With cricket booming across the UAE, Sport360° decided to sit down each week with one local cricketer to find out more about the players that make up the sport in the emirates.

This week we spoke to AD Gymkhana player Haroon Iftikhar. 

Haroon Iftikhar

Age: 32

Position: Batsman

Born: Sialkot, Pakistan

First match you watched: Pakistan v New Zealand at the 1992 World Cup.

Favourite format: 50-overs because that is a game that requires a lot of consistency from the players.

Best cricket match you watched: South Africa v Australia ODI in Johannesburg in 2006.

Favourite player growing up: Imran Khan. I liked every aspect of him as a player. He was a leader, had a great character and the players believed in him.

First piece of cricket equipment you bought or given: A bat from my dad in 1996.

One stadium you would like to visit: The WACA (Perth). The design is different to other venues and has a lot of history.

Best player at the moment: AB de Villiers – he can adapt his batting to ODIs, T20s and Tests and always entertains the crowd and is consistent.

Favourite sporting moment: When Pete Sampras won the 2000 Wimbledon title. He beat Rafter for his last title there and it was a tight match.

Other sports you play: Football, swimming and table tennis. 

Favourite meal: BBQ grilled chicken. 

Favourite thing about playing cricket in the UAE: We get to play games against sides from all around the UAE, which helps us improve and learn as a team.