Pakistan U-19 left-arm fast bowler Muhammad Syam’s progress in cricket is a testament to the hard work, self-belief and timely guidance of the teachers. 17-year-old Syam from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lower Khyber district reached the national level despite limited opportunities.
Speaking to PCB Digital in Harare ahead of Pakistan’s U-19 Super Six stage matches, Mohammad Syam shed light on his cricketing journey.
He said his love for cricket started during his school days when his outstanding bowling during the school trials earned him a place in the team and these performances boosted his confidence.
Muhammad Seyam said his teacher Muhammad Tahir recognized his talent early and advised him to join the cricket academy.
He later joined the DCA Cricket Academy, where coach Ijazul Haq paid special attention to technical and physical training. Muhammad Syam said that the continuous guidance of Ejazul Haq has been very important in his development.
After a brilliant performance at the district level, Muhammad Siam represented Peshawar Region in the Under 16 One Day Tournament in 2023. Although he played only two matches due to rain, this experience was very valuable for him.
In last year’s Men’s U-19 National Cup, Syam grabbed everyone’s attention and took 14 wickets in seven matches for Peshawar Region, after which he was selected for the Pakistan U-19 squad and training camp in Multan.
Muhammad Syam was also successful in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup, where he took 10 wickets in five matches, including two crucial wickets against India in the final.
Muhammad Syam expressed his happiness to wear the jersey of the national team and said that representing Pakistan at the U-19 level is a source of pride for him and his family.
He said that even though he belongs to a region like Dire, it is a special honor for him to reach this place because there are no crisis agencies there.
Muhammad Syam has named the legendary left-arm player Wasim Akram as his idol and said he wants to follow in his footsteps.
Regarding the ICC U-19 World Cup, Syam said that his aim is to contribute to the team’s success by showing the best performance and win the trophy for Pakistan.
It is worth mentioning that Muhammad Syam took three wickets in the three series in Zimbabwe and represented Pakistan in two of the three World Cup matches played in Harare so far. He attributed his success to the constant support of his parents, teachers and mentors.
