KARACHI: For a player who has been part of a world record partnership in first-class cricket, opening batsman Riffatullah Mohmand dreams of earning Pakistan colours after coming close to an international debut for Afghanistan six years ago.

Having just embarked upon his 20th season on the domestic circuit this week when he represented Wapda against Karachi Whites in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship match in Karachi, Riffatullah has a burning desire to represent Pakistan in Twenty20s — a format he adores.

In an exclusive interview with Dawn on Saturday, Riffatullah insisted that age shouldn’t be considered a detrimental element when it comes to selection of certain players.

“I believe that in modern-day cricket age doesn’t matter as long as the individual is fit and performing at the top level. In the past when players started aging, the policy was to get rid of them as soon as possible,” Riffatullah, who will celebrate his 39th birthday on Nov 6, said.

“Personally, I have never felt burdened by this notion since I still enjoy the challenge of competing against the best lot on the field. The hunger of playing keeps me going because I love this game with the same intensity when I started playing cricket.”

Although the national selectors have not yet announced the national squads for the upcoming limited-overs internationals against England, Riffatullah could be an out-of-the-box inclusion for the three-match T20 series in the UAE.

“This is my dream. The chance of playing for Pakistan is something that every player dreams. Probably Insha’Allah my time is just round the corner,” he said.

The Peshawar-born right-hander has a first-class triple century under his belt when he amassed an unbeaten 302 while sharing the highest-ever second-wicket stand — and the second highest for any wicket — of 580 with Aamir Sajjad (289) for Wapda against SSGC in the Quaid Trophy match at Sheikhupura in December 2006. The pair bettered the previous best partnership for that wicket when Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama put on 576 against India to help Sri Lanka pile up the highest team total in Test cricket of 952-6 declared at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium in August 1997.

Riffatullah, who is one of the fittest cricketers, fondly remembers that landmark but modestly added: “It just happened. The pitch [at the Sheikhupura Stadium] was a belter. The opposition had made 466 in almost two days. Our first objective to ensure we got a good start. Asif Hussain and I added 76 for the first wicket before Aamir joined me just before lunch on the third day. We got through the rest of that day to reach 300-1.

“On the [fourth] last day, it dawned upon us that we stood a chance of setting a world record since there was no way of achieving a result on that pitch. The second wicket fell just before the match finished but the record was already ours.

“Ijaz Butt [the then PCB chairman] congratulated both me and Aamir for setting the new world record and also rewarded us with cash awards.”

Riffatullah was in the news earlier that year when he was included in the Afghanistan national team for the 2009 ICC World Cup qualifiers before being withdrawn after it emerged he was deemed ineligible to play for them.

“Yeah, it was a bizarre affair. I was thrilled when my name was announced. But days later, I got the bad news that due to lack of paperwork on part of the Afghan authorities, the ICC had objected to my inclusion and I was subsequently withdrawn,” Riffatullah recalls. “Obviously, I was extremely disappointed at that point in time because it was the second time I had gone so close to play at the international level.”

Prior to that, Riffatullah, who was recently asked by current chief selector Haroon Rasheed to appear for fitness test, was once called up for the training camp in January 2006 when India toured Pakistan for a three-match Test series on recommendation of the then national skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, who rated Riffatullah highly.

In his favoured format, Riffatullah has been an integral part of Peshawar side which recently retained the National T20 Cup title after having won it for the first time last year.

The opener owed his success to Peshawar head coach Abdul Rehman.

“Without any shadow of doubt, Rehman has been the biggest influential on my career in recent years. He is someone who thinks positive all the time for everyone. There were periods in the last several years when I thought of giving up playing. But Rehman has not only persuaded me to carry on but also motivated me to express myself when batting.

“Rehman is a unique man to be honest. He has got this Gold-gifted ability to make things around. Peshawar won back-to-back T20 trophies because he was the driving force behind the scene,” Riffatullah said.

Riffatullah also paid tribute to record-breaking batsman Younis Khan and proudly admitted that the former national captain has inspired him immensely.

“Younis is definitely one of the true legends. His inspirational presence has had left a lasting impression on me when we used to play together for Peshawar. Yasir Hameed and I shared many memorable moments in Younis’ company,” Riffatullah revealed. “I’m not surprised by what Younis has achieved in international cricket. He deserves all the accolades and the limelight.”

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2015

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