Pakistan ex-cricketer Arshad now drives cab in Australia

Former Pakistan off-spinner Arshad Khan is far from the glory days of his debut against West Indies in 1997-98, recently spotted steering the wheel of a cab in Australia.
On Monday, a social media user, Ganesh Birle, posted a photo on Facebook of the former Pakistan cricketer’s Uber Taxi driver profile after he took a ride in his cab, reports Daily Times.

“He was the driver of our cab and we started chatting, he told me that he is from Pakistan and lives in Sydney. Also that he has been to Hyderabad many times when he was playing for Lahore Badshahs something in Indian Cricket League (ICL). After which I asked him his full name and then I was shocked to see his face which I could partially recognise. I shook his hand and left,” the Pakistan based news agency said quoting Ganesh’s Facebook post read.
“He was avoiding the conversation all the time, but at the same time he couldn’t help but talk about his India connection. Imagine he introduced himself as ‘I from Pakistan but I have been here in Sydney for long time now’. Also like a good Uber driver he offered us water and stuff when we sat in the car,” it added.
On Wednesday, in another FB post Ganesh said: “I knew that people who have genuine love for cricket will feel bad for him but did not know that there will be so many of them.
Finally, I hope that he recognizes the fact that lot of people still remember him and remember his craft. So even if chooses to keep driving Uber, he could do that with more happiness in his heart, although that won't be the best use of his great skills.”

When contacted a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman confirmed that Arshad was in Sydney for the past several years.

However, he said he did not know whether the former off-spinner was driving a taxi or doing some other job there.

Taxi driving in Sydney is a service business and a motivated taxi driver earns a decent income. According to an Australian website, a taxi driver in Australia earns around 400 Australian dollars daily.

As per Australian driving laws, it is not considered wise to engage passengers in to conversation particularly if a passenger seems preoccupied. On the other hand if a passenger asks the driver about himself, the driver can then interact.

Born on March 22, 1971 in Peshawar, Arshad played nine Tests and 58 ODIs for Pakistan. During his international career, which ended after he signed-up for the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), he picked 32 Test and 56 ODI wickets. Both his last Test and ODI came against India at Bangalore and Rawalpindi, respectively.