USMAN THE MAN AS STRABANE TROPHY HUNT CONTINUES

There’s no sign of the Strabane juggernaut slowing down as the Tyrone side battle for silverware on no fewer than four fronts. They had an excellent win at Coleraine to reach the Sperrin Springs final, and their win over Fox Lodge means they keep Championship leaders St Johnston firmly in their sights.

An integral part of their success this season has been pace bowler Usman Azhar, who is now in his second season at the club. The 23-year-old was born in Pakistan, before moving to England at the age of 11. The youngster began playing tape-ball cricket, where his skill soon drew the attention of local clubs. He played for Woodford and Southend in the Essex League, and also featured for the county from U13 level through to the 17s and the Emerging Players Programme.

His education brought him to Ireland, where at the Dundalk Institute of Technology he studied Digital Marketing and Public Relations. While there, he had a break-out season for North County in 2022, taking 44 wickets to be one of the leading wicket takers in the country. A conversation then with his friend Ryan Gallagher convinced him to switch to Strabane.

“The move so far has been great for me personally,” said Usman. “I’ve just played in the Future Series with the Warriors and I’ve been extremely proud of myself how far I’ve come. It’s not very common in Asian households to continue something if quick success is not achieved!

“The team environment has been just different this year. I think we learnt from our mistakes. The reason we are doing well is everyone is willing to put their hand up and win the game for the team, so in that sense there’s less pressure.”

How does cricket up here compare to the Leinster leagues?

“I think cricket is the same everywhere. You do the basics and you win games. The pitches are a bit sticky and slow in the north-west but I find Strabane the best. Huge credit goes to Gillespie family, who turn up every day to the ground and make sure the pitches are suitable.”

John Mooney’s influence on their success to date is plain for all to see, while Pakistan professional Nasir Nawaz continues to score heavily for the Red Caps.

“I’ve known ‘John Boy’ since 2021 and the trust he shows in me and support he’s been showing is unmatchable. Our professional Nasir the run machine is like a brother to me. We discuss ups and downs and we work on weaknesses together to bring best for the team. Our vice-captain Aaron is a class act too, who is always keen to help and a lovely guy to be around.”

Strabane face what could be a decisive weekend in their trophy quest, with two tough away assignments. A trip to leaders St Johnston on Saturday, followed by a National Cup semi-final clash with North County, with Usman and John Mooney returning to their old stomping ground.

“I think going back to North County will be a happy moment for me because that’s where I started my career in Irish cricket. There’s nothing better than playing on the ground you started from. There will be no pressure - we will stick to basics and hopefully we get the win.

“We have been playing brave cricket and I’m sure we will give a strong statement with plenty of silverware at the end of the season.”

Two wins at the weekend would certainly go a long way to achieving that goal.