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Shoaib Malik's nephew eyes Pakistan debut across all three formats

Mohammad Huraira ended the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy as the leading run-scorer with 986 runs at an average of 58

Shoaib Malik's nephew eyes Pakistan debut across all three formats PHOTO COURTESY: ICC/PCB

Mohammad Huraira, who's the nephew of veteran cricketer Shoaib Malik, has made a strong impact in his first debut First-Class season with Northern.

The right-arm opening batter topped the most runs scored chart for the recently concluded Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he accumulated 986 runs at an average of 58. He managed three centuries and scored five half-centuries.

In addition to his two fifties in the final against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he also scored a triple century which was the highest individual score of the tournament. Huraira's mammoth innings of 311 also saw him become the second-youngest Pakistani to score a triple ton in First-Class cricket.

Speaking about the final, Huraira said that his season would have felt much better had Northern lifted the trophy.

"Of course, it's personally satisfying to be the top scorer but it would have been much nicer if it was in a winning cause," Huraira said after the game. "But hats off to KP; they outplayed us in all three departments. I didn't have a huge goal of finishing as the highest scorer, but I had small goals from game to game. Whenever I get a chance I give it my best shot. It came off thankfully. Last year, I didn't get a chance and I was off-color after the U-19 World Cup. I just worked hard," Huraira said while in a conversation with ESPNCricinfo.

Looking forward to new opportunities, Huraira expressed his desire to represent Pakistan and play for the national team across all three formats.

"My next target is to represent Pakistan in all three formats, and to give match-winning performances for my country," added Huraira.

Pakistan has often struggled with openers and with Abid Ali's deteriorating heart condition, there is a good chance that Huraira might get his wish. Even if he does not, he has laid a strong foundation for himself which has the potential to propel him to new heights in near future.