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Who Is Muhammad Jawadullah? A Peek Into Electrician Turned Cricketer’s Inspiring Cricketing Journey

image-lq0i69imMuhammad Jawadullah in action (Twitter)

Muhammad Jawadullah is currently at the cusp of a significant chapter in his cricketing career. Originally hailing from Mardan, situated in the mountainous terrain of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, Jawadullah made an extraordinary journey to the UAE to pursue a job as an electrician in early 2020. But his desire to excel in the field of cricket subsequently helped him earn a well-deserved contract with New York Strikers at the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

On December 9, 2023, Jawadullah geared up to face off against Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10 Final at the starry Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. It was a massive moment for the youngster, who had to battle his way through to the top amidst severe financial conditions and lack of formal training. Despite being a bit jittery at the start, the Pakistan-born pacer finished with impressive figures of 1/16 conceding only at 8 RPO. His tight bowling spell helped the New York Strikers restrict the Gladiators to just 91.

As a result, the New York Strikers triumphed over Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10 Final and it was Jawadullah who lifted the iconic trophy. Interestingly enough, the youngster was yet to make an appearance in professional cricket the same time last year. Upon arriving in the UAE in early 2020, Jawadullah secured the job of an overseas electrician worker in the Emirates' largest inland city - Al Ain situated approximately 170km to the east of Abu Dhabi.

It was in this region where Jawadullah started honing his cricketing skills. Jawadullah's formative years were characterized by a dearth of prospects, be it in the realm of cricket or securing a steady job. Remarkably, he had never even held a well-used cricket ball until he arrived in the UAE.

“I only used to play with tennis ball earlier. But here in UAE, I got an opportunity to start playing with the hard ball,” he tells Hindustan Times in an exclusive chat.

While currently being employed at Al Ain's renowned shooting club as an electrician, Jawadullah’s unwavering passion for cricket did not die down despite facing numerous roadblocks. He describes how he struggled during his early days and had to combine his day job with cricket, which inevitably became a part of his daily routine.

"Those were challenging days. Balancing a nine-hour shift as an electrician with regular cricket matches was incredibly tough. I worked during the day and played cricket in the evenings, making it my daily routine."

Moreover, he was not financially compensated well for the club matches that he regularly featured in earning a meager 100 AED per match. But his gloomy days soon disappeared in thin air when Jawadullah was drafted into the UAE national squad in April 2022. Since then, there has been no turning back for the youngster who is now on an extraordinary course to surge to new heights.