Young Pakistani fast bowler Mahinder Pal Singh is dreaming to become the first Sikh cricketer to represent his country at the highest level. He also dreams of representing Pakistan against the arch-rivals India at the international stage and attain stardom in his cricketing career.
Mahinder – who was born in Nankana Sahib, Punjab province of Pakistan, the birthplace of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak- first made headlines when he was called up for an emerging players camp organized at the High-Performance Centre in Multan in 2016.
The promising speedster has also revealed that his family and friends who resides in India would support him and Pakistan if he ever represents Men in Green against India in the future.
Singh told Pakpassion.net: “It would mean so much to me to play for Pakistan against India at any level of cricket. If you ask any cricketer, he will say that he wants to play in high-pressure matches, the big occasions where the world is watching. India versus Pakistan is always a special occasion and I would love the opportunity to be a part of this occasion at some point in the future in my cricketing career.”
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The youngster further said, “I would love to be called a hero in a high-tempo match, against strong opposition and watched by fans all around the world. I have relatives in Punjab in India; my aunt lives there along with many other relatives who we meet on a regular basis. As well as this, I have a lot of fans in India, especially from Punjab who always wish me well and say that if I ever play for Pakistan, they will support me and Pakistan in those matches.”
Meanwhile, Mahinder, who idolizes legendary Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis, revealed that being from the Sikh community has faced discrimination at various levels in Pakistan but insisted it would not distract his aims of playing for the country at the highest level.
He further added, “I've had to struggle a lot and there have been some very tough days, but I am not prepared to give up on my dream. I have encountered discrimination at many levels and some snide comments, but there are good and bad people everywhere.”
Earlier, there were reports that the right-arm pacer, who pursued a degree in pharmacy at the University of Punjab in Lahore, is set to play in the Pakistan domestic circuit, but he refused the same. He was playing departmental cricket in Pakistan before Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to change the domestic structure and scratched departmental teams.
Singh revealed, “I last played Grade II in 2017, but unfortunately many players who were playing for departments have not been offered contracts or places with current teams. Only some of the players who were playing for these departments on a regular basis have been offered places in the current domestic teams. As I had only played the occasional match for my department, at district level or Grade II cricket, I didn't really stand a chance in the current domestic set up.”
He signed off by saying, “A lot of the time, I was given just the occasional end-of-season match to see what I could do. I hadn't come through the under-16 or under-17 or under-19 levels, so people didn't really know who I was and that's why I've not been picked for any of the current domestic teams.”
(With IANS Inputs)
