UWC SUPERSTARS ZUBAYR HAMZA

UWC SUPERSTARS ZUBAYR HAMZA BY ZAAHIER ADAMS

Zubayr Hamza is a class act. Ask anyone who watched him during the first Test against England at SuperSport Park in Centurion last summer.

Hamza only made 39 but the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) first Proteas cricketer stroked six elegant boundaries during his stay at the crease.

The two that came off England’s World Cup final hero, Jofra Archer, were particularly special, with Hamza even holding a pose for the cameras after one sweet drive through the covers. It was a sure sign that the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Accounting student belonged at the highest level of the game.

The 25-year-old had been prolific in domestic first-class cricket since making his debut back in 2014. He caught the eye early on when he became the fourth-youngest South African to hit a double hundred.

In scoring an unbeaten 202 against Namibia in the Sunfoil Cup three-day competition at the age of 19 years and 113 days, Hamza is only behind Johann Myburgh (17 years and 122 days), Graeme Pollock (19 years and 19 days) and Xenophon Balaskas (19 years and 86 days) on the all-time list. His curve has been on an upward trajectory ever since, with him establishing himself as one of the standout batsmen in the Cape Cobras franchise team. He struck 1203 runs in the 2017/18 season that alerted the national selectors to his vast potential.

Stylish with the willow in hand on the field while being mildmannered and modest off the field, Hamza is already being compared to the legendary Hashim Amla. While flattered by the comparisons to his boyhood hero, Hamza would prefer to walk his own path.

“I can only be Zubayr Hamza 1.0. I can’t go out and try and be like Hashim Amla,” he says. “There will never be another player exactly like him. The way he scores runs, the way he hits the ball, his flourishing back-lift; he’s such a special player and human. If given the chance, I will go out and be the best version of me that I can be.”

Hamza certainly possesses Amla’s humility, though. Not long after scoring his maiden Test half-century in India against high-quality seam and spin bowlers such as Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin, he was back on campus playing for UWC’s First XI against Langa CC.

It was not only an indication of Hamza’s dedication to Udubs but also the character of the young man. Ironically, he received the call for his Proteas Test debut against Pakistan at Wanderers while playing for UWC in the 2018 University Sports South Africa (USSA) week.

South Africa’s 100th Test player since readmission in 1991 has also shown that responsibility brings out the best in him. A natural-born captain, having previously led Western Province’s youth representative teams and UWC at the Varsity Cup, Hamza was handed the Cape Cobras’ limited-overs leadership reins towards the end of last season.

It proved to be a masterstroke: Hamza finished second on the national run-scorers list with 582 runs at an average of 58.20. It certainly showed he is equally adept in white-ball cricket as he is in the red ball version.

Although COVID-19 has stalled cricket momentarily, you can rest assured that, once it gets back underway, Hamza will be at the front of the queue. For this young man is certainly ready to mix it with the world’s best.