Furniture maker’s son is an instant hit on debut alongside stars at ILT20

Zuhaib Zubair could be forgiven for feeling nervous ahead of his Gulf Giants debut against Dubai Capitals in the DP World International League in Sharjah.

Aged just 20, it was the first time the leg-spinner was getting the chance to play in front of a TV audience, let alone a substantial crowd beyond the boundary.

His teammates included stars of the world game that he has grown up watching franchise and international cricket. And David Warner was the captain of the opposition. David actual Warner.

Even from a mere local perspective, the pressure was on him. Zubair has yet to win a cap for the UAE, yet he was picked in place of Aayan Khan, the wonderkid of cricket in the Emirates.

He dispelled the nerves in spectacular fashion, though. On the seventh ball of his debut, he executed a perfect direct hit run out to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz, after a mix up with Warner.

It earned him the most starry bundle he has been involved in so far in his young career, and a bear-like embrace from Shimron Hetmyer, the Guyanese Indian Premier League star.

“It was great to get that run out at that stage because I had felt nervous and under pressure before,” Zubair said.

“I am glad it worked out like that. Everybody came to hug me and cheer me on, and wished me well for my debut.

“It couldn’t have felt any better than when Hetmyer came to hug me. To have that with such a big star, I was ecstatic about that.”

Zubair has lived in the UAE since 2016, but his association with the country stretches back further than that – to before he was even born, in fact.

His father first moved to Sharjah in 2004 and established a furniture-making business. He suggested his son come to join him from their home Sialkot in Pakistan eight years ago, to