Srinagar: For the upcoming season of IPL (Indian Premier League) 2018, The Players have to get auctioned on 27 and 28 January. Its not new for the IPL that unnamed players may get expensive bids compare to other well experienced players.
Similarly we are talking about Jammu and Kashmir’s batsman Manzoor Ahmed Dar who is also called as “sixer king” and “Mr.100 metres”. He also appeared for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 Tournament with Jammu and Kashmir. Manzoor Ahmed, 24yrs old, can hit the ball hard, handsome and long, even with a raw willow cleft, forget an English willow. His coach and selectors swear by his raw talent and ability to hit balls out of the biggest grounds.
Abdul Qayoom, coach of the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team said that “He is Mr 100 metre sixer man,”. “He gives the ball a real thump. Last year in a match with Punjab, he hit a few sixes that were 100 metres plus”.
“This boy has talent for the shorter game. Give him 12 to 15 deliveries and he will tilt the game in his team’s favour,” coach added.
Manzoor also a weightlifter, kabbadi player, wood artist and a security guard — all explain one man and converge at cricket. And if luck smiles on him, he may well be one of the hottest properties this Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Manzoor lives in Sonawari village of Bandipora district of Kashmir. His father is a labourer and struggles to make both ends meet. Being eldest of four siblings, the responsibility of the family has now fallen on his broad shoulders.
According to the news published in News18, Qayoom said, “Appreciate our Mr. 100 meter Sixer. He kills the ball with a lot of force”. The hard-hitting batsman juggles between a few jobs. He is a security guard at a private motor company at night and a wood craftsman in the day though he finds few hours to turn up at Srinagar’s main cricket stadium for practice.
“I would shuttle 18 km a day from office to stadium and, back but never miss my training.” Manzoor said to News18.
Arshad Bhat, Jammu and Kashmir team selector and former Ranji player told News18 Manzoor a.k.a Pandav needs a few good performances and exposure to be considered for IPL. “A bit of luck and bit of performance and he can get there,” says Bhat. Manzoor sounds confident too. “I am targeting IPL. Let us see how it goes,” he told News18 hours before his team’s crucial match.