Thousands throng to welcome home India’s new pace find

Before his impressive ODI debut at Kotla, Sehazpur Ali Nagar would hardly register Shami Ahmed's homecoming. All that the residents of the villge in UP's Amroha district knew about the 22-year-old was that he played cricket in Kolkata. They were surprised by Shami's career choice but they didn't express their skepticism publicly. It changed on Sunday.

Sehazpur Ali Nagar, like rest of the world, saw Shami on television bowling an inspired opening spell of 5-3-12-0 to help India defend a modest total in a tight 3rd ODI against Pakistan. Bowling in the high 130s, the nippy swing bowler returned in tense final overs to take the wicket of Saeed Ajmal. He was to finish with impressive figures of 9-4-23-1. Though India lost the series, Shami provided hope. Here was a youngster who could hold his nerves in front of packed stands in an Indo-Pak game.

On Monday, Shami returned to a hero's welcome. Doubts about his cricketing skills and anonymity faded after the foggy evening at Kotla. Sehazpur Ali Nagar couldn't get over the fact that one among them had made it big."I have never seen such a big reception in my life. Close to 30,000 people were present to greet him (Shami). Fans came from Morabadad—21 km from our village. Even now, as I speak to you, there are still about 1,000 people in my home. But I am loving it. I am overwhelmed," Shami's father Tousif told The Indian Express.

Tousif was the president of the panchayat for 12 years. All of his three sons—he also has a daughter — played cricket till college level but Shami's talent stood out from the start. In 2003, Shami was just 13 years old when his coach Md Badaruddiun advised his father to send him to Kolkata. "I told Shami that he would be granted permission on one condition—that one day he had to play for India. He promised me and has now fulfilled my ambition. Words can't describe my feelings when I saw him on TV yesterday," said Tousif.

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