Feel blessed to learn from Babar Azam: Muhammad Hurraira

2,252 runs at an average north of 68. Eight centuries – including a highest score of 311 in his debut season – and eight half-centuries in 38 innings. A strike-rate touching 70.

These statistics encapsulate the first-class career – just two seasons long – of 21-year-old Mohammad Huraira who has earned a maiden call-up to the Pakistan squad for the two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka this month.

Hurraira, while speaking to media in Karachi on Tuesday, said that he was excited to get an opportunity to learn from Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam.

"I got to learn from Babar bhai and I had a detailed discussion with him as well. I feel blessed to learn from him and I hope that from this tour and afterwards I'll get to learn alot from him," Hurraira said.

While he comes from a prestigious lineage of Sialkot batters who have left an indelible mark, Huraira also had a role model in former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik in his family. “My uncle [Shoaib Malik] has been a motivation for me. Seeing him play at the highest level for such a long period gave me that boost that I can also follow his example. I have healthy discussions with him about cricket, and life in general. He has helped me in my career.”

Huraira is currently successfully juggling between an associate degree programme in accounting and finance from the University of Sialkot and top-flight cricket. “The university provides me relaxation for cricket so that helps me in pursuing cricket,” he says.

For Huraira, however, who has 10 List A matches and six T20 games to add to his 24 first-class matches, the Test selection is an opportunity to materialise his dreams. “It is everyone’s dream to represent Pakistan at the highest level so I am very excited. I spoke to my family and they all were very happy. It is all because of the prayers of my parents. This is just a beginning. I want to play for Pakistan for a long time.”