Rangpur's Power Cut, the Tempo of the Heartbeat, and the Mystery of Antum Naqvi's 60.35 Average

In Rangpur, the power cut out just as Antum Naqvi's 300-run Logan Cup clip was playing on the laptop. The screen went black, but the murmur from the tea stall outside didn't stop. A man was saying, 'Born in Belgium, raised in Australia, about to play Test cricket for Zimbabwe — this is a cricket story, isn't it?'

I sat down with that question in my head. Zimbabwe have picked this 27-year-old all-rounder for the two-match Test series against Afghanistan. The Wisden report highlighted his first-class batting average of 60.35, fourteen fifty-plus scores in 34 innings, and 62 wickets in 24 matches. But the story behind these numbers isn't just a story of statistics — it's a story of patience, identity, and anticipation.

What Does a First-Class Average of 60.35 Mean?

Let's be clear about one thing first. Antum Naqvi's 60.35 average is not a Test average; it's a first-class average. He scored these runs in Zimbabwe's domestic Logan Cup. 1,871 runs in 34 innings. That's a small number of innings — a big score early in a batter's career inflates the average. But the important thing here is that he has fourteen fifty-plus scores in 34 innings. That means roughly once every two and a half innings, he crosses fifty. This isn't just a giant innings inflating an average — this is evidence of consistency.

When I look at local cricket scorecards in Rangpur, one thing repeatedly catches my eye — many players flop in the next match after a big innings. But Naqvi's case is the opposite. He has played a 300-run innings, and he has scored regular fifties before and after it. This consistency is what separates him from being just a 'one-match star.'

His bowling record is also striking. 62 wickets in 24 matches at an average of 26.66. As an off-spinner, that average is attractive. But there's a caveat here too — a first-class bowling average is not a Test bowling average. The real test will be how his batting holds up against Afghanistan's spin attack.

Why Did Zimbabwe Pick This 27-Year-Old 'Unknown'?

Zimbabwe's batting line-up depth has been questioned for a long time. In a team where finding young talent is difficult, giving a chance to a 27-year-old domestic run-machine means the selectors have prioritized form. But there's something worth noting here — Naqvi was named in squads twice before but didn't play. In the 2026 T20I series against India, and in the previous Test against Afghanistan. That means he has been on the fringe for about a year without breaking into the XI.

This pattern is important. It could mean two things. Perhaps the selectors see him as the 'next batter in line' but haven't yet been confident enough to put him in the XI. Or perhaps Zimbabwe's batting line-up is so competitive that he hasn't been able to claim that spot yet. In either case, his Test debut is not 'certain' — it's probable.

When I went to Qatar in 2026 to watch Morocco's matches, I saw how a team can suffer from an identity crisis. Zimbabwe is somewhat similar. The team has been performing at a middling level for the past few years; young players are getting opportunities but haven't been able to be consistent. In this situation, a 27-year-old who is scoring runs in domestic cricket might be the 'ready-now' solution that can bring stability to Zimbabwe's batting.

Is the Pilot Story Just a Story?

Naqvi's 'commercial pilot' backstory is wonderful for the media. Wisden highlighted it in the headline. But this story isn't just for human interest — it's evidence of his non-linear career path. Born in Belgium, raised in Australia, going to Zimbabwe to build a cricket career — this path wasn't easy. His training as a pilot and his journey as a cricketer — juggling both means extraordinary discipline.

But a question arises here. Because of this non-linear path, has he had less exposure to high-performance systems than a traditional academy product? The intensity and consistency of Test cricket might be a new challenge for him. Just as pilot training teaches the skill of handling pressure, Test cricket is also a game of handling pressure. The parallel is fascinating, but the proof is still pending.

Where Is the Outside Reading Wrong?

Many outsiders are now saying, 'A batter with a 60 average will be great in Tests.' But I would say this number is not being read correctly. There is a huge difference in the quality of bowling between first-class cricket and Test cricket. Averaging 60 against Logan Cup bowlers and averaging 60 against Afghanistan's Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are not the same.

Afghanistan's spin attack is world-class. Besides Rashid and Mujeeb, their young spinners are dangerous. If Naqvi has to face these spinners in his first Test, it will be a tough test for him. The spinners he has faced in domestic cricket are not of international quality. This difference must be kept in mind.

Another outside misconception is — 'He's a pilot, so he'll be fit.' A pilot's fitness and a cricketer's fitness for a Test match are different. In a Test, he may have to field for 90 overs in a day, then come out to bat. It may take him more time to meet this physical demand.

What Is the Next Signal?

The biggest question for me is, will Naqvi be in the XI? Being in the squad and playing in the XI are two different things. If Zimbabwe's selectors give him a chance, that will be his real test. How many runs he scores in the first innings isn't important — what's important is how long he can stay at the crease, how he plays the Afghan spinners.

I'm sitting in Rangpur wondering, what is this boy's story really? Is he Zimbabwe's new batting hope? Or is he another big name in domestic cricket who won't be able to prove himself at the international level? Time will tell. But what can be said now is — Zimbabwe's selectors have made a bold decision. They have rewarded domestic form. Whether this decision succeeds or not won't be understood in one match. What we learn from Naqvi in the two-match series will tell us whether he is just a story of statistics, or part of Zimbabwe's Test future.

And to me, for a 27-year-old cricketer, this is the moment where he can prove — a domestic average doesn't just stay on paper, it can take shape on the field too. The story that began on that powerless evening in Rangpur will have its next chapter written in Harare, in front of Afghan spin.