Safyaan Sharif will remember that little snick for the rest of his life.
First ball of a do or die qualifier against the West Indies, one of the iconic cricket nations, to take Scotland to the World Cup, and Sharif watched with glee as Chris Gayle edged the delivery into the waiting gloves of Matthew Cross.
“A destroyer” is how Sharif describes hard-hitting Gayle, one of the biggest names in world cricket, the self-styled ‘Universe Boss’, a batsman totally capable of wrecking any bowling attack and winning a match single-handedly.
But take that, boss.
“I was still in a bit of shock,” says the 26-year-old of taking Gayle’s wicket first ball. “I knew I’d bowled in the right channel, in the right line and length and to get that snick and to get that wicket was incredible.”
From the incredible highs of the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe – beating Afghanistan, Sharif’s five-wicket haul against the host-nation, taking Gayle’s wicket and then going on to being on the verge of victory against the West Indies and a tournament spot – came the crushing low. The rain came. Oh how cruelly Scottish the manner of glorious failure.
It’s been just over a month since Scotland, already hurting from there being no Umpire Decision Review System to appeal Richie Berrington’s controversial LBW call, trailed by five runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method as the deluge struck and washed away hopes of a fourth World Cup appearance.
“We’ve just had time to reflect on it and get over the whole process,” says Sharif. “We played some incredible cricket and obviously we still feel as if we deserve to be in the World Cup but it was such a disappointment.”
After the controversial decision to reduce the number of teams from 14 to 10, next year’s event in England will be the first World Cup to feature no Associate members. With Ireland and Zimbabwe missing out too, it’ll also be the first World Cup without all of the Test-playing nations being present.
FIFA may have its critics but when Sharif reads about the football World Cup being increased to 48 teams from 32, and president Gianni Infantino recently saying he wants this expansion to take place as soon as the 2022 competition in Qatar, it further increases his frustrations.
“I don’t understand why we’re reducing teams yet other sports are expanding teams,” he, like not just the rest of Scottish cricket, but many in the game, including those associated with the leading nations, argues.
“The only way you can expand the game is by increasing teams and inviting other teams who are capable of playing in the World Cup. If you want to grow the game, then you need to expand the game – definitely.”
Sharif’s bewilderment is further compounded by the fact he says he simply doesn’t know why the decision was taken.
“Everyone is frustrated about that,” he says. “I don’t know why the decision is to reduce the teams to 10. That World Cup qualifier has proven that any of the associate nations can beat the Test nations. That tournament proved anyone can beat anyone.
“The ICC need to open their eyes a little bit and expand the game.”
The Huddersfield-born, Glenrothes all-rounder adds: “We were very unlucky in the way we missed out, not being able to complete that game. It could have happened to anyone but on that day it was unlucky it was us. We just have to look forward now.”
Looking forward includes both on the domestic and international scene.
Tomorrow marks the start of the Eastern Premiership season, with Glenrothes entertaining last season’s Scottish Cup winners, Carlton.
“We’re looking to win the league this season,” Sharif says. “We had an opportunity last season but we lost crucial games. So I think this season if we play just a little bit better than last season [we can do it].
On the international front, looking forward initially means the three matches at the Grange in June, an ODI on Sunday, June 10 against England and then two T20 matches versus Pakistan on the Tuesday and Wednesday.
After having snared Gayle, Sharif replies in emphatic manner when asked if he’s looking to add Joe Root’s wicket to his collection.
“Yeah, but I’m hoping to get all the wickets! For me, it’s just about consistency and trying to make a contribution to the team,” he says. “I’d like to take a few scalps. If we play well, we can do damage. It’s about grabbing those opportunities we get against big teams and making a big statement.”
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