If any factor can justify the Asian incursions in International Cricket over the past few years, its the enthusiasm of the youth. Just as India unearthed a sensation in Irfan Pathan, their neighbours – Sri Lanka also introduced their teenage prodigy Farveez Maharoof to International Cricket with a clear vision towards the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. Maharoof is a tall and lanky all-rounder who is a more of a fast-medium bowler who can bat. Farveez Maharoof is a clear sign which shows the growing strength of School Cricket in Sri Lanka.
Farveez’s dream journey in competitive cricket began when he played for Wesley College in Colombo for 5 years and worked his way to the top by playing in all the age group level teams. He was appointed as the skipper of the Sri Lankan Under-19 team which played the Asia Cup in Pakistan and was instrumental in ensuring a place for Sri Lanka Under-19 in the Finals of the tournament against India, which they lost. His cricketing career was always on the up as he got his chance in the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team which played a triangular series in India (Pakistan was the 3rd Team) and grabbed it thanks to the stellar performance of Farveez in the finals against India. As he kept impressing as days were passing by, Farveez was given the burden of captaincy of the Sri Lankan Under-19 team for the Youth World Cup in Dhaka. Although he put up good personal performances, Sri Lanka crashed out of the tournament in the second stage after the loss to India again.
All these good personal performances mattered as Fara (as he’s known) got his break in International Cricket. He made his first appearance in the international arena with a bang. Playing in a historic match (in which Zimbabwe scored the lowest score) and with team-mate Chaminda Vaas rattling the impotent batting order of the Zimbabweans, it was time for some fun for young Farveez. He wiped off the tail of the batting and finished with figures of 3 for 3 in his debut match. He then displayed his batting skills in the 4th and the 5th ODI chipping with useful runs lower down the order for his country.
Farveez clearly represents the multi-faceted abilities of a modern day cricketer. He opens the bowling with his seamers initially and as the day progresses towards the death, out come his lethal weapon of reverse swinging yorkers and that too with a slinging action, which makes it doubly effective. His inexperience showed in the Test series, but as ever, time and more exposure will show Farveez’s real attributes as a cricketer. And one must commend the steps of the Sri Lankan Cricket board to rope in this youngster into the team for the Australia series as playing against the mighty world champions will only be a step forward for the 18 year old.
In the years to come, we will for sure see this young bud of Sri Lankan cricket blossom into a flower which will in turn bloom the fortunes of Sri Lanka in International Cricket. As we are seeing a more active participation of the youth in international cricket at the moment, I only hope that Farveez is given the amount of chances he really deserves as a youngster, something that could only help Sri Lankan cricket benefit from.