Was not given any chance in J&K: Family
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, June 11: Rejected time and again in Jammu and Kashmir, a youngster from North Kashmir’s Sopore area, is these days rubbing shoulders with the players of the English team after he was selected as a net bowler for their second test against the New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Originally from Sopore’s Arampora, Mateen Teli, 23, has spent most of his time outside J&K and received his Masters in Mass Communication from Shardha University. However, while he was pursuing his studies, he didn’t let his passion for the game die and kept playing for different clubs in Delhi and Noida.
Ahead of the second test, family members of Mateen told Excelsior that he got a call from the team England, informing him about being selected as their net bowler.
During his session with the English team, Mateen has been able to take a couple of wickets even as he clean-bowled one of the finest cricket players Jonny Bairstow as well as Zak Crawley, who is the top-order batsman of the team England.
Talking to Excelsior, Mateen’s brother, Bilal Ahmad Teli said that it is a moment of joy and pride not only for them but by the whole of J&K that his brother has been selected as a net bowler for one of the finest teams of the world and got duly praised for his skills.
“From class 5, he has lived outside J&K and did his Masters from Sharda University while he kept playing for various clubs there,” his brother said.
He said that when Mateen returned home earlier, the family kept ridiculing him for “wasting” time in cricket, “but he did not budge and kept going and even participated in several trials held in J&K; but he was never given his due place.”
His family members said that Mateen was never provided with a platform to prove his mettle and was often rejected despite being applauded by the seniors in the game.
“One day, a few years ago, the under-19 trial was going on conducted by Qayoom Bagga; he did well in those trials and even in the Ranji trials; several clubs offered him to play with them; despite that, he was never let to excel even though, he was appreciated and everyone was impressed with his performance,” his brother said.
In the end, his brother said, Mateen was fed up and once again preferred to move out. “I run a shop, while our father is a cancer patient; we were not in a position to help him monetarily. But he luckily managed to get a scholarship to study in England,” Bilal said.
For the last nearly 4 years, Mateen is in Nottingham as he is pursuing another Masters degree at the University of Nottingham. “He went to London on a scholarship to study, where, as usual, he kept his tryst with cricket on.”
On being selected as a net bowler for team England, his family said that it was great news for them and the entire J&K.
“We hope him to clinch new heights ahead because, he has been able to perform quite well during the first session and was even praised by England’s coach, Paul Collingwood,” his brother said.
In his video message, he has thanked people for his wishes while terming the feat a big achievement.
“It is quite an achievement for any cricketer to do nets with a team like England; I have been playing cricket here for the last 4 years and have done nets with the Nottingham County as well,” he said.
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