‘Faiz can still play Tests for India’

BIG FAMILY: Vidarbha skipper Faiz Fazal with father Yakub (to his right) and other family members after successfully defending Ranji Trophy at VCA Stadium in Jamtha.

By Anupam Soni :

LIFE does come a full circle. From difficulties in securing admission in a school to being a chief guest at the same place, the Fazal family has seen it all. In his early days, present Vidarbha skipper Faiz Fazal was showing signs of an upcoming cricketer. A student of St John’s High School, the young left-handed opener was doing well in the limited opportunities he got during the summer camps. But that did not seem enough. “He got to play few matches and that was all. He did well but the recognition was missing. The school did not have a cricket team.

Captain Faiz Fazal with VCA President Adv Anand Jaiswal.

Some of my well-wishers who knew about cricket scene in the city, urged us to change Faiz’s school and move him to Saraswati Vidyalaya which had a good tradition of cricket. “First, I approached St John’s officials and requested them to have a cricket team but they were not interested. I got his TC and went to Saraswati Vidyalaya. But getting him admitted there turned out to be a very arduous task. School management told me that they already have a good team and were not sure if Faiz would be included. I asked to pick him in the team ‘if he deserved to be’. Then they asked whether Faiz will do the ‘Saraswati vandana’ daily.

I told them that he was studying in a Christian school and used to pray as the all the students did. He will do the same here. Citing one or the other reason, they kept on discouraging me but I used to almost go daily for over a month. The classes had started and since I had already taken the TC, I feared that Faiz may lose one academic year. But finally they relented and admitted him. “And it turned out to be the turning point in Faiz’s life. He was made the captain very next year and led the school to many titles,” recalled his father Yakub while talking to ‘The Hitavada’. During his Under-14 days, the talented player was picked up by Vidarbha Cricket Association and played for the U-17 and U-19 sides. Soon he made his Ranji Trophy debut. And then came the moment that made the senior Fazal emotional as well as proud.

“I got a phone call from the school that they intended in having Faiz as chief guest of the annual social gathering function. During his introduction the school official informed the gathering that how the school was reluctant in giving admission to Faiz. ‘It would have been our loss had we denied him admission’ he said. It was a very touching and proud moment for me and my family,” said Yakub. “The India debut too was an emotional and unimaginable moment. Faiz was in England then. I got a phone call from BCCI and could not believe. I called Faiz and he did not know about it. He was very shocked and could not believe. Then the two Ranji and Irani titles. When god gives, he gives ‘chhappar phad ke’. I feel proud that under his captaincy Vidarbha, who used to be satisfied qualifying for quarters, won four national titles. I am very much thankful to the god,” added a satisfied father.

Had it not been for Faiz’s mental strength and some comforting words from their spiritual leader, Vidarbha cricket would have not seen a fighter, a leader. “Faiz was included in the Indian team for the Under-19 World Cup scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in 2004. But during a freak accident on the ground during a practise match Faiz broke his left thumb while diving. Luck had played a cruel joke. We all were devastated. Our spiritual leader Maulana Amiruddin Malak Saheb consoled us. His moral support and Faiz’s determination pulled all of us out from that disaster and depression,” Yakub informed about the saddest moment in his son’s life. Faiz won his first trophy for Vidarbha when he lifted the Saamna Cup way back. “Leading the U-14 team, Faiz led Vidarbha to Saamna Cup. Vidarbha defeated Thane in the final in Mumbai. The cup was handed over to him by the late Balasaheb Thackeray. Present Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray was present on the occasion,” Yakub recalled. On Faiz’s other interests, Yakub informed, “He was a fairly good student and used to be among top five during his middle school days. He was a very good tennis and golf player. “He has been gifted with the knowledge of ‘sur and swar’. He is a very good singer and even recites ‘najams’. In his free time he is recording his songs on different apps. He is a doting and responsible father (has a daughter and an infant son) and is presently devoting time to the family. This is after a very very long time that he is in house for such a long period. Also he is more attached to his mother (Zainub) since I (am) was more strict.” The father still wants to see his son don whites for India. “Since last 4-5 years Faiz has maintained his fitness level amazingly. He is among the fittest players in Vidarbha squad. He still has that hunger to play Test matches for India and I sincerely feel that he has it in him to play Tests for India,” Yakub signed off.