Srinagar, Aug 20: Abdul Samad, 18, a young talented cricketer today left for UAE to make his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Originally from Kalakote village of Rajouri district, Samad is presently living in Jammu city along with his parents and a brother. Family of teenager Samad said that their son’s hard work finally paid off.
The IPL was supposed to be held last year but had to be postponed in the wake global pandemic—Covid-19.
Samad’s father, Farooq Ahmed, a Physical Education Teacher in Jammu, said that had they stayed at Kalakote, his son would not have been able to achieve his goal.
Samad after performing well in first class matches will now play for Sunrisers Hyderabad, who have already paid him his base price of Rs 20 Lakh in the auction in Kolkatta on December 19 last year.
Farooq said that since childhood his son was interested in Cricket. “I was also happy and satisfied to see him interested in cricket. I have myself been a player and a cricket lover,” said Farooq. “I am a master in the physical education department and have represented J&K at many platforms. That’s the reason why Samad remained in touch with cricket since childhood. I kept on guiding him through whatever means I could.”
Samad passed class 12 last year and during the Covid-19 lockdown, he played cricket with his father and brother.
“My son is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree,” Farooq said.
Samad’s father thanked former Cricketer Irfan Pathan for helping Samad at many levels that helped him to climb the ladder of success and grab the IPL opportunity.
Former Cricketer and J&K’s representative to BCCI Ranjeet Kalra said Samad has proved his credentials in the last first class season.
“He is a hard hitter of the ball and is known for fire brand batting, something very essential for IPL type of cricket,” he said.
Samad is not the first player from J&K to play in IPL. Before him, Parvaiz Rasool, Rasikh Salam, Mohammad Mudasir and Manzoor Pandav were picked up by teams. However, Mudasir and Pandav didn’t play any matches. (KNO)
