Iqbal’s coach Naushad, who also hails from Azamgarh district and was once among Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy probables, says, “Five years ago, I spotted Iqbal, then only 13, at the Azamgarh District Stadium. I went to his house and asked his family to send him with me to Mumbai. His father made crystal clear his extreme hatred for cricket and rejected my proposal on the ground that he did not have money for Iqbal’s cricketing career.”

Naushad, however, used the persuasive skills of Iqbal’s mom Azra Khatoon and an assurance that he will fund Iqbal’s stint in Mumbai.

“A small town boy whose family never dreamt of a bright cricket career for their sixth child went on to play at the under-15 and under-17 level in Mumbai before making his Ranji debut against Himachal Pradesh in Dharmashala on December 17 last year,” said Naushad.

Iqbal, who is studying in class XII at Khalsa College in Mumbai, has just purchased a flat worth Rs 12 lakh and given Rs 2 lakh to his parents for a Haj pilgrimage.

“I took many players from UP to Mumbai, but Iqbal is an exceptional talent, about whom Mumbai should be proud of, especially at a time when Raj Thackarey’s party is targeting bhaiyas from Eastern UP and Bihar,” Naushad says.

Distributing sweets to neighbours to celebrate his son’s triumph, Maulvi Niyaz says, “I earlier considered cricket a curse, but now am confident it’s a boon for the family.”

Iqbal’s mom, who has always been supportive of her son, now showcases with elan in the family’s drawing room, the vignettes won by Iqbal. “Earlier I used to hide Iqbal’s rewards spanning from a tape recorder to a bicycle out of fear that his father would break them, but now the entire family is proud of my sixth child,” Azra says proudly .

... contd.