Rising Star Amidst Gunfire !

Read an article "Batting for Peace" (India Today - September 25th) during my travel back home and was somewhat touched by it...It had a sneak peek on the profile of a rising star in Indian Cricket...

If possible do read the full article...

His name is now uttered across J&K with hope in its echo.Visitors are asked if he will ever play for India.His coach Mansoor Ahmed, knows what will happen, "If Abid goes through, many, many more will follow." Only two seasons into the game and 40 first class wickets, Nabi 20, is the first player from J&K to make it to the North Zone Deodhar Trophy team and the first to play a first-class game against a touring side. He was called up to give India's finest a workout in the nets before the Test against England.
Nabi grew up in Srinagar. Spotted in school by Ahmed. Nabi was given two instructions. Just bowl. And just bowl fast. The ACC took him on and everything else was kept simple.Nabi is one of a joint family whose livelihoods depend on learning trades, not sport. Three ACC coaches assured his father, a mason, that the club would look after all the expenses and this game would help the young bowler find a job.And play for India
"I didnt have to worry about a thing." Abid says, "I was told just perform." From the time he played juniors, Nabi was told, " You are the only one from Kashmir who can make it."
The lean, 6 ft 2 inch baby-face wears weighty expectation like a medal. He is proud to represent his state, his surroundings, even if the State's ranji team does not get a proper set of kit and plays matches in a series of assorted white shirts.
If things go well, he could wear a shirt given to only the few. Bowling to the Indians in Mohali and then unwinding in the dressing room has left its trace. "You cannot understand what it meant to be there," he says. "I had dreamt of just seeing players of the calibre of Tendulkar, Dravid. There I was, bowling at Laxman, sitting with them, talking to them-me, a boy from Kashmir, imagine that..."

Courtesy - India Today