Cricket has played an important part in my life since a very young age. It probably started when I got to hear Kapil Dev lead the Indian side to their first and only World Cup triumph in 1983.
My own cricket journey started with me going kit shopping at AJ Sports with my Dad when I got selected for the U-16 school team. Not expecting too much out of the game in Abu Dhabi, since I was only 12 at the time. Unfortunately for me, chasing a score of 96, I ended up strolling in to bat having lost 2 quick wickets. Time for my debut! Lucky for me, I did well, finishing on 36 not out and being carried off the ground on shoulders aloft.
For the next 2 years, cricket was limited to watching the seniors play their matches from the sidelines as we were “TOO SMALL” and playing loads of taped tennis cricket matches in the parking lot. After this, Mr Rosevear (our new cricket coach), announced senior team try-outs for the Coca Cola U-19 School Championships. Try-outs happened post school and to our amazement, Rizwan, Ali and I had made the squad of 14.
For the first 2 games, I was named 12th man i.e. water-boy but as they say; 3rd time lucky. I got my first start, playing as a leg-spinner and a lower-order batsman. No wickets on senior and run-out for 4 off 2balls thanks to Rahul, who thought I was quick between wickets but….NO!!! Last match of the tournament and we hadn’t qualified for the next round. I got another chance to prove myself. Batting first, we had a spectacular batting where we toiled at 26 for 6, with me walking in to partner Ali (class mate since nursery). Ali took the risks and went for boundaries while I rotated strike taking 1s, 2s and surprise surprise some 3s too. We ended up on 125 for 6 after the 25overs but still lost the match. The loss was not significant because what Ali and I had done was bat for over 15 overs against guys more than 3 years older than us and SURVIVE…super feeling.
School cricket after that was great, with many matches representing school and some good performances but the real cricket started in England, when studying at Manchester University. At Medical School, I never tried out for the University squad as it was just way too difficult to get a look in so ended up representing the Medics with a top score of 76 against Leeds.
After quitting medical school and joining the Accounting School in 2001, I made it a point to give the University side a shot. Practices were in the evening and through a lot of work I got a game for the 1st team against UMIST only to start solidly and then be run out for a well made 40. Moving on to year 2, and after our pre-season training, I was selected for the 2nds team playing as a first change seam bowler and a 2 down batsman. With the bat, I always under-performed getting though the initial jitters, only to give my wicket away to a stupid shot…AARRGGHHH! Bowling I was quite consistent, taking a season’s best of 5 for 40 against Liverpool University. The highlight of my 2nd year was probably representing the University at the Indoor Finals at Lords Cricket Ground on the same day that India played Pakistan in their first series for years (INDIA WON of course).
2nd year of University cricket came to end but my lack of performances with the bat bothered and puzzled me and so taking the advice of Maulik Gandhi (friend and 2nd team player), I tried out for his local club, Burnage CC. After the Burnage practice nets, Gary (Club Captain) asked me to play a 2nds game on the Saturday. Got to the ground on Saturday morning and introduced myself to the team and the skipper who asked me what skills I did or didn’t possess. Having chosen to bat first, I was slotted at my preferred 2 down position and within a few overs, I found myself coming into bat expecting to probably get out cheaply on debut and make a complete ass of myself. Took my guard and awaited my first delivery. For the next 20-25 overs, I did what I hadn’t done for the season; taken my time and concentrated HARD. With the first 4 balls I faced being hit to the boundary, I finished being out for 87 on club debut and then later effecting a run out with a direct hit and then taking 4 for 37. Could I ask for anything more?
Got home that night very chuffed with my performance; only to receive a call from the club captain asking me to play the following day, for the 1st team, in a Sheffield Shield game. Could I refuse? No freaking way. The match was a 45 over affair, with us batting first. I came in with about 13 overs to go, with the score around 145. I remember one of the first balls I got was a bouncer near my face. I didn’t used to wear a helmet then but still managed to pull the ball for a six. I ended up on 46 not out off 39 balls. We lost the game, but I did what I was supposed to; make an impression.
Final year of University, and to my surprise, I was offered the captaincy of the 2nds team. I accepted without even blinking. After an initial 1-1 win loss record, we ended up at Chester having to win to qualify to the next round. This was by far, the most beautiful ground I had ever played on, especially since the sun was out in full force, with not a cloud in sight…WOW. Having won the toss, we chose to bat. Slotting myself in at no.4, I walked in at 41 for 2 to join Oliver Latham at the crease. He didn’t last long, and in cam my best friend at the time (LONG STORY), Irfan Bhojani. Confidently batting, we enjoyed a great partnership, with me initially getting to my first university 50 and then, with a slice of luck, got to my maiden university 100. Holding my bat aloft to the pavilion, which included my team mates and other spectators was a dream come true. I eventually fell for 114 with Irfan being out LBW for 57. Like many of my other games, we lost that match by a solitary wicket but the feeling of getting a hundred in no matter what situation is just indescribable.
My last weekend of cricket for the season. We were playing against Stockport Cricket Club. Another nice ground and much more authoritative me. Arrived at the crease at my usual number four position and got stuck straight away. Anything on my legs or pitched up straight was dispatched. In one over from the off spinner, I hit him for 3 sixes in the over. I eventually got to my second consecutive century in 3 days, a score of 117. We won that game by the way thanks to the spinners in our side.
Since that last game in the UK, I have moved back to Dubai but haven’t lost my love for the game. I have since represented PwC, Air India, Liwa Properties and currently play for Carefare CC. I am heading to Australia in November to take part in an amateur cricket world championships. Should be a blast….
