While everyone in Kashmir is aware about the top cricket and football stars, very few know about the achievements of this special International cricketer of State who hails from Baramulla.
Umar Ashraf is International Deaf cricketer from Kashmir who has played International Deaf cricket against the Pakistan, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal while representing India.
For Umar Ashraf Baig, 22, who originally hails from Sultanpora, Baramulla, life is a roller-coaster ride ever since an accident, at the age of three, left him deaf and dumb. Youngest among four siblings, Umar started playing cricket once he turned eleven.
A student of Deaf and Dumb school Rambagh, Srinagar, till Class 12, Umar started playing school level cricket in 2006.
His first major break came in 2008 when he was selected for J&K’s deaf and dumb cricket team to play in Delhi.
Over the years he has played around 100 plus matches in the Sate level tournaments including Deaf IPL. He was selected in the Indian International Deaf Cricket team in the year-2014 and played first International match against Pakistan at Punjab in December-2014 (Dosti Cup). He then went on to play in World Deaf cricket in 2015 in which he got the chance to play against teams of England, South Africa, Pakistan in Dubai.
In 2016 Umar went to Dubai and played a match against Pakistan’s U-19 deaf and dumb team. “This was my most memorable match. I was playing against Pakistan. I still recall I scored 59 runs.”In 2017, Umar was part of the team that won Asia Cup (2017) final against Sri Lanka. “It was great achievement career wise for a person like me.”
Despite all these accolades Umar has not found the recognition back home that he should have got.
“While the Sri Lankan government showered their runner up team with gifts and money, nobody even bothered to greet us here in Kashmir,” regrets Umar.
He met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and gave her a letter with suggestions that can help improve condition of deaf and dump sportspersons. “She took the letter, promised action, but so far I got no response,” rues Umar.
Only Governor NN Vohra has applauded his achievements and helped him so far.
“I met Governor NN Vohra and he gave me a Rs 1 lakh. Rest, nobody ever came to my help,” said Umar.
With excerpts from Kashmir Life
