Yusuf Pathan is a brand ambassador of cricket for Jammu & Kashmir.
Recently, Yusuf met about 50 young cricketers from quite a few districts in J&K as part of a workshop that was held in Srinagar.
Speaking to TOI, Pathan shared his impression of the budding cricketers from the valley.
“(Abdul) Samad, Rasikh (Salam), (Parvez) Rasool are the cricketers who have gone ahead and played in the IPL. Rasool played for India as well. They have made a name for themselves. There is no dearth of talent in Kashmir and all they need is guidance and direction. There are some exceptional talents in Kashmir,” Yusuf said.
“They have limited infrastructure and yet they produce good cricketers, which is a very big thing. The Indian Army is getting involved in it. Be it shoes, caps, jerseys or any equipment, the Indian Army is doing a lot for these youngsters. I have seen kids who can bowl at full speed, can hit the ball out of the park and there are some who are livewires while fielding. They need the right direction and platform," he added.
Abdul Samad, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, has left a lasting impression on cricket fraternity with his incredible ball-striking ability. Veteran all-rounder Parvez Rasool and fast bowler Rasikh Salam have also displayed their skills in the T20 league. In fact, Rasool has also represented India in one ODI and T20I each.
During his visit, Yusuf travelled to various areas in Kashmir wherein he interacted with the kids and played cricket with them.
“There is huge excitement and craze among kids in Kashmir. They want to play cricket and love this game a lot. The Indian Army is doing a lot for these kids. They are organising tournaments and competitions for these kids to create a different environment. This step has helped these kids a lot. Now, they just want to play cricket.
“I have spoken to a number of kids – all I want to say is that they are showing a lot of interest in cricket and they want to learn every single bit of it. I am really happy to see this,” he said.
Yusuf Pathan, who was part of India’s T20 World Cup 2007 and ODI World Cup 2011 triumphs, announced his retirement from all formats of cricket earlier this year. He played 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is for the country from 2007-2012. While Yusuf scored 810 runs in ODIs with two centuries, he made 236 runs in his T20 international career.