KARACHI: Coming out from oblivion, Pakistani spinner Raza Hassan has set his eyes on making a comeback to the national side after completing his two-year ban over failing a dope test.
Raza, now 25, was picked by Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Lahore Qalandars for the next edition of PSL and the bowler is aiming to make Qalandars successful in the tournament next year.
“Lahore Qalandars have done a lot for me and it is now my responsibility to do everything for Qalandars in PSL,” Raza said while talking to Geo.tv
Not too long ago, Raza was considered as one of the most effective spinners in the world, but then he disappeared. An injury followed by a ban of two years for failing a dope test pushed him into oblivion.
The story of the 25-year-old left-arm spinner is different from the stories of most cricketers. His career – though short – gave a glimpse of a proper future prospect.
But unfortunate incidents, injury and company that he shouldn’t have kept dented his future badly and almost threw him into the middle of nowhere.
Raza launched his professional career in 2008 by playing for Pakistan Customs in the National One Day Cup. He played only one match of the season.
He first came into the limelight in 2011, when he came to deliver a super over during the National T20 tournament final for Rawalpindi and defended 16 runs off the super over against Karachi’s team.
Next year, in 2012, he was included in Pakistan’s squad to face Australia in a three-match T20I series in the United Arab Emirates and made an impressive debut with bowling figures of 2 for 15 in 4 overs. On debut, he took the wickets of David Hussey and Matthew Wade.
He was retained in Pakistan’s squad for the World T20 as a surprise package and successfully managed to surprise opponents with his disciplined bowling.
Although Raza wasn’t able to take any wickets in his maiden ICC event, he made the top batsmen struggle against his bowling to launch himself in the international arena as a threatening spinner.
He would have taken a wicket on his first over of his first ICC event match, against South Africa, but he was deprived of the chance as Kamran Akmal dropped Hashim Amla.
In the second over of the same match, he made Jacques Kallis look clueless and delivered a maiden over.
Raza continued to impress with his extraordinary bowling talent in the World T20 with superb spells against India and Australia in the later matches
Following his superb performance in World T20, Raza was being accepted as Pakistan’s future prospect, but unfortunately, a back injury soon after World T20 halted his journey.
He made a comeback and looked good to keep himself in contention, played three T20Is and an ODI before World Cup 2015. However, he was not retained for Pakistan’s World Cup squad.
Then came his downfall, in 2015, Raza – while playing a domestic tournament – was tested positive for a banned substance, and, subsequently banned from all forms of cricket for two years.
The ban sent Raza to darkness, he was not allowed to use cricketing facilities under PCB, he was not allowed to play any competitive cricket and he was not allowed to train with other players.
The ban almost brought his career to an end, but luckily he met Lahore Qalandars’ Director Cricket Operations Aqib Javed.
“A few months ago, I was coming out of NCA and I saw a cricketer, who looked like a known face to me but he wasn’t in good condition,” Aqib told of how he rediscovered Raza Hasan.
And, after exchanging a few words, Aqib took him to Lahore Qalandars training facilities.
“I knew that Raza had the potential and I wanted to give him a second chance. He surely deserves a chance. The only crime I would have never forgiven is match-fixing and a dope offender deserves to make a comeback,” said Aqib, when asked him what convinced him to invest in Raza.
The former Pakistan bowler added that at Lahore Qalandars training facility, Raza was provided all facilities to help him regain his lost touch and also to make him realise how important is to carry himself as a good individual.
“Just to make sure that Raza stays away from bad company, we didn’t allow him to use the phone. We disconnected him from his past so that he could concentrate on his future,” Aqib said.
“I am glad that Raza has realised his mistakes and he’s now determined to make a strong comeback,” said Aqib.
Raza himself says that he went through a learning phase and is stronger than before.
“The two-year ban was very heavy on me and it taught me a lot. I have recovered from my past and now look forward to performing at every opportunity,” Raza told Geo.tv
Raza made an impressive comeback this season after completing his ban. He took 32 wickets at an average of 25.90 with three 5-wickets hauls in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
Raza has credited Lahore Qalandars for his recovery.
“I am thankful to Lahore Qalandars, specially Atif bhai (Rana Atif, CEO of Lahore Qalandars) and Aqib bhai (DCO of Lahore Qalandars) for giving me the opportunity to train. Working at LQ academy with Aqib bhai has helped me improve my fitness a lot,” he said.
Raza has set his eyes on PSL as the platform to relaunch his career.
“A lot of players have emerged after performing in PSL, and I am confident that I will perform in PSL and will make a comeback to the national side,” he added.
Aqib Javed is also hopeful that Raza will be Lahore Qalandars’ trump card in the upcoming PSL season.
“He has the unique ability of remaining equally effective with the new and old ball, he has got the natural turn in his bowling which can destroy any good batting line,” said Aqib.
“He’s going to be our key player during PSL,” said the former cricketer.
For Lahore Qalandars, giving Raza another chance meant contributing positively to Pakistan's cricket.
“I think it’s great to see Qalandars making contribution and helping someone to contribute positively,” said Lahore Qalandars’ COO Sameen Rana while talking to Geo.tv
Rana says he was always aiming to have Raza Hasan in the squad but couldn’t find him due to the ban and he’s glad to have him in the side.
“I have been asking about him since the first edition of PSL as I saw him playing for Pakistan and felt that he is the best spinner at the time, I asked PCB and Ijaz bhai (the former LQ coach) and they told me he is banned,” Rana said.
“Once Aqib bhai found him I was really happy to have him and always planned to pick him first in the silver round,” he said when asked he chose him for Lahore Qalandars squad.
Sameen added that he’s confident that Raza will become a good person.
“He got the second chance that not many people get, so in that regard, he is very lucky. Now with PSL, I think by performing at that level he can make a comeback. He has got something to look forward to in his life,” Rana added.
For now, Rana and Aqib are confident that Raza will not only perform well for Lahore Qalandars, but will also remain disciplined.
Raza has also promised that.
“Lessons learned, I will prove myself as a changed person, as a good boy,” Raza promised.
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