It takes two hands to clap, but to play cricket, sometimes, one is as good as two!
It might sound shocking to most of us who have all our limbs intact, but not for Matloob Qureshi, who opens the batting for the Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association team.
There isn’t a cricketing shot in the book that this 24-year-old amputee cannot play. He can cover drive like any of his senior team counterparts, hook, cut, pull and even smash sixes straight over the bowler’s head.
If you lack the motivation or are feeling uninspired to do something in life, just head to the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai Sports City to watch him wield the willow. Even the best motivational speakers will be unable to deliver a talk that is as inspiring or uplifting as he does with his single-handed batting.
A horrific accident at the age of six had left Qureshi battling for his life. Run over by a truck on his way to the playground after school, Qureshi says he still remembers his right hand carrying the entire weight of the lorry and being turned into “mincemeat”.
“It was an unfortunate day and you don’t expect something like that to happen because going to the playground was our everyday routine,” he said. “I had just finished with school and my friends and I went off to play. I had the accident and then my hand had turned to kheema (mince).”
Fortunately, being left-handed, his favoured hand was still intact. “Those were sad days, but when God takes something away from someone he makes sure he gives tenfold and gives them the courage and determination to go ahead and achieve things that might seem impossible!” Qureshi said.
“I want to thank God for giving me the strength that I have in this one hand and the capabilities that I have to play with this one hand. I can do so many things with it.”
Qureshi was the second highest run-getter for Pakistan in both its Twenty20 games with England at the ICC-GCA, the first time that a series for disabled teams has been recognised by the cricketing boards of the two countries. He notched 20 in the first match on Saturday and then 30 last night as Pakistan won by 14 and 20 runs respectively.
It’s all about pride for the lanky Multan-based batsman, who often fields in the deep because of his incredible pick up and strong throws that drop just above the wickets.
“We have come to Dubai to represent Pakistan and I am very happy to be making history because this is the first disabled cricket tour to be recognised. I am very proud to be part of it and of the team’s achievement.
“We have come a long way in the four years we’ve been around. We’ve toured Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia and won games against normal cricketers,” he said, adding that the team has performed wonderfully under the leadership of his team captain Saleem Kareem, who is also the founder of disabled cricket in Pakistan, team assistant manager Muhammad Nizam and coach Zaffar Iqbal.
“The team management has done a lot for us. The coach and management have big dreams for this team. They wanted a date for this tour here in Dubai and have been working selflessly on making this possible and Inshallah we will win this tour.”
Qureshi says he doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary to keep himself fit or strengthen his hand. “I don’t do any rigorous workouts, just the everyday things and a bit of training to keep myself in good shape,” says Qureshi, who is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Multan.
And how does he motivate himself to keep going? “I love playing cricket there’s no doubt about it. But when people motivate you and want to see you realise your dream you do even better. My family is very proud of me and they tell me to focus on playing for the country. They give me the strength and my prayers are to keep playing for Pakistan and take our country to the next level in disabled cricket.”
Qureshi, who idolises former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif, added: “I raise the bar all the time. I am not happy playing at the same level and want to keep getting better. I want my cricket to get better because I’ve never felt that I can’t do something with the bat. I am a confident batsman and my brand of cricket is confident.”
