World Cup 2015: Usman Gani, the kid with Hashim Amla’s style and Virender Sehwag’s flair

The other day, Afghanistan’s new coach, Englishman Andy Moles, told Gani that he played like Sehwag. The youngster’s day was made; it was the confidence boost that no pep talk could have given him — especially before his, and his team’s, first-ever ODI World Cup game.

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Now, he wanted to speak to Sehwag.

The youngest cricketer at the 2015 World Cup, hailing from the newest nation at this tournament, isn’t new to comparisons with great players. Gani’s distinct trigger movement makes him look like Hashim Amla.

“Yes, my bat does comes around twice over. I have tried to change my approach but it hasn’t help. This is my natural style,” he says. It’s an interesting sight, this Afghan opener with Amla’s style and Sehwag’s flair.

Early days 

Gani, who was born in Jalalabad, first batted against the hard ball when he was just 13. According to his coaches, the standout feature of his batting was his fearlessness and lack of nerves.

“Later, I was drafted by the school academy where I really improved a lot,” he says. After being a regular on the junior circuit and after playing the under-19 World Cup, he was drafted into the senior national side. This entitled him to a monthly salary of about $ 1,400.

Gani understands and speaks Hindi, but the conversation is through a translator because the Afghanistan media manager insists the players are not allowed to speak that language. Asked if getting the contract money has changed his life, and he is at a loss for words.

“He has just joined the Elite group, he will be getting the money very soon,” says the manager.

So what is the biggest gift cricket has given him? This time Gani does not hesitate. It is the fact that it brings a smile to the face of his mother, who struggled to raise her children, he says. “On match days, people troop in to my place to watch cricket. They pray that I get runs.”