By Mohammed Omer Zahir

Timothy David Paine, known as “Tim Paine” is an international cricketer hails from Hobart, Australia. Tim Paine was born on December 08, 1984, which means that his Zodiac sign is Sagittarius. He made his List A debut, a month before his 21st birthday in November for Tasmania against Western Australia. And when Paine turned 21 in December, 2005, he made his First class debut against South Australia. Tim played his first T20 game against Queensland by representing the tigers of Tasmania in January 06, 2006.

Tim Paine currently plays for Hobart Hurricanes in Big Bash League (BBL) and also for Tasmania in Australian domestic season.The thing which resulted in Paine’s fortune of playing ODI cricket was wicket-keeper Brad Haddin’s injury. Tim Paine made his One-day international debut on August 28, 2009 against England in Aussies tour of England. This Hollywood lad alike wicket-keeper batsman who bats right-handed made his Test debut against Pakistan on July 13, 2010 at Lords. Lords and different venues of England was at time were neutral venues for Pakistan cricket team where they played home series against Australia.

He opened his account in T20 internationals against Scotland on August 30, 2009 at the venue of Edinburgh. Paine’s career was badly affected by a finger injury, needed multiple operations. After six years of hiatus from international cricket due to his injury problem, he returned to Australian T20 sqaud that played against Sri Lanka in February 2017. Unfortunately he failed to score more hundreds in his First class career, in fact the 215 runs he scored, way back in October 2006 in Sheffield Shield game, remained his only First class century.

What made Tim Paine into my extra favorite list of cricketers was his arrival to Lahore, Pakistan in September, 2017 , as he was named in to the ICC World XI team, alongside thirteen other cricketers. Paine’s tour with the rest of World XI team opened the gateway for competitive international series at that will play pivotal role, hopefully for promising return of international cricketing series in future at Pakistani soil, regularly. Till today, this elegant cricketer played 4 Tests, 26 ODIs, 11 T20Is, which includes World XI games as well. He also played 89 First-class, 120 List A and 77 T20 games. Being a zealot cricketing fan I wish Timothy David Paine, a great cricketing future ahead.     

Published in Young Nation Magazine on September 23, 2017