Umran Malik’s father Abdul Rashid was an emotional man when the media reached out to him for a byte after his son got selected in India squad for South Africa T20s. “People were just coming in hoards to congratulate me. I am now going home and would join the celebrations. Just saw the news on internet. What could be a bigger achievement than to wear the national colours,” Rashid told PTI over phone as he was rushing to his Gujjar Nagar residence in Jammu.
SRH pacer has been phenomenal for his his franchise, picking up wickets at rapid pace. He has clocked 157 kph in the league, which is the fastest ball bowled by an Indian.
Umran’s success will do a lot of good to his state Jammu. And will inspire generations to come. His father said that his son has got the support of the whole country.
“He has made all of us proud with his performances in the IPL and the way the whole country rallied behind him, we as a family can only be thankful. Pura desh ke support mila mere Umran ko,” he said in a voice from which one could gauge the emotions.
Rashid and his wife have had their share of sacrifices in pushing Umran to break the barriers but the father wants no credit.
SunRisers Hyderabad’s Umran Malik, the only Indian in top 10 for this IPL season to throw the fastest balls, has made his father Abdul Rashid proud who said, “With this feat, my son has made Jammu&Kashmir & the entire country proud. Glad that he got to participate in IPL.” (5.10) pic.twitter.com/P2ortrVn1d
— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2021
“Umran had self belief that one day he will achieve success. He had faith in his skill and talent and worked hard for it. It is completely his success and also Almighty’s blessings. He worked hard and God supported him. I don’t deserve credit for his hard work,” Rashid said.
Umran is the second cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to play for India after Parvez Rasool. While Rasool hailed from the valley, Umran is a Jammu lad, coached by Randhir Singh Manhas and mentored by senior state team pacer Ram Dayal, who also gave him his first spikes.
Manhas had recalled to PTI how a 17-year-old Umran had casually walked up to him and requested to allow him to bowl at his nets and the rest is history.
Despite not being a big player like some of the fast bowlers, Umran possesses a strong lower body, having honed his skills on sandy fields near river Tawi.
“His house is near river Tawi and the adjoining area of the river bank is primarily sandy. Umran grew up running on sandy fields and playing cricket all his formative years. That has led to a very strong lower body,” Manhas had recently told PTI.
“You won’t find many guys who at 17 had such fabulous body structure and in-built strength without any gym training.?
In fact, his father also spoke about Umran’s stamina.
“Humein apne zubaan se nahi bolna chahiye lekin iska stamina dekhne layak hain ji. Bachpan se, pura din subaah se leke shaam tak khelta rahta thaa. (I don’t want to brag but my son has unbelievable stamina. He would play cricket from dawn to dusk).”
For Rashid, Umran’s journey starts now.
“Now, I want him to work even harder and perform well for the country. He needs to focus on playing for India for a long time.”
He has a well-to-do fruit shop at city’s Shaheedi Nagar area and may be that’s reason Rashid never felt that Umran’s love for cricket was an impediment towards his studies as there are no guarantees.
“He is our only son (apart from two daughters), so we (me and my wife) always gave him lot of love and indulgence. We never had any apprehensions that playing cricket could be risky.
“We have always kept Umran happy and we never made him realise that there are hardships. Whatever he wished for, he got it. More than me, my wife is his biggest supporter,” Rashid said.
For Rashid, wearing the India Blue jersey is a cherished dream and he is not bothered how IPL riches and India call-up could materialistically change their lives. Their colony in Gujjar Nagar had erupted in joy with enthusiastic youths carrying the player’s posters and dancing to the drum beats.
With PTI inputs
