Ishti still our Champion – 10 years on

When he was last in Australia, Ihtisham Uddin was the runaway winner in Moonee Valley’s Club Champion award for 2012/13 – for best player in the First Eleven.

While Ishti received all the accolades for his season, which netted 456 runs @ 45.6 and 23 wickets @ 12.13 – the one thing he didn’t receive with his Club Champion trophy.
Ishti returned home to Pakistan before presentation night. The trophy sat on President Charlie Walker’s office desk for 10 years as he harbored hopes that Ishti would one day return to the Valley.
A couple of failed attempts to get a return visa dampened the hopes, but we were able to get a sports visa late last year and Ishti returned after Christmas.
And Charlie finally got to present Ishti with his Club Champion trophy – on February 4, before Day 2 of the game v Maribyrnong Park St Marys – which Ishti helped us win with two crucial wickets.
At right: Ihtisham Uddin with his 2012/13 Club Champion trophy.
Even though he hasn’t played under Australian conditions for a decade, Ishti has showed us he’s still got what it takes. He had a warm-up game in the Seconds before playing the last two rounds in the Firsts.
His return across the three games is 5 wickets for 45 – an average of 9.0 – and 71 runs @ 71. Ihtisham Uddin – you’re still a Club Champion.