Patience Key For Pakistan's Oldest Rookie Raffatullah Mohmand
Patience has paid off for Raffatullah Mohmand who at the age of 39 became the oldest player from a Test match country to make his Twenty20 debut when he played against England in Dubai on Thursday.
It took 19 years for Raffatullah Mohmand to hit the big time with Pakistan, suffering so many setbacks that he once even considered quitting to play for neighbouring Afghanistan. (Read More in Cricket)
But patience has paid off for the Peshawar native who at the age of 39 became the oldest player from a Test match country to make his Twenty20 debut when he played against England in Dubai last Thursday.
"Indeed, it's been a long long wait, but I kept faith and my patience is an example for future generations," said Mohmand, who made his first-class debut in 1996.
"I am sure my selection will give courage to all those cricketers who, despite their talent and hard work, do not get a chance in the national team. They will be assured that their good performances will not go unnoticed."
It was in 2005 that Mohmand had his first chance to stake a claim to a place in the national team.
As one of the finest opening batsmen on the domestic circuit, Mohmand was asked to join a training camp and was tipped to get a call for the three-match Test series against touring England.
But the energetic Mohmand failed to impress then coach Bob Woolmer and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq who felt he needed more time in first-class cricket before promotion to the national team.
"That disheartened me no end, but I kept working hard. I knew that one day I would wear the colours of Pakistan."
But four more years passed before he sensed another opportunity.
Along with Amir Sajjad, Mohmand set a new first-class world-record for a second wicket partnership, piling on 580 playing for Water and Power Development Authority.
He smashed a career-best 302.