Naveen-ul-Haq Height, Age, Girlfriend, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Naveen-ul-Haq

• On 1 May 2023, during an IPL match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Lucknow Super Giants, a confrontation arose between Naveen-ul-Haq, an Afghan cricketer, and the former Indian captain Virat Kohli.

• After being born in Kabul, he relocated to Pakistan due to his family’s circumstances. He resided there for approximately five to six years, during which he did not engage in cricket.

• His fascination and adoration for cricket sprouted from hours spent watching Indian cricket players on TV. Although his parents prohibited him from playing cricket on the weekends, he would eagerly engage in tape-ball cricket right outside his home.

• During his cricket sessions with his brother, he would take on the roles of a batsman and a wicketkeeper, but had no interest in bowling.

• His fascination with cricket began when he witnessed Afghanistan’s triumphant qualification for the inaugural T20 World Cup held in the West Indies in 2012. During his formative years, he held Hamid Hassan in high esteem, considering him his idol. This admiration fueled his passion for cricket and specifically for the art of fast bowling.

• Upon his return to Afghanistan, he expressed his desire to his father of pursuing a career as a professional cricketer and playing cricket. However, his father opposed the idea and refused to let him play. In a bid to change his father’s mind, Naveen sought the help of his brother, who had a persuasive influence over their father. Eventually, his brother managed to convince their father, leading Naveen to enroll in the National Cricket Academy. To facilitate the registration process, his brother kindly completed the necessary forms on his behalf.

• Upon joining the academy, he encountered difficulty in handling a leather ball, resulting in his attempt to avoid practice. He would often inform his coach about lacking suitable shoes or sustaining injuries, ultimately leading his coach to reassign him to practice with the younger players.

• After a while, he became accustomed to the routine and excelled in bowling, prompting his coach to invite him to bowl alongside the more experienced players.

• One day during practice, there were trials being held for the under-16 national team, of which he was completely unaware. Unknowingly, he lined up with the fast bowlers and bowled three deliveries before being told to stop by the selector. In a subsequent interview, he expressed feeling disheartened, believing that his bowling skills were not valued by others. However, his spirits were lifted that evening when the announcement of the 50 selected players for the trial matches the following day included his name. Overjoyed by this news, he participated in the trial games and managed to take just one wicket. Nevertheless, he was thrilled to discover that he had secured a spot in the under-16s squad. With uncertainty about what lay ahead and the activities the squad would engage in, he eagerly awaited further instructions.

• When he was 11 years old, he embarked on a journey to Penang as a representative of his country in the U-16 team. Unfortunately, his performance in the initial tournament was subpar, leading him to abandon bowling upon his return. Instead, he focused solely on batting for an entire year. However, as time passed, he recognized that in order to pursue a career in professional cricket, he needed to address his weaknesses. Two years later, he reentered the same tournament, this time as a bowler, and astoundingly captured 15 wickets while conceding a mere 69 runs. As a result, he earned the prestigious title of “Bowler of the Tournament.”

• Naveen-ul-Haq, at the age of 15, played a crucial role in Afghanistan’s victory at the ACC Under-19 2014 Premier League. He showcased exceptional talent by claiming 16 wickets while conceding a mere 6.5 runs per wicket.

• Following the tournament, he informed his family of his intention to demonstrate his worth and requested some time to do so. Despite lacking a coach, he made the decision to engage a personal trainer and dedicate four hours daily to rigorous workouts at the gym. Additionally, he committed himself to a strict diet. His unwavering efforts were driven by the realization that failure to succeed as a cricketer would necessitate leaving the country for educational or professional pursuits.

• He had his first appearance in a List A match against Bangladesh at Mirpur on September 25, 2016.

• Naveen-ul-Haq emerged victorious in the ACC Under-19 Youth Asia Cup, securing the title in 2017. He was duly honored with the award for his exceptional performance in the tournament.

• On 7 March 2018, he participated in his inaugural match for Kabul Eagles in the Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament, marking his debut in the first-class cricket.

• He was included in the roster of the Nangarhar Leopards squad for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League tournament in September 2018.

• Sylhet Thunder had him on their team for the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League, where he played in November 2019.

• He was selected to join the 2020 Caribbean Premier League roster for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in July 2020.

• The Kandy Tuskers chose him to join their team for the first-ever edition of the Lanka Premier League in October 2020.

• He joined the Leicestershire Foxes in February 2021, participating in the 2021 T20 Blast tournament in England. However, he did not make the cut for the 2022 season in England.

• During the T20 Vitality Blast in June 2022, he participated in a match against the Worcestershire Rapids, where he achieved a significant milestone by taking his maiden five wickets in Twenty20 cricket. His impressive bowling performance resulted in a score of 5/11 in just four overs.

• During the third edition of the Lanka Premier League in July 2022, Colombo Stars chose him to be part of their team.

• The Lucknow Super Giants purchased him during the 2023 Indian Premier League auction, which took place in December 2022.

• He participated in the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup as a member of Afghanistan’s squad.

• Naveen-ul-Haq, the captain of Afghanistan in the 2016 Under-19 Asia Cup, celebrated with his team after their victorious win in the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. This achievement took place in December 2016.

• Naveen-ul-Haq celebrated alongside his team after making his Twenty20 debut for Afghanistan against Namibia in the 2017 Desert T20 Challenge on January 19, 2017. Following their triumph in the same tournament, he rejoiced with his teammates.

• Naveen-ul-Haq was selected as Afghanistan’s captain for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in December 2017. During the tournament, he displayed remarkable skills and delivered an outstanding performance.

• He joined Afghanistan’s T20I squad for the 2019-20 Bangladesh Tri-Nation Series in August 2019.

• In December 2020, he used Twitter to express his thoughts on the advice given by Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi. During a match between Kandy Tuskers and Galle Gladiators at the Mahinda Rajapaksha Stadium in Hambantota, Naveen got into a fight with Mohammad Amir during the 18th over. Naveen was observed speaking disrespectfully to Amir while he was batting. After the game ended, they shook hands and Shahid Afridi spoke with Naveen, offering him advice. Afridi later took to Twitter to share the advice he gave, stating, “I straightforwardly advised the young player to focus on playing the game and avoid using abusive language. I have close friendships with members of the Afghanistan team, and we maintain a respectful and friendly bond. The core essence of the game lies in showing respect to both teammates and opponents.” In response to Afridi’s tweet, Naveen also resorted to Twitter, asserting that cricket, a game renowned for its sportsmanship, encourages the willingness to accept advice and show respect. However, when someone belittles us and implies that we will always be inferior, it is not just a personal attack on me but an insult to my entire community.
• He was selected to be part of Afghanistan’s team for the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in September 2021.

• Leicestershire’s player took the lead in wicket charts during the Vitality Blast of 2021, securing an impressive 26 wickets in 14 games. With an economy rate of 8.67, he showcased exceptional bowling skills.

• He was chosen by Lucknow Super Giants for a sum of Rs. 50 lakh in December 2022.

• Naveen-ul-Haq was honored in 2022 by Leicestershire County Cricket Club, who presented him with the prestigious Gold Fox cap as a token of appreciation for his unwavering dedication and exceptional service to the club.

• In January 2023, Naveen took to Twitter to express his decision of not participating in the Big Bash League (BBL) for Sydney Sixers. This announcement came after Cricket Australia declared that they would be abandoning the upcoming series against the Asian team in March 2023. The reason behind CA’s decision was the Taliban’s recent actions that restricted women’s rights in the country. In his tweet, Naveen stated, “I will no longer be a part of the big bash until these immature decisions are ceased. This is not the way to handle the one-off test or the ODI. Instead of offering support during a challenging time for a country, you are taking away their only source of joy.” He concluded his post with the hashtag #CA.

• During the interview, he mentioned that his bowling technique underwent alterations due to back problems and injuries that occurred between 2015 and 2016.