Anjuman-I-Islam spinner scalps five wickets in Giles Shield Elite Division encounter
Anjuman-I-Islam Allana (English) leg-spinner Abrar Shaikh claimed five wickets (2-6 & 3-16) against Hansraj Morarji (Andheri) to guide his team to an innings-and-211-run victory in a Giles Shield Elite Division match at Shivaji Park yesterday.
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Abrar, the son of a taxi driver, scalped Hansraj’s Aayush Shirke (7), Devjot Chaddha (0) and Fauzan Khan (0) yesterday. He was ably supported by Shubham Panda (2-24 & 3-15). In the second innings, some fine bowling from Anjuman’s Abrar and Shubham saw the Andheri team get bowled out for 79 runs in 52.4 overs.
Abrar Sheikh of Anjuman-I-Islam in action at Shivaji Park yesterday. Pic/Suresh KK
In the first innings, the CST school had bundled out the boys from Andheri for 120 runs. Opener Adhiraj Dabholkar was the highest scorer for Hansraj Morarji with 73 runs. Riding on a double ton by Priyanshu Srivastav (254), Anjuman made 410 in the first innings.
Abrar said his father, Abdul, was initially against him taking up cricket. “I loved playing cricket since I was a four-year-old. My father said that the sport is expensive and he wouldn’t be ableto afford buying the gear.
Later, he gave in to my wishes and allowed me to play. I want to work hard and be a successful cricketer and make my family proud,” said the Class VIII student, who stays with his parents and two siblings -- Sameer (15) and Akram (6) -- at Sewri’s municipal chawl.
Abdul said: “It is very difficult for me to manage the school fees of the kids. So letting him play cricket was out of question. As a six-year-old when Abrar told me he wants to play cricket, I tried stopping him. It was when his school coach (Zarrar Ahmed Khan) praised his bowling; I felt that I should let him follow his dreams. Recently, I took a loan from a friend and bought him a new kit,” he said.
Abdul added: “I earn a living driving a rented taxi. There is no fixed income. I never got a chance to study, hence I got my sons Sameer and Abrar admitted to Anjuman-I-Islam. It feels nice when he comes home and tells me that he performed well for his school. If he is able to achieve something in cricket, I would be a proud father,” he said.
Meanwhile at Azad Maidan, IES VN Sule Guruji beat Shree B A K Swadhyay Bhawan (Matunga) by an innings and 497 runs. Yesterday, the Matunga team was bowled out for 110 runs. u00a0
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