Pilot Naqvi flies over Zimbabwe cricket

Image source, Antum Naqvi
By Eshlin VedanBBC Sport Africa, Johannesburg
Commercial airline pilot Antum Naqvi quickly became the rising star of Zimbabwean cricket and has now set his sights on joining the national team.
The 24-year-old made headlines after broke national records with an unbeaten 300 in the Logan Cup for Mid West Rhinos, away against the Matabeleland Tuskers last week.
The life of Naqvi l has taken him across three continents since his birth in Brussels and his move, when he was four, to Australia where he was educated and obtained his pilot's license at the Hartwig Flight School.
Yet he always considered cricket his first love and put his career in aviation on hold in order to realize his sporting dreams.
"When I was growing up I loved airplanes, (the movie) Top Gun and airplane shows and I wanted to be captain of one of the airlines on a Airbus A380,” he told BBC Sport Africa. .
"After finishing my studies, I went to flight school and decided that I would have to manage my time perfectly if I wanted to perform my flight plans and cricket. It worked perfectly.
"It took me about two and a half to three years to get my airline license commercial. I would fly in the morning and practice cricket in the afternoon.
"Time management was probably the hardest part for me . When I go back to Sydney, I try to fly as much as I can in my free time, but I don't have much time to fly anymore."
His decision to prioritize cricket appears to have paid off as, after just eight first-class matches, Naqvi is captain of his team, has scored four centuries and averages 102.14 with the bat.
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Sports Jan 22, 2024 0 11 Add to Reading List

By Eshlin VedanBBC Sport Africa, Johannesburg

Commercial airline pilot Antum Naqvi quickly became the rising star of Zimbabwean cricket and has now set his sights on joining the national team.

The 24-year-old made headlines after broke national records with an unbeaten 300 in the Logan Cup for Mid West Rhinos, away against the Matabeleland Tuskers last week.

The life of Naqvi l has taken him across three continents since his birth in Brussels and his move, when he was four, to Australia where he was educated and obtained his pilot's license at the Hartwig Flight School.

Yet he always considered cricket his first love and put his career in aviation on hold in order to realize his sporting dreams.

"When I was growing up I loved airplanes, (the movie) Top Gun and airplane shows and I wanted to be captain of one of the airlines on a Airbus A380,” he told BBC Sport Africa. .

"After finishing my studies, I went to flight school and decided that I would have to manage my time perfectly if I wanted to perform my flight plans and cricket. It worked perfectly.

"It took me about two and a half to three years to get my airline license commercial. I would fly in the morning and practice cricket in the afternoon.

"Time management was probably the hardest part for me . When I go back to Sydney, I try to fly as much as I can in my free time, but I don't have much time to fly anymore."

His decision to prioritize cricket appears to have paid off as, after just eight first-class matches, Naqvi is captain of his team, has scored four centuries and averages 102.14 with the bat.

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