Worcestershire Assistant Head Coach, Kadeer Ali, says batter Kashif Ali has taken “some huge strides forward” since he first became aware of his potential almost four years ago.
Kadeer watched footage of Kashif in action in the 2021 Kashmir Premier League, scoring a semi-final century and a fifty in the final after being brought to his attention by friend and former
Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire player, Bilal Shafayat.
He then signed an initial short-term contract at Visit Worcestershire New Road following a trial period the following summer after scoring a half century against Worcestershire early in the campaign for the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA).
Kashif was the first SACA product to sign a contract with a first class county and he impressed sufficiently to put pen to paper on further two and then four year deals – until the end of the 2027 season – with Worcestershire.
He has just returned from a spell playing first class cricket in Pakistan for Ghani Glass and was their leading scorer in the President’s Trophy after his last game.
Kadeer said: “Look, he has taken some huge strides forward. Last year when we lost quite a few of the players, and were trying to work out who would bat number three in the Championship, Kashif was an obvious choice.
“He has really kicked on and he is such a well rounded cricketer and suited to all three formats.
“As we saw last year. I know he missed part of the T20s but when he came into the side and opened the batting, he gave us some real strong power at the top of the order, someone who can take advantage of the powerplay.
“Then in Championship cricket, he has got a unique set-up but his technique is as good as anybody else at Worcestershire. He hits the ball late, is really balanced, and looks to put pressure on the bowlers.
“He has got a really well rounded game. I know he didn’t play last year in the 50 over competition because of injury, but we’ve seen in the past he is devastating in that format as well.
“Kashif has kicked on. His talent has always been there and it was always about getting an opportunity but in and around the professional environment he has put in some really good work in, hard work in.
“He’s also been a couple of times now to Pakistan where he plays some first class cricket and I think overall he is just getting better and better.”
Kadeer says Kashif is unfazed about the quality of bowler he is facing.
He said: “The best thing I like about Kashif is that he doesn’t play people on reputations. He just sees the ball and reacts to it. Most batters are striving for that sort of mindset, so he just goes out and plays.
“You saw last season we played up at Durham against a fantastic bowling attack, arguably close to a Test attack, on a wicket that was very bowler-friendly and he just went out and just reacted and played on instinct, and that is his biggest strength.
“It doesn’t matter who is bowling, whose hand the ball is coming out of, he just reacts to it and he is always looking to score and whatever the situation we find ourselves in as a team, when Kash is out there you know the scoreboard is going to tick, 10, 15, 20 overs.
“He has got the ability to hit some good balls for four as well so the margins for errors for bowlers against him are quite small which is fantastic.”
Kadeer says Kashif has aspirations to play at the highest level possible.
He said: “The hunger and the desire has been there and he has had to work really hard for his opportunity so he is looking to get better and better.
“Having spent a bit of time with him, his aspiration is to play at as high a standard as he possibly can and it would be nice in the next year, two years if he gets higher and can represent the England Lions or whatever the next step might be for him.
“I know he is desperate to get involved and play at the highest level he possibly can and we think he is good enough and really talented.”
