KM Asif, a fast bowler from Kerala, was only 23 when he was forced to shelve his dream of playing cricket and go to UAE in search for work that would help his family make ends meet amid horrible financial constraints.
Despite Biju George, his mentor and a coach at Sports Authority of India in Kerala, seeing huge potential in Asif, he hadn't played any form of age-group cricket and was failing successive trials in the state team set-up before the reluctant but pragmatic move of looking for a job.
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George came to the rescue. He managed his ticket, visa and arranged for him work as a storekeeper through his UAE contacts.
"I'd see my roof leaking in the rains every year, and I'd feel terrible to not be able to even give my family shelter. We only had temporary roofing," Asif told ESPNcricinfo.
"I had to take up the job [in Dubai], but I didn't like the living conditions. The heat was bad, there was no air conditioning. I was being paid close to AED 5000 (approximately INR 100,000, USD 1350) for a month's work, so it wasn't about the finances, but it [life] was very tough. I missed my family, missed cricket."
However, only a month after receiving his first paycheck, Asif took a brave decision of coming back to India. The right-arm quick had heard about the fast-bowling trials conducted by Indian bank IDBI in partnership with former Australia quick Geoff Thompson, with the incentive for the shortlisted candidates being a scholarship to train at MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai under another Aussie great Glenn McGrath.
Asif hadn't told George about his return back and the trials even two days after it had taken place, but he found out later when he saw Asif train at a gym where they went frequently. The pacer was delighted at being shortlisted by Thompson but didn't know what to say to his constant support.
"I didn't know what to tell Biju sir," said Asif. "He arranged my tickets and visa to work, and I just came back after one month. I thought, if I'm shortlisted, I will tell him. But he found out anyway."
During the trials, Asif had impressed Thompson, who told him never to give up on his pace. He felt upbeat. There was even assurance from selectors and coaches in Kerala. But there was only despair to follow, as Asif wasn't even shortlisted among the probables for the coming season.
"I went back to Dubai. I thought this time it was final; come what may, I will stick there. I didn't want to waste any more time thinking of cricket."
Cricket, though, had something else in store for him. While looking for a job this time, he heard of trials for UAE national team at the ICC Academy. Having registered for the trial, Asif bowled his heart out and made then UAE head coach and former Pakistan quick, Aqib Javed, raise his eyebrows.
"I'd given my phone number and contact details to them [organisers of the trials], and the next day, someone called me and said Aaqib Javed wants to see me."
"Aaqib sir asked me where I'm from, what I'm doing in UAE. I told him I've come looking for work and if given the chance, I'd like to train and play cricket too. He helped me and recommended me for a job at a company. I was okay with the money they were offering me also."
Faith, however, played another trick, as his prospective employers blacklisted him on finding out that he had quit his previous job in the country only a month after starting off. And with his visa also about to expire, Asif had to once again shift back to India and hope for something.
Things finally changed for the earnest cricketer when during a net session for Kerala he was told of his selection for the 2017-18 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20. Asif wasn't among first in the pecking order, but he did get his chance in a match against Goa after Kerala's unsuccessful campaign had neared its end. Great thing for Asif was that the match was televised and a short clip from which of him beating batsmen for pace went viral.
"L Sivaramakrishnan was one of the commentators, and he was astonished at how quick this boy was bowling," George recalled. "I sent him a message and asked if he could help put Asif's name up for IPL trials at Chennai Super Kings."
Asif bowled to a number of IPL franchise batsmen at the nets, before in 2018 he got his first big break when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bought him for INR 40 lakhs. Asif made his IPL debut in Pune against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) when regular pacer Deepak Chahar got injured. The pacer has memories of not being able to sleep when he learnt of playing and the conversations with Dhoni, Shane Watson during the match.
"Watson told me, 'I've heard you're a very good tennis-ball bowler. Think this is tennis-ball cricket, just bowl fast, don't worry about being hit.' That calmed me down," he said.
"On match day, Dhoni bhai put his arm on my shoulder and told me to not worry, 'even if you bowl four overs and give 40 runs, no problem. This is your chance.'"
Asif has since only played one more match for CSK but remains part of the squad and will be hoping to do his best whenever required to play during the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE, starting September 19.
(With inputs from ESPNcricinfo)
