ICC World Cup 2019 | It's almost like an unbelievable journey, reminisces Hamid Hassan
Afghan pacer Hamid Hassan gave an emotional interview in which he recounted his ‘unbelievable journey’ from being a refugee dreaming of playing for his nation to wearing his country’s colours in the World Cup. He also talked about the serious injury he had sustained and his comeback to cricket.
Hamid Hassan was an overweight kid in a family of five who was not really much into sports early on. However, it was when his family fled the country to settle in Pakistan that he discovered his love for the game. From idolizing Flintoff to being awed by the heroics of Shoaib Akhtar, a young Hassan used to try his best to emulate his heroes with a taped cosco or a damp squib.
When the game started affecting his studies, his father resented him from playing the game. However, his mother’s constant backing of him allowed him to continue pursuing his dream and has made him reach where he is today, fulfilling his promise to his mother.
"I get emotional when I am reminded about my mom. Don't worry mom, I won't let you guys down, and one day you will be proud [is what I told her then],” a dreamy Hassan told Cricbuzz.
Before he became the first Afghan player to play at Lord’s or impress the world by bowling at 145 kph, he was just another cricketer trying to make a mark.
“Khuli aankhon se sapna dekhna (I used to daydream all the time). I'd dream Hamid is in London, Australia, US, whatever. It was fantastic," Hassan added.
Hassan would first be noticed in a match against MCC where he constantly hit the 145 kph work while also managing to bowl a good line and length. He rattled many a batsman in that encounter in 2006 and also got the prized wicket of Mike Gatting, who would invite him to play for the MCC Young Cricketers team. There onwards, Hassan went on to achieve feat after feat as his country rose through the ranks from being an affiliate ICC member to being 7th in the ICC T20 rankings, ahead of the likes of Sri Lanka and West Indies.
"Sometimes we do talk, sometimes we do think back where we were and where we are. It's almost like an unbelievable journey. Because most countries are playing, but no country made it up as quickly as Afghanistan did," Hassan said.
However, a freak incident saw him clash with the sideboard a few years ago while fielding, with early reports suggesting the injury could be a career ending one. Yet, hassan crawled back to the team inch by inch and is again showing signs of being the deadly bowler with the killer instinct his countrymen are so used to seeing.
"[I wanted to show] that Hamid is not finished, he still can bowl. When I bowled 145 against Australia, I was also surprised. Is that me or somebody else? I'm a person, not saying like Alexander or whatever. But my mind was not accepting it. Sitting at home and saying bye bye to cricket," the inspiring figure signed off.
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