Srinagar: The Board of Disabled Cricket Association has selected two players from Kashmir who will play against Bangladesh for team India. The Board of Disabled Cricket Association has selected two players from Kashmir who will play against Bangladesh for team India.
Nayeem Ahmed Malla (25), a resident of Aarath area of Central Kashmir's Budgam, expressed happiness after getting selected for the national team. Nayeem will play in Test, ODI and T-20 series against Bangladesh. After his finger was cut down to half in an accident when he was young, Nayeem's love and passion for the game has led him to where he is now.
"After the accident, I was not able to play. I left my studies as I was not able to handle the pen. I was depressed, but after that I decided that I will do something that the world will see that disabled persons also can achieve their passion," Nayeem said. "Initially, I faced many problems as I was not able to grip the ball and was not fielding well but with the time I started managing".
After leaving his studies, Nayeem was selling the Kashmiri shawls in Kolkatta . But the love for the game led Nayeem back to the ground and he was well supported by family, especially his elder brother .
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Like Nayeem, Feroz Ahmad Ganaie (30), a resident of Check Panjpora village in Sangam Bijbehara hamlet of South Kashmir's Anantnag district, has also been selected to play an ODI series against Bangladesh.
Talking with ETV Bharat, Ganaie said that till 2014 he was playing cricket with normal people, including famous Kashmiri cricket players like Aabid Nabi. However, in 2014, he met with an accident and was bedridden for about two years as his right leg sustained several injuries.
He said that in 2016, he slowly and steadily started playing cricket again and because of his passion for the game, he registered himself with the Board of Disabled Cricket Association.
“After that I got the opportunity to play in Jharkhand, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other places, where I was able to showcase my talent,” he said, adding that recently he was called up for a trial camp which was held from August 4 to 8 where he performed well.
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“A day or two after coming from the trial camp, I received a call as well as a letter informing me about my selection for the Bangladesh series which is scheduled to be held from September 12,” he said.
Ganaie also said that it was very difficult for him to restart playing cricket after the accident.
"However, there were some good people around me who encouraged me to make my career in this sport," he said
Both the players have struggled hard at the national level to get an opportunity to play internationally and finally their dreams have come true.
Nayeem and Feroz are now busy in preparation for the series against Bangladesh.
