Harris Shield record-breaker felicitated
Harris Shield record-breaker felicitated
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India speedster Zaheer Khan, former India stumper Kiran More and Shyam Bhatia of the Cricket for Care Foundation felicitate Sarfaraz Khan at CCI yesterday. pic/bipin kokate |
Even as Mumbai cricketers led by skipper Wasim Jaffer walked out of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) with sullen faces, there was one face that had plenty to smile about.
Young Sarfaraz Khan, who has been the talk of the town ever since he hammered a record 439 in a Harris Shield match against Indian Education Society, Kandivli, last week, was felicitated for his efforts by two greats of Indian cricket.u00a0u00a0
After the first day of the Mumbai-Orissa Elite Division Ranji Trophy encounter was washed out without a ball being bowled, the Shyam Bhatia Cricket for Care Foundation requested India speedster Zaheer Khan to present the youngster with a kit.
Zaheer, who returned to India's Test squad announced yesterday to take on the touring Sri Lankans, willingly obliged. Besides felicitating Sarfaraz, he also gave away cricket kits to 10 municipal schools.
Later, at the release function of Bhatia's book Portraits of the Game-II, Sarfaraz got an opportunity to interact with the great Sunil Gavaskar.
"It is one of the best days of my life," said Sarfaraz after what he called a life-enriching experience.
"He gave me tips on how to cope in the anxious nineties. He told me to ignore the scoreboard.
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India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar (right) with Shyam Bhatia, the author of 'Portraits of the Gameu2014II' at the CCI yesterday. pic/mahanand gupta |
"He suggested that I concentrate only on playing my strokes and whatever is happening on the pitch because I would know if I have reached a milestone when people in the stands and the pavilion start applauding and cheering me," said Sarfaraz, who landed in Mumbai from Baroda, where he is playing Polly Umrigar under-16 West Zone tournament.
But the most important thing Sarfaraz picked up was to master the art of concentrating.
"Gavaskar Sir gave me invaluable tips on how to concentrate. I intend to put them into practice as soon as I can," he added.
And with two half centuries against Gujarat and Saurashtra, Sarfaraz has his eyes on today's match where Mumbai play Maharashtra.
Sarfaraz's father Naushad who also doubles up as his coach, said: "My chest swells when I hear people say 'look, that's Sarfaraz's dad'."
