Wasim Akram, father of a poor Rajasthan farmer, part of India Under-19 team
Wasim Akram, father of a poor Rajasthan farmer, part of India Under-19 team
A young lad from the backward Mewat region of Rajasthan may well become India's answer to the great
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Rising star: Wasim Akram (garlanded) before leaving for Hong Kong as a member of India's team foru00a0 under-19 Twenty20 World Cricket Tournament.
PIC/MID DAY |
Pakistani pace legend if he lives up to his nameu00a0Wasim Akram.
Named after the Sultan of Swing Wasim Akram, the right-handed pacer will be a part of the Under-19 Twenty20 tournament to be held in Hong Kong later this month.
Wasim, 19, is the son of a poor farmer of Rajpur Kohban village in the Mewat district. The Muslim-dominated district is one of the most backward regions of Haryana. Akram is third in his five siblings.
"It is a great moment," Wasim told
MiD DAY on Tuesday evening from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, before flying out to Hong Kong.
"I can not express my happiness. The hard work and wishes of my parents have finally paid off," he said.
Wasim's father, Abdul Aziz, sent him to Mewat Cricket Academy four years ago, set up by the Haryana Government for the promotion of sports in the backward district.
"All his friends used to tell me about his talent and advised me to send him to a sports academy. He was very good. Four years ago, I sent him to a nearby sports academy. Today, I think I made the right decision for him," said Aziz, who had come to Delhi to see off his son.
Wasim is studying BBA at Yasin Meo Degree College, Nuh, Mewat.
Nine countries will be vying for honours at the fatafat cricket event. Apart from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa, England, Australia and New Zealand would be other teams participating in the tournament.
