A hero's homecoming
Before his impressive ODI debut at the Kotla, Sehazpur Ali Nagar would hardly register Shami Ahmed's homecoming, but things changed on Sunday, writes Shamik Chakrabarty in the Indian Express
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Before his impressive ODI debut at the Kotla, Sehazpur Ali Nagar would hardly register Shami Ahmed's homecoming. All that the residents of the village 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 scepticism publicly. Things changed on Sunday, writes Shamik Chakrabarty in the Indian Express.
On Monday, Shami returned home to a hero's welcome. Doubts about his cricketing skills and anonymity faded after the foggy evening at the 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 the college level but Shami's talent stood out. 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