Sports Desk. Coming from Baramulla, the last district of Jammu and Kashmir, to the Indian cricket team is like a dream come true for Auqib Nabi. The story of this fast bowler, who made it to the Indian team for the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, is an example of struggle, passion and hard work. Auqib, who once played cricket secretly from his father, did not even know how to wear shoes with spikes on the field. His father wanted him to become a doctor, but Auqib had other dreams.
Today his success has not only made his family and friends proud but has also given new hope to cricket in the entire Baramulla.
Where there was a pause on cricket for 30 years
General Bipin Rawat Stadium is about seven kilometers away from Baramulla Railway Station. This is the ground from where Aaqib’s cricket career started. It is also the home ground of his first club BCC Reds.
The first captain of the club, Zubair Dar says that this ground was built in the 1980s. But after the increase in militancy in Kashmir in 1988, cricket activities almost stopped here. The ground was closed and reopened in 2016.
Aaqib’s first coach Muzaffar Mattoo says that there was often firing around during his practice. Many times throwing of grenades created chaos in the field and players had to run here and there to save their lives. It was not easy to even dream of cricket in such an environment.
Talent was visible in eighth grade
Aaqib’s talent first came to the notice of Zubair Dar in 2012. At that time his team BCC Reds had gone to Auqib’s village to play a match. In the match, Aaqib took four wickets and also scored 55 runs. He was studying in eighth class at that time.
Dar says that his game in a single match impressed him so much that he offered Aaqib to play in the only Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) affiliated club of Baramulla.
But there was a problem. Aaqib’s father did not know that his son had gone to the field to play cricket. He had secretly left the house to play the match. His father was a teacher and wanted his son to study and become a doctor. In such a situation, Aukib had to convince a lot to get permission to play cricket.
There were no spikes, bowled wearing coach’s shoes
After making his mark in Baramulla, Aaqib got a chance to play in Srinagar. This was his first 50-over match on turf wickets. The match was to be held at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, which is considered a big dream for the players there to play.
But an interesting incident happened during the match. Aaqib was to bowl in the second innings. As he ran to bowl the first ball, his foot slipped and he fell on the pitch. Actually, his shoes did not have spikes and he did not even know how to use them.
Coach Muzaffar Mattoo immediately gave him his shoes. Both of them bowled alternately and changed shoes after every over. Today the same player has made a place in the Indian team.
Glenn McGrath’s coaching became the turning point
Aaqib did not get a chance in Under-16 cricket, but after making a place in the Under-19 team, he did not look back. In the second match against Punjab, he scored more than 60 runs and helped Jammu and Kashmir win the Under-19 match against this team for the first time. After this, he played an inning of 105 runs against Saurashtra in Rajkot. Even in bowling he took wickets continuously.
Following his performance, he was selected for the BCCI’s special fast bowling camp. This camp was organized under the guidance of Australia’s legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath. It also included Mohammed Shami and Varun Aaron.
But here too father’s permission became the biggest challenge. On the matter of going to Chennai, Aaqib clearly said, ‘Abba will not agree.’ His father was not in favor of traveling such a distance alone. After a lot of persuasion, permission was finally given.
This camp proved to be the turning point of Aaqib’s career. McGrath worked on his bowling action, technique and weaknesses. Through the video he was told where improvements were needed. After returning from the camp, Auqib seriously understood the intricacies of fitness, diet, training and fast bowling.
New hope in Baramulla due to Aaqib’s success
Aaqib has been able to play only one match in international cricket, but the effect of his performance is visible in Baramulla. The district administration has prepared an all-weather nets facility at a cost of Rs 65 lakh to nurture new talent. With this, children will be able to practice cricket even in winter.
Zubair Dar says that in the place where parents were once afraid of sending their children to play cricket and sports activities were at a standstill for almost 30 years, today new hope has arisen for cricket. Aukib’s success has proved that difficult circumstances and limited resources cannot stop one’s dreams.