Imran Farhat plays an on-drive Photo CricInfo

I first saw him play in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (Grade I) match at the LCA ground for Lahore Blues against the visiting Karachi Blues. The slightly built Imran Farhat had a certain aura around him that is to be identified only in masters like Lara, Tendulkar, Saeed Anwar, etc. His batting stance had something familiar to me. It reminded me of some of the great left-handers, who with their stylish batting have given cricket its refinement and grace. Seeing him then, I had a thought (or was it intuition) that this lad is going to be the future of Pakistan...that he's going to serve the country for a long time to come.

I was on a `profile-gathering mission' for CricInfo, and my first target was Imran himself. Talking to him after the day's proceedings, I came to know that he belonged to what can be called a `sporting' family. His father, an official in Punjab Education Board, was an ardent follower of sports, besides being a former badminton player. One of his elder sisters was also a badminton player and the other one had graced the hockey fields. His elder brother, Humayun, is a first-class cricketer. During the course of this discussion, he revealed, "I haven't passed my matriculation exam, yet". Surprised, I asked, "why?" "Because, I hadn't had the time to study", Imran replied sheepishly.

This indicates the devotion of this youngster to the game of cricket. `Under-education' in cricketers is not a new thing in Pakistan. There are very few names in the game that have acquired high education besides earning laurels in the game. Most of the big names we find today have no major degrees against their names. So I was not at all perturbed by what Imran had revealed to me. It was in fact encouraging in the sense that this lad was fully and wholeheartedly devoted to his interest, and that is one thing, which, ensures success in any field, let alone cricket.

Imran took part in 8 matches of the QEA Trophy scoring 774 runs at an average of 55.28 to stand fifth in the overall ranking. On the basis of this performance he was picked to play in the preparatory games before the team for New Zealand was finalised. He took part in two of those matches and gave conspicuous performances in both. His 135 in the last match of the series were a real treat to watch, as he faced the formidable Pakistan Probables' attack with command and authority. Before that he had played an important part in QEA Trophy final by virtue of his top score for Lahore Blues in the first innings. So it was no wonder for any follower of the game when Imran was chosen for the one-day series on tour to New Zealand.

During the course of Pakistan team's training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium before its departure for New Zealand, I had another opportunity of having a chat with Imran. He smiled in his usual diffident way when I congratulated him on his selection. Naturally, he showed signs of excitement about his prospects on his first tour with the national team. "It is going to be a huge experience for me with one of the best coaches of the world in the form of Javed bhai (brother) around, I will have greater opportunity to nurture my talents", he said. When I expressed my apprehensions about throwing his wickets away (as he had done a little too often in the QEA Trophy matches), he affirmed, "Yes, that's what I have in mind and I am bent upon avoiding such mistakes."

Imran was right when he expressed his optimism regarding the coaching he was about to get on this tour. No matter how proficient a player is in the domestic arena, the experience and learning he acquires in international matches have no equal whatsoever. The way he fared in the first two matches against New Zealand must have disappointed many of his fans (he failed to take his individual score past double figures in the first two games). I remember someone pointing this out to me. My reply to him was brief and simple, that it is not necessary for every great player to have a great start to his career.

And then came the Dunedin one-dayer. Everybody watched how with utter confidence this youngster played the New Zealand bowlers, getting 33 from 34 balls in not the easiest of circumstances. It's just the beginning for Imran and he can rightly hope that his name is not among the list of players who will fly back home after the conclusion of the one-day series.

Now it has been confirmed that the elder of the two Farhats, Humayun, is also being flown to New Zealand for the up-coming test series against the Black Caps. Humayun is a wicket keeper and a very useful hard-hitting late-order batsman, who can easily replace Moin Khan in the role of a wicket keeper and a pinch hitter. He gave outstanding performance in the QEA Trophy, especially with the bat. Taking part in 10 matches, he scored 877 runs at an average of 51.58, which included three centuries and four fifties, his highest being 188. He had 45 dismissals in these matches, which included 42 catches and three stumpings. His performance in the final of the QEA Trophy was instrumental, for besides taking four catches in the match, he scored a timely fifty in the second innings to steer Lahore to victory. His selection for the tour of New Zealand must be a great boost to the morale of this youngster as he has superceded names like Atiq-uz-Zaman, another notable wicket keeper in domestic cricket, to attract the searching eyes of the national selectors.

Good luck to the two Farhats!