emirates7 - Ayaan Misbah was just five years old when he began hitting cricket balls at a ground in New Delhi. “I loved holding the bat, and hitting the ball far came naturally to me,” he recalls.
His passion for the game and his flair for playing textbook shots only intensified after his family moved to Dubai when he was eight years old.
Now, as a teenager, Ayaan has led his adopted country, the UAE, to a remarkable victory in the ACC Men’s Under-16 West Zone Cup held in Qatar.
The UAE remained unbeaten during the league stage and sealed the championship with a dominant performance against Kuwait in the final.
Although the entire team contributed to the triumph, Ayaan emerged as the standout performer, amassing 545 runs, including three centuries. He saved his best for the final, scoring a dazzling 143.
The 16-year-old opening batter, known for his graceful cover drives, credits Virat Kohli for inspiring his approach to batting.
“I started loving cricket when Kohli was at his peak. Watching him play, especially those elegant cover drives, made me want to bat like him,” Ayaan says.
“I admire his mentality — how he leads the team and scores classic centuries without taking unnecessary risks. I try to bring that same discipline into my own game.”
Ayaan isn’t just motivated by legends; rising stars also fuel his ambition. He finds inspiration in Vaibhab Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old prodigy who recently became the youngest player to hit a century in the IPL.
“It’s incredibly inspiring. To do something like that at 14 is unbelievable,” he says, before sharing his own ambitions.
“I have many goals, but right now, I’m focused on securing a spot in the UAE Under-19 team and playing in the Asia Cup. Then I want to break into the senior national team. Ultimately, my biggest dream is to play in the IPL.”
He also praised the Emirates Cricket Board for nurturing emerging talent in the country.
He pointed to players like Aayan Afzal Khan — the 19-year-old all-rounder who has already made waves in senior cricket, including a match-winning T20 spell against New Zealand — as evidence of the system’s success.
“The Emirates Cricket Board has done an exceptional job supporting young players,” Ayaan says. “They give us so many opportunities, including practice matches. You don’t often see that level of support in other associate nations.”
His passion for the game and his flair for playing textbook shots only intensified after his family moved to Dubai when he was eight years old.
Now, as a teenager, Ayaan has led his adopted country, the UAE, to a remarkable victory in the ACC Men’s Under-16 West Zone Cup held in Qatar.
The UAE remained unbeaten during the league stage and sealed the championship with a dominant performance against Kuwait in the final.
Although the entire team contributed to the triumph, Ayaan emerged as the standout performer, amassing 545 runs, including three centuries. He saved his best for the final, scoring a dazzling 143.
The 16-year-old opening batter, known for his graceful cover drives, credits Virat Kohli for inspiring his approach to batting.
“I started loving cricket when Kohli was at his peak. Watching him play, especially those elegant cover drives, made me want to bat like him,” Ayaan says.
“I admire his mentality — how he leads the team and scores classic centuries without taking unnecessary risks. I try to bring that same discipline into my own game.”
Ayaan isn’t just motivated by legends; rising stars also fuel his ambition. He finds inspiration in Vaibhab Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old prodigy who recently became the youngest player to hit a century in the IPL.
“It’s incredibly inspiring. To do something like that at 14 is unbelievable,” he says, before sharing his own ambitions.
“I have many goals, but right now, I’m focused on securing a spot in the UAE Under-19 team and playing in the Asia Cup. Then I want to break into the senior national team. Ultimately, my biggest dream is to play in the IPL.”
He also praised the Emirates Cricket Board for nurturing emerging talent in the country.
He pointed to players like Aayan Afzal Khan — the 19-year-old all-rounder who has already made waves in senior cricket, including a match-winning T20 spell against New Zealand — as evidence of the system’s success.
“The Emirates Cricket Board has done an exceptional job supporting young players,” Ayaan says. “They give us so many opportunities, including practice matches. You don’t often see that level of support in other associate nations.”