A schoolboy named Adam Gilchrist has scored a blistering 117 runs off 108 balls in a match between Karachi’s Kamran Public School and Happy Palace Grammar School at Jinnah College, drawing attention to his unusual name and ambitions in the game.
The left-handed batter, who also serves as a wicketkeeper, described his innings and explained how he came to share his name with former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist.
“My name is Adam Gilchrist and I play for Kamran Public School. We had a match against Happy Palace Grammar School at Jinnah College, and I scored 117 runs off 108 balls,” he said.
The young cricketer said his first name was chosen by his mother, while his father, a keen cricket enthusiast, added the surname Gilchrist because of his passion for the sport.
“Actually, my mother named me ‘Adam’, and my father was very passionate about cricket and watched a lot of cricket… so he added ‘Gilchrist’. That’s how my name became Adam Gilchrist,” he said.
Gilchrist also spoke about the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) talent hunt programme, describing it as an opportunity for young players to develop their cricketing skills.
“The PCB talent hunt programme is a great platform for kids, especially for Under-15 and Under-17 players,” he said, thanking PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the board for the initiative.
The programme provides a platform for aspiring cricketers in the younger age groups, including Under-15 and Under-17 players, to pursue opportunities in the sport.
Asked about his cricketing ambitions, Gilchrist named former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara as his favourite player and the cricketer he hoped to emulate.
“I want to become like Kumar Sangakkara, he is my favourite,” he said.
Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist was known for his left-handed batting and role in Australia’s international cricket success.
