Hindustan Times (Delhi)

From Rasool to Rubiya: How J&K cricketers are an inspiratio­n

- HT Correspond­ent sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

runs GAyle hAs sCored for West Indies in T20Is, the highest By A WI BAtsmAn. He hAs two hundreds And 13 fifties in 50 T20Is for the Windies.

T20 Centuries By GAyle is most By A BAtsmAn. He Also holds T20 reCords of most fifties (61), sixes (743) And fours (769), in 290 gAmes.

runs GAyle hAs sCored in IPL, mAking him the sixth highest sCorer in the leAgue.

Jammu and Kashmir has been in a state of turmoil with bleak stories of violence, lethal attacks and protests being the only ones coming out of the state.

However, sports has provided the youth from the strife-torn state an avenue to express themselves and their potential to the world, giving them an opportunit­y to break out and excel.

From Parvez Rasool to the gritty para-cricketer Amir Hussain and woman cricketer Rubiya Sayeed, the stories of J&K players overcoming many barriers to make a mark provide inspiratio­n for not just the Kashmiri youth but also young athletes from the rest of the country.

While Rasool is a Kashmiri star, the superstar would be Amir Hussain of Lone village. Hussain, who lost both his arms in an accident at his father’s bat manufactur­ing sawmill in 1997, when he was just eight, is the captain of the J&K para-cricket team.

A big fan of Sachin Tendulkar, Hussain bats by holding his bat between his neck and chin and bowls with his legs. The 26-yearold uses his right foot to grip the ball and bowl leg spin. While Hussain’s story is about overcoming physical odds, Rubiya Sayeed’s is about breaking stereotype­s and a glass ceiling. Rubiya, who hails from Badasgam of Anantnag, recently played for the North Zone women’s team.

With the political circumstan­ces prevalent in the state, it is very difficult for a youngster to pursue a career in sports. That’s what makes Rasool, Hussain and Sayeed’s achievemen­t all the more special, illustrati­ng the power of sports to provide hope for a better tomorrow.

 ?? AFP ?? Captain Virat Kohli (left) and Chris Gayle scored halfcentur­ies to guide RCB to their second win in this IPL.
AFP Captain Virat Kohli (left) and Chris Gayle scored halfcentur­ies to guide RCB to their second win in this IPL.

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