Islamabad’s Shamyl Hussain Shines in Cricket Journey

APP
Peshawar: Shamyl Hussain, a tall southpaw from Islamabad, is set to play a crucial role in the Pakistan U19 team at the upcoming ICC Men’s U19 World Cup, opening the innings.
His love for the game was passed down from his father, who, despite playing one List A game for Islamabad in the One Day National Tournament 2001–02, had to abandon his cricket dreams due to a back injury.
In a conversation with PCB Digital, Shamyl discussed his early cricket days, recalling his first experience playing at six or seven when his father would toss plastic balls at him. Joining Shalimar Cricket Club at the age of 11, he never looked back. Exposure to first-class players during training sessions, including facing Aamir Jamal in the nets, toughened him up and strengthened his game.
Shamyl’s cricket journey includes representing Islamabad in PCB U13 Inter-Regional T20 Tournaments in 2017 and 2018. Notably, he scored a brilliant century for Northern U16 against Balochistan U16 in a three-day game in December 2019.
Inspired by the legendary Brian Lara’s style and flair, Shamyl had the privilege of meeting Lara during his visit to Islamabad. Lara’s compliment on Shamyl’s batting remains a significant moment in his life.
His impressive performance in the National U19 Cup 2021–22, scoring 264 runs at an average of 52, earned him a call-up to the Pakistan U19 team for the home series against Bangladesh U19. After recovering from a broken thumb, Shamyl showcased audacious stroke play in the away series against Bangladesh U19.
In the late 2023 home series against Sri Lanka U19, Shamyl stood out with 326 runs in five matches at an average of 65 and a strike rate of 95. He also received the Player of the Match award in the ACC U19 Asia Cup win over Afghanistan U19.
Looking ahead to the U19 World Cup, Shamyl acknowledged the challenges of South African pitches but expressed confidence in the team’s preparation. The squad has trained to adapt to bouncy tracks and seam conditions, and Shamyl is optimistic about a strong performance, citing the abundance of talent within the team.