Hameed’s defiance against India makes family proud
MOHALI: Haseeb Hameed’s defiant innings could not save England from an eight-wicket rout in Mohali on Tuesday but it made his family feel proud and justifiably so. Haseeb Hameed conquered pain and remained unbeaten on a gutsy 156-ball 59 as England went down in the third Test to give India a handy 2-0 lead with two more matches to go.
A specialist opener, Hameed came in to bat at No. 8. He was nursing a finger injury, but came out to save England in a match that was thrown away by his batting colleagues. Effectively, he lived his father’s dream and with two fifties in six innings (average 43.80), the right-handed batsman did an impressive job.
Hameed’s family turned up at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium to watch their famous bowlers. Father Ismail was a proud man. “He is turning my dreams into reality. I knew he will make us proud but now that it’s happening, no words are enough to explain what we are experiencing.”
Ismail coached Hameed and his two other sons, Numan and Safuuaan in England. The family moved from Bharuch (Gujarat) to tunities. Every run that Hameed scored today, was cheered by the entire family.
Haseeb Hameed’s 30-year-old brother Numan told Hindustan Times: “It was our father’s dream to see one of us playing for England one day. Me and my brother could not advance after the club level, but Hameed is making us and especially our