ALL AJAZZED UP
India-born bowler wants to play 80-90 Tests for NZ
Mumbai, Dec. 7: Indiaborn New Zealand cricketer Ajaz Patel is not sure if his rare 10-wickets-inan-innings feat would prove to be life-changing but he is hoping that it would help him play 80-90 Tests for his adopted homeland. The 33-yearold Mumbai-born etched his name in history books last week when he took all 10 wickets in India’s first innings in the city of his birth, becoming only third cricketer to do so after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble.
He is not expecting a cash windfall following his heroics but hopes that he has inspired kids of Asian origin to take up the sport back in New Zealand, preferably spin bowling.
“I’m not too sure to be honest with you. I’m very much in the present at the moment,” said the leftarm spinner when asked if he expects his life to change.
“Yes, I’ve achieved something amazing, but it’s a new day and there’s more cricket to come. So for me, it’s about staying grounded as the person that I am, down to earth and nothing’s really changed.
“And it’s not going to really impact me too much because I know there’s a lot more left in my career. And if you look at my career, I’m 11 games in and I hope to be one of those cricketers that’s played 80 or 90 games for New Zealand by the end of my career,” said the soft-spoken New Zealander.
In what was his response to a hypothetical question, Ajaz said he would never want to play for another country than New Zealand though he feels a strong connect with India.
“New Zealand is a place that I’ve been brought up. It’s a place where I’ve learned my craft. It’s a place where I’ve been given the opportunities to develop as a cricketer and be the person that I am and the cricketer that I am and without New Zealand cricket, I probably wouldn’t have the career that I have now.
“So I wouldn’t change it for the world. And yes, I also call myself an Indian by heritage and I’m proud of that too.”
Ajaz, who is a devout Muslim, also spoke his mind on a sensitive topic like racism and how the 2019 terrorist attack at a mosque in Christchurch impacted him.
At a time, when English cricket has been rocked by racism allegations levelled by British Asian cricketer Azeem Rafiq, Ajaz said he did not face discrimination in New Zealand.
“They’ve been very very respectful about my culture, my beliefs and my rituals.
“I remember my debut season (in 2018) they sent someone along with me to the masjid so that I could pray and also in the change room so if I need to pray, guys are very respectful and give me the space and the time to pray.”