He can bowl at pace with either arm
Yasir Jan, the first ambidextrous pacer in the world, aspires to be like Pakistan’s top sprinter Haris Rauf.
Jan, who can bowl quickly with either arm, sprang to fame during the Lahore Qalandars talent search in 2016, but injuries have put a stop to his professional development.
“That [to emulate Haris Rauf] is my dream,” Jan told The National. “We played together, Haris Rauf and me, and a number of other players involved in Pakistan cricket at the moment. We were together for two years at Qalandars, in camps together.
“Simply, I got injured in 2018 while bowling fast. I recovered, then was sponsored to go to the UK to play a season of club cricket in Derbyshire in 2019.
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“I went to Pakistan, my performances were really good, then was sponsored to go and play in Australia in 2020. In that time, I suffered a stress fracture in my lower back, which was so disappointing for me.
“I am working hard. My batting is good, too. I performed with the bat in England and Australia, and I want to come back. I want to show the world I have unique skills.”
The pacer has imitated Wasim Akram and Dale Steyn, two renowned fast bowlers. With his right arm, he can generate about 145 kph, and with his left, 135 kph.
“My dad supported me, and wanted me to play cricket,” he said.
“From childhood, I watched cricket on the TV every day. That was the thing that got me here. No-one coached me. I always coached myself by watching cricket on TV, and later on YouTube.
“I watched every fast bowler’s action, and found I could copy them as well.
“I tried to copy Dale Steyn with my right arm, then, when I was bowling with my left hand, Wasim Akram.”
