How cricket Rizwan turned a visa struggle into a happy, successful life

FROM being unwanted by Australia due to visa issues, Ali Rizwan is now a much wanted member for the Sydney Thunder Nation Cup All-Stars and is even invited to bowl to international teams at net practices.

Ali Rizwan is a very talented bowler with Sydney Thunder Nations Cup and Parramatta teams. Picture: David Swift

• Grand town centre in Box Hill
• Vineyard set to get cracking

FROM being unwanted by Australia due to visa issues, Ali Rizwan is now a much wanted member for the Sydney Thunder Nation Cup All-Stars and is even invited to bowl to international teams at net practices.

Cricket has always been a big part of Rizwan’s life and in a strange twist, it has also helped him and his family stay in Australia.

After Rizwan and his family were knocked back for a permanent visa by the Australian government — his mother Gul died in Sydney while their appeals were being heard — it was the president of the Parramatta District Cricket Club who made a successful last ditch effort through the local MP, which has enabled them to stay here.

Ali Rizwan is a member of the Sydney Thunder Nations Cup team.

Remarkably, The Ponds local is not bitter about the whole experience and is determined to make the most of his opportunities.

At his best, Rizwan can run up speeds of 130km and bowled to the Australia and New Zealand teams at the nets before their recent ODIs at the SCG and the Indian batsmen last year.

“Bowling to the Australians and New Zealanders was a good challenge and helped me better understand how international cricketers go about their business,” Rizwan, 27, said.

New Zealand’s Trent Boult. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

New Zealand's Tim Southee. Picture: AFP

“I also got some valuable insights from (New Zealand’s speedsters) Tim Southee and Trent Boult

“It helped my confidence because I felt like I bowled quite well and my pace was up there with most of the guys except Lockie Ferguson who bowls 150km plus.

“Bowling to the Indian team last year also was an unreal exposure for me as it showed the high level of professionalism they have.

“As a member of the Thunder team we have played against the Lahore Qalanders in T20 and will also play a couple of games against Delhi Daredevil Academy in January.”

In 1996, Rizwan’s family of four moved to Australia where they lived and worked for several years before his dad took them to the US for a stint before returning to Sydney when their battle to stay permanently threatened to destroy their sanity.

Ali Rizwan.

“It was stressful times and we didn’t want to go back to Pakistan because I only knew Australia having come here when I was a baby,” Rizwan recalled.

“My mum passed away in 2007 and with our migration application refused by the Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone, there were very turbulent times for us.

“I was playing for Parramatta at that time and fortunately the president of the club, Greg Monoghan, helped us a lot by contacting the local MP Julie Owen who then wrote a letter to the then Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews.
According to Rizwan, following this intervention, they are now able to stay.

“We are grateful to Parramatta cricket club for their support and help,” Rizwan said.

“I got my love from cricket from my dad Rizwan, who played first class cricket for Pakistan International Airlines and knows all the top players from that era, including Imran Khan.

“I have learnt a lot by playing for Thunder because of the high class coaches including Mark Waugh.”

Rizwan, who is studying at the Western Sydney University and is working at the Castle Towers, is married to Ashleigh and they have a son, Adam.

“We are happy and all this has shown us not to take any of this for granted,” Rizwan said.

His father, a double masters degree holder, lives in Sydney while his brother Reza is an engineer in Melbourne.