When his deaf and mute protégé Krrish Prajapati made it to the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) team, Imran Sheikh’s joy knew no bounds. His dream of grooming talented youngsters with hearing and speech disabilities was finally taking shape. It also came as a shot in the arm for Sheikh, known as Dhoni of the Indian deaf and mute cricket team. Now, this former captain is a man on a mission.
Not many know that the 36-year-old cricketer has been coaching around 50 deaf and mute cricketers for over a year now. “I don’t charge a single rupee from them. They pay me if they can afford to. There are many deaf and mute players who are immensely talented but don’t receive professional coaching. “My goal is to train them and make them eligible for regular, professional cricket,” Imran conveyed in sign language.
“Krrish’s selection to the BCA team has proven that hard work and talent can get players like him into mainstream cricket too. Now, I am doing my best to ensure the same,” Imran told TOI.
He coaches players in the 10-18 age group, making them work hard in the nets as well as on the fitness
front.
Having played deaf and mute cricket at the highest levels in a career spanning 15 years, Imran understands the difficulties players face while communicating on the field.
“I don’t teach them just cricketing skills. They are also trained in interacting with other players and grasping their instructions during the game. Many of the players I am coaching right now can lip-read and understand the directions,” Imran added.
The coach also runs a You- Tube channel where he shares cricketing tips in sign language.
This spunky cricketer had to fight all odds to play in the Indian team and convince everyone that deaf and mute players too can make some real contribution to the sport. An all-rounder, Imran had captained the Indian deaf and mute cricket team that defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup in 2015; he was also a member of the World Cup squad.
Despite his achievements, Imran had to struggle financially as cricket doesn’t pay players like him much. To make ends meet, he even started a roadside chaat stall on Old Padra Road in Vadodara in 2015. Vadodara International Marathon even made him their brand ambassador.
“Regular income has always been an issue as there is little money in deaf and mute cricket. If I take up a full-time job, then I won’t be able to coach the underprivi- leged kids regularly. So, I try to balance my passion and livelihood. My wife Roza has been more than supportive,” Imran said. He, however, is hopeful about the future of these young players.
“The BCCI has formed a committee to support differently abled cricketers. This has paved the way for such players to get coached professionally. If deaf and mute cricket gets regular funding, we can contribute a lot to the sport,” he added. He has organized a 20-day camp for deaf and mute players at Mota Fofaliya village in Shinor taluka of Vadodara.
More than 50 players including 10 from Maharashtra are participating in the camp that begins
on May 5.
Krrish Prajapatih
His mother passed away when he was just seven. Krrish was in trauma for nearly two years after that. Worried, Krrish’s father Manish Prajapati got him enrolled in a cricket club in Patan in order to distract him with a game he loved playing. “As a kid, he was passionate about cricket and never missed any match on the TV. I thought that playing cricket could help get him out of the trauma,” said Manish, an employee of North Gujarat University. His idea worked. Krrish not only recovered but went on to showcase his talent in fast bowling by picking up wickets in deaf and mute matches. Realizing that his son has extraordinary potential, Manish shifted from Patan to Vadodara to ensure better facilities for him. That move changed Krrish’s life. Last year, he got an opportunity to play for the under-16 team of Baroda Cricket Association. He is the only deaf and mute cricketer in the BCA team. “I was thrilled to play competitive matches in a regular cricket team. Someday, I will play for India,” Krrish said.
Arbaaz Qureshiw
When Imran started his academy in 2017, Arbaaz was among the first to enroll as a student. The 22-year-old showed tremendous potential as a cricketer since his childhood but never had a chance to display his skills. “His skills needed to be honed. When he joined my academy, I knew right then that he would become an ace player. He started playing professionally and his skills have improved a lot over the last three years,” Imran said.
Arbaaz’s father is employed in a shop in Vadodara. They come from a modest financial background. Besides, Arbaaz’s siblings are also deaf and mute. So, convincing the family to let him play cricket was difficult. “Of course, I would be expected to earn a livelihood. But I somehow managed to convince my family to let me pursue my dreams. The game is my life.
It has brought in a visible change in my attitude and confidence,” said Arbaaz, who is a spin bowler and can bat well too.
Vishnu Rathoda
A die-hard cricket fan, this deaf and mute player would sit for hours in front of the TV, watching matches. He took the leather ball in his hand at the age of 10. When he began playing cricket, his parents saw in him a huge potential to make it big in professional games. The day Vishnu turned 16, his parents approached Imran for help. After Imran began training him, Vishnu joined Kiran More Cricket Academy that now offers him professional coaching. “In a short period, I have not just picked up cricketing skills but also learnt the art of communicating with deaf and mute as well as other players during the match. I am confident of getting into the regular cricket team,” said Vishnu Rathod, a pace bowler who can bat too. Vishnu’s father Jitendra Rathod, an electrician, shifted from a village to Vadodara city a few years ago so that he could get quality coaching. “We hope to see him play for India one day,” he said.
