From Fan to World Cup Player: Jawadullah's Incredible Journey

There was a point in Pakistan’s history when a loss to India would break the hearts of their fans, some of whom would even break their TV sets in anger. However, a couple of decades ago, the Pakistani team was anything but weak. They were very bold, very fearless, and very passionate, and they inspired an entire generation to chase big dreams. Among those inspired kids was Muhammad Jawadullah, who spent his childhood glued to the TV screen, watching the Pakistani cricket heroes and dreaming of following in their footsteps.

Jawadullah, a left-arm fast bowler who currently represents the UAE, is unlike most aggressive fast bowlers you witness in modern-day cricket. His story began in Dheri Jholagram, a small and peaceful village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where there were no proper facilities to play professional-level cricket.

Jawad's Early Life and Struggles

However, what Jawadullah had in his home was a television, and that was all he needed to spark something in him. Watching matches inspired him greatly. He soon became a fan of tape-ball cricket and spent most of his time playing the game in the streets of his village.

But at home, things were different. A stable future was more important than sport. Jawad’s father, who had been a government official, always felt that education was the most important thing. Cricket was a passion, but a stable future was the priority.

Jawad, therefore, did what was expected of him. He concentrated on his education, did a diploma in electrical studies, and then entered the real world in search of a stable job to construct his future.

With few prospects in his homeland, Jawad chose to explore other options in search of a brighter future elsewhere. In the early months of 2020, before the COVID pandemic turned the world upside down, he relocated to the United Arab Emirates.

In the UAE, he was able to secure a job as an electrician. It was no easy life, as he had to work a full-time job in the daytime and pursue his passion for cricket at night. This was a grueling routine, but he was determined not to give up.

All the hard work, sacrifices, and late nights finally started to bear fruit.

But he soon discovered his place in the UAE’s vibrant club cricketing circuit, and cricket became more than just love – it became support. The match fees he received helped him send additional money back home, to the same small town where his journey had begun.

But life was not as easy as it seemed. After nine long hours of work, he would play several matches, his weary body stretched to the limit. It was tiring, at times overwhelming. But he didn’t stop. In his heart, he always believed that the boy who had once bowled taped tennis balls in a small Pakistani village had the potential to do something big.

He said to CricketNext:

“I could barely get proper sleep, and my whole body would be so exhausted that I often didn’t feel like going to work the next day. But I really had no other option. In a new and unfamiliar country, this was the only way to keep myself busy, earn a little extra money, and survive."

His Success 

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The next major milestone in his life was to transition from tape-ball cricket to leather-ball cricket. Back in Pakistan, he had never held a hard cricket ball in his hands. He had only seen it being bowled on television.

However, his dedication in the UAE slowly brought him new opportunities. On the advice of a friend, Jawad decided to challenge himself in more competitive cricket and enter the professional world.

In 2022, when the Emirates Cricket Board called for trials for fast bowlers, Jawad took the chance.

He appeared for trials and made an immediate impact. His speed and aggression caught the attention of former Indian all-rounder Robin Singh, who was coaching the UAE side at the time. Robin was keen to include him in the national set-up. However, Jawad had not yet served the three-year residency requirement to play for the country.

Still, Robin saw the talent in him. Rather than losing him, he made sure that Jawad stayed in the system, allowing him to continue developing until his turn finally arrived.

He introduced Jawadullah into the team as a net bowler so that he could train with the national team. This was a massive move for him because he was now training with international players that he used to watch on TV.

The next year, he was selected by the Sharjah Warriors in the first season of the International League T20 (ILT20). This was a dream come true for him. He was now training with international players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Mohammad Nabi, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Woakes, and UAE pacer Junaid Siddique. In six matches, he took five wickets. This was not a lot, but it was a statement that he was ready to play at the international level.

His hard work and patience finally paid off in February 2023, when he made his international debut against Afghanistan. This was a full-circle moment for him. He was the kid who used to watch international matches on TV, dreaming of playing international cricket one day from a small village. And now, he was playing international cricket and was also being aired on TV.

He said:

“It was an emotional day for me and my family. Where I come from, there isn’t a proper cricket turf anywhere nearby. As kids, we would watch cricketers on TV, and I used to believe that maybe, just by playing tape-ball cricket, I too could one day appear on television. So, when I finally made my debut, the entire village gathered at our home to watch the match. Everyone watched me play on TV together. My family was told that I was the first cricketer from our village and even the surrounding Swat Valley to represent at the international level. For them, it was a moment of immense pride."

Jawad, a left-arm fast bowler, always looked up to greats such as Wasim Akram and Mohammad Amir. In fact, he even got to share a dressing room with Amir in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, which he used as an opportunity to learn from him, especially the nuances of reverse swing and slower balls.

Jawad has played 40 T20 Internationals so far and has taken 59 wickets at an average of 19.93. However, his career has not been a smooth ride. He has had injuries that have stalled his progress on more than one occasion, thanks to his slightly unorthodox bowling action.

Unlike most left-arm quicks, who take a small jump before delivering the ball, Jawad maintains the flow of his momentum and delivers the ball without that typical leap. This additional pressure resulted in ankle and thigh injuries in 2024, which kept him out of action from January to September.

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He also explained:

“I’ve bowled with this action since my tape-ball cricket days. Back then, we had no coach to correct anything. Later, when I started playing hardball cricket in the UAE, some players pointed it out. I watched my videos and realised it was indeed different. Injuries did cost me almost a year, but changing the action now could affect my pace and even my ability to bowl. So instead, I focus heavily on fitness, gym work, routine, and diet to minimise injury risks."

The years of hard work, long hours, and uncertainty have finally led him to the biggest stage of all – the T20 World Cup. It is here that he partners with another Pakistan-born fast bowler, Junaid Siddique, to form a formidable fast bowling duo for the UAE.

Meanwhile, back in Pakistan, in the same house where his own dream had been born in front of the television set, his father proudly watches his son compete on the global stage.

Jawadullah concluded, saying:

“My father recently retired from service. He too is a cricket fanatic and watches it a lot on TV. Now he watches me play for the UAE and enjoys my performances. All he wants is for me to pick up a hat-trick someday."