SHEERI (Baramulla), Feb 28:
Inside the brightly lit home of Auqib Nabi in Sheeri village along the strategic Srinagar-Uri highway, celebration arrives in silence rather than noise.
The television hums softly as family members sit close together, absorbing a moment they know will live long in memory – the Jammu & Kashmir cricket team scripting history with their maiden Ranji Trophy triumph.
When 29 year old Nabi’s name is announced as Player of the Tournament, his father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, a schoolteacher, lowers his gaze and wipes his eyes.
“I am very proud of him,” he says quietly. “Now I want to see him wear the India jersey.”
It is a far cry from the days when a young Nabi would slip out of the house to play cricket for hours, returning to a furious father who saw little future in the game. In one desperate attempt to keep him indoors and focused on studies, Dar once tied him with a rope to stop him from running off to the playground.
“I wanted him to become a doctor. I thought cricket was just a distraction,” he recalls, smiling at the memory. “But over time I became his strongest supporter. His success has proved the value of perseverance, and it will inspire young men from far-off places.”
He adds with pride that he now recognises domestic cricketers by name and follows every match closely.
The man of the moment justified that faith spectacularly. Nabi consistently broke the backbone of top teams, including finalists Karnataka cricket team, finishing the season with a remarkable tally of 60 wickets.
“He is grounded and focused,” says cousin Bilal. “With this performance, he is not just knocking on the selectors’ door – he has announced himself.” (UNI)
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