Karachi schoolboy Adam Gilchrist smashes 117 and idolises Sangakkara despite sharing Aussie legend’s name
Teen sensation named after Aussie great catches eye in PCB school hunt
A teenage cricketer from Karachi has caught the attention of fans after an eye-catching century in the Pakistan Cricket Board Talent Hunt School Cricket Championship Under-17. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter shares his name with Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, but his own cricketing hero is former Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara.
Match-winning 117 for Kamran Public School
The young Adam Gilchrist plays for Kamran Public School. Playing against Happy Palace Grammar School Karachi at Jinnah College, the teenager scored 117 runs off 108 balls with 11 fours in 145 minutes at the crease.
His innings helped Kamran Public School post 297 for four in 40 overs. Gilchrist contributed nearly 39 per cent of his team’s total and the side went on to win the match by 172 runs.
PCB talent hunt platform
The tournament is part of the PCB’s second school-level talent hunt programme, which began on 15 September and runs until 5 December. More than 3,300 schools from 100 districts registered for the competition, with 1,200 shortlisted. The best teams will progress through district and provincial rounds before the national finals.
The initiative gives young cricketers an opportunity to showcase their skills and potentially take the next step in their careers. The young cricketer has thanked the PCB and its chairman Mohsin Naqvi for providing school players with a platform to display their talent.
Why he was named Adam Gilchrist
The teenager’s name has an interesting backstory. His mother selected the first name Adam, while his cricket-loving father added Gilchrist in honour of the legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter.
The original Adam Gilchrist played 96 Tests for Australia, scored 5,570 runs and was part of three World Cup-winning teams in 1999, 2003 and 2007. He was famous for his attacking batting and ability to change matches quickly.
However, the young Pakistani cricketer has a different role model. He wants to follow Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lankan captain and left-handed wicketkeeper-batter who scored 12,400 Test runs and 38 centuries. Sangakkara’s successful career makes him an understandable choice for the teenager to look up to.
A video of him explaining his name and favourite cricketer has gained attention online, bringing the Karachi schoolboy into the spotlight.