
“We get on very well as a squad, and the spirit and the banter is excellent! We’re all prepared for this problem. We’re a group that sticks collectively and appears out for one another. That’s what’s going to assist us within the Qualifier.
“Who’s acquired the worst chat? That’s a troublesome one… can I embrace me on this? I feel it’s me! I feel in case you requested the remainder of the squad, most of them would say it’s me! I simply love to speak, even on the sphere, typically I make a daft joke and it simply will get everyone going. I’ll do something to only maintain everybody going and motivated.
“I’m trying ahead to the problem. The final eight weeks or so, we’ve performed a number of pleasant video games, and we’re prepared now, so we’re simply going to go at it exhausting and attempt to qualify. I’m positive the Netherlands, Jersey and the opposite groups we face will likely be up for it as nicely, so it will be nice if we will make it by.
“For us, it’s an excellent instance that for the final two World Cups, the U19s have certified. They’ve completed nicely to get to that stage, so now it’s our flip to indicate what we will do, and simply take these subsequent steps.”
Final 12 months Bahadar scored a memorable century for Scotland U17’s in opposition to Eire; this 12 months he heads into the U19 Qualifier on the again of a robust season along with his membership.
M8 Driving Ferguslie sit second in Western Premiership One, with Bahadar a key contributor to their success having amassed almost 400 runs to date, with three half-centuries.
“Within the first half of this season, I used to be doing nice and averaging over 40 which was glorious. The final couple of weeks, I’ve dropped off a bit, however general, I’m very completely satisfied. It’s been a giant, huge enchancment from final 12 months, so I’m proud of the way in which it’s going simply now.
“I’ve scored much more runs than final 12 months. If you happen to have a look at my averages and strike charge, I feel I’ve improved rather a lot. I’m additionally batting for longer as nicely now; final 12 months I used to be typically getting out early, however now I play an extended recreation. I give myself a while in the beginning of an innings after which get it going on the finish.
“I feel I imagine in myself a bit extra now. I simply get in and attempt to do what I’m good at. Final 12 months I wasn’t completely positive of myself, however this 12 months I again myself absolutely for each problem, and simply go for it. Enjoying in a profitable group like Ferguslie and enjoying with good gamers, it helps rather a lot. It positively will get one of the best out of you.”
A world of alternative awaits Bahadar and the Scotland U19’s within the Netherlands over the following week. A World Cup berth would put these younger gamers on the most important of phases, very similar to the Girls’s U19 squad in South Africa earlier this 12 months. Past this, Bahadar has even larger goals.
“The primary ambition for me is to get into the principle nationwide group, that’s the place I wish to be. Hopefully after the U19’s setup, I can proceed to maneuver ahead. I wish to attempt to play for the nationwide group as quickly as attainable.
“The boys’s squad are doing so nicely simply now. They clearly simply missed out on the ODI World Cup lately, however within the T20 Qualifier final month they did very well. I feel it’s a really robust job to get into that squad, however in case you imagine in your self, you are able to do something. There’s a number of guys who performed within the U19s lately who’ve now acquired central contracts, so I feel in case you work exhausting and imagine in your self, you possibly can break into any group.”
