A new Shoaib Akhtar set to feature in Asia Cup 2025; you might already know him
Remember a video that went viral last year featuring a bowler who looked exactly like Shoaib Akhtar? From his hair to his bowling action, from his run-up to his celebration, everything reminded people of Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar. That video clip was from the 2024 Oman D10 League. The bowler’s name was Muhammad Imran, who starred for IAS Invincibles in that tournament. He picked up 21 wickets from 14 matches at an average of 10.71.
He’s more Shoaib Akhtar than Shoaib Akhtar himself… pic.twitter.com/cXKQGgNgbn
— Prashanth (@ps_it_is) September 19, 2024
Muhammad Imran has now been added to Oman’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. He will be bowling against big teams like India and Pakistan in the Group A fixtures. The 35-year-old made his international debut in a T20I against the United States of America earlier this year and picked three wickets.
So far, in his international career, he has played two T20 internationals and one ODI. The Asia Cup 2025 is set to begin on 9th September 2025 with the clash between Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Oman will kickstart their Asia Cup encounter against Pakistan on 12th September.
Muhammad Imran’s journey from Pakistan to Oman’s national team
Muhammad Imran was born in Dera Ismail Khan district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Denying his family’s assistance to join the Army, he ran from his house when he was 18 and moved to Karachi.
”I grew up watching Shoaib bhai. Everyone in my village used to run and try to bowl like him, but only I was able to perfect it. My village is near the Afghanistan border. I started bowling with the tape ball. In 2010, during one of the tournaments at Dera Ismail Khan, someone told him that I bowl exactly like Shoaib Akhtar. My father wanted me to join the army. I wanted to play cricket. So, I ran away from my village. I didn’t tell anyone; everyone was sleeping when I left for Karachi.” Imran told the Indian Express in an old interview.
He participated in Karachi’s Under-19 trials and bagged 21 wickets in just six matches. Wasim Akram also took notice and was impressed by his raw pace. However, the cricket bureaucracy in Pakistan didn’t let him rise through the ranks. Later in 2019, a friend of his posted one of his videos on YouTube, and the Oman T20 franchise took notice and called him up. Imran shifted to Oman, and his life changed forever.
