Zafir gets his big breakthrough

An IPL contract with Delhi Daredevils might just tilt the balance in cricket’s favour. On Sunday,training with the Delhi Daredevils unit,Zafir made his ‘first big stride’ in his cricket career.

“Cricket is in my blood. Wherever I go,I am told my father was really good. I have childhood memories of him running up from his mark but I haven’t seen him bowl at his peak,” says Zafir. “I have tried to search for footage of matches he played,but it is very difficult.”

The 20-year old right arm fast bowler has been playing age-group cricket in Baroda,knocking on the doors of first class cricket and his impressive spells caught the eye of Irfan Pathan,who did the rest. “Irfan bhai asked me to report to the Delhi Daredevils camp and I soon got a call from Ashish Kapoor. I went to this camp in Jamia Milia Islamia and performed well. It was the first ever T20 game and I took a wicket off the second ball,and finished with four. So here I am,” he says.

Zafir says Rashid is in touch with him constantly and there were plenty of tips before he left for the IPL camp. “Father was so happy to know that I have bagged an IPL contract and yes,there were a lot of tips. He’s become Delhi fan now and promised to watch every game on TV,” he says. The tips were not just about the technique of fast bowling,but also about keeping one’s composure. Rashid,who was banned for 13 months of his career when he tried to hit Raman Lamba with a stump during a Duleep Trophy game,may have been talking from experience.

“It’s been a long time,both of us have a bit of laugh about it,” says Zafir. “My father is always there,pushing me; He was my first coach and every morning he is there to help me out.”

Zafir has the ability to excite the speed guns but what makes him stand out is his variety in his armoury — a very potent yorker and slower ones,learnt from England ODI specialist Jade Dernbach. “Fast bowling is not just about bowling fast,but to keep the batsman thinking. The yorker is the hardest ball to hit,so one needs it during crunch overs. The back of the hand slower one is equally vital. Dernbach told me it’s important to keep the seam straight while bowling back of the hand,because if the seam mixes up,the batsman can read it easily,” he says.

Zafir knows he may or may not get a game this season but says the sheer experience of sharing the dressing room with seniors excites him. “I just want to grow up with them,see them bowl and learn. I hope to get a game but otherwise it’s all about experience,” he says.