Life has the most amazing ways of overwhelming us in the most unlikely circumstances, turning a pretty mundane time period into something that we never forget. Faiz Fazal was in England, playing league cricket in harsh weather conditions when his father told him that he has been selected in the Indian ODI team going to Zimbabwe. The 30-year-old southpaw’s story is nothing short of remarkable and a lesson that persistence pays off for those who believe.
Speaking on the phone, exclusively to Sportskeeda, Fazal talked about how he did not expect this call at all, his father’s relentless efforts to make him a cricketer and the belief that performing in first-class cricket still holds relevance in India.
An unexpected call, the cluelessness and relief
The tone in which he spoke reflected a sense of relief more than the thrill of being selected for the Indian national team and understandably so. When you have played domestic cricket for more than a decade and get called-up during times when teenagers and 20-somethings are drafted into the team, it is a culmination of all the hard work put in over the years. “I did not have any clue about what was happening in India,” explained Fazal.
“I was preparing for my next match with the Hetton Lyons Cricket Club when my father called to give me the news. It was an extremely emotional moment for me and I cried upon hearing about my selection.”
Fazal, who is married and has a young daughter, grew up in Nagpur in a joint family. His father played cricket and was the one who spotted potential in him at a young age. “I think more than me, my father has worked hard for my success. He kept pushing me into playing cricket and has coached me ever since I was a child.” His voice choked a little while talking about his father, to whom Fazal attributes his selection in the Indian team.
Idolising Rahul Dravid
No Indian cricketer in history has grown up without having an idol and Fazal is no different. Given his soft-speaking and passive demeanour, it was not a surprise when he said that his idol was Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid. “I spent a lot of time at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and saw Rahul Dravid practicing there. His down to earth nature, dedication and hard work made me want to be like him,” Fazal said.
“Luckily for me, I got a chance to play alongside him and share a dressing room as well when I was with Rajasthan Royals.” The batsman suffered a setback when he was not selected for IPL after the 2011 season but took it on his chin and as a blessing in disguise.
“I was obviously disappointed at not being selected in the IPL but then I thought something must be lacking in me only if that has happened,” he said. Fazal’s ouster from IPL turned out to be a boon for him as he focused a lot on his technique and fitness.
“I did not sit at home when the IPL was going on and instead, trained harder in an attempt to improve my game and focus on being successful in first class cricket. I feel first class cricket is really important for anyone who wants to play for the country as it lends great maturity to your character and abilities.”
Fazal’s selection in the Indian team is an aberration, not only in terms of his age but the fact that he comes from the Vidarbha region, which does not have a history of producing international cricketers. Indian pacer Umesh Yadav is the only other cricketer from Vidarbha to have played for India and Fazal spoke about him as well. “I am proud to be the second player from Vidarbha to represent India. I have played a lot with Umesh and really happy that he is doing so well.”
“Umesh is a really nice guy and his success at the international level was an inspiration to other players from the region. It gave them the chance to dream of playing for the Indian cricket team and has inspired a number of youngsters.”
Also read: Faiz Fazal: 7 things to know about the Vidarbha batsman
Vidarbha, as a cricket team, has been more consistent in recent years and Fazal lauds the kind of infrastructure in place and believes the region will produce more international cricketers in coming years. “If you look at our team, guys like Akshay Wakhare and Jitesh Sharma are already in the IPL and soon will be knocking on national doors for selection,” he said with complete confidence.
Going to Zimbabwe directly from India would be tough for anyone, given the nature of wickets there and adjustments needed to be made in terms of the climate as well. However, Fazal, who is currently in England, is already prepared and feels that it is imperative for anyone striving for a place in the Test side to be exposed to conditions alien to home. “I feel that due to the harsh weather conditions and the ball moving around a lot, playing in England helps you develop maturity and adjustment as a batsman, which I think is really important.
“I like taking my time at the top and believe in building the innings. I might not have the best built or power but I am confident about my timing and feel I can do well while opening,” he said.
Future plans
Though the team going to Zimbabwe is pretty young, it will still be led by MS Dhoni and for Fazal, it is like a dream come true. “MS is one of the best captains our country has ever produced and playing under him has always been one of my dreams. I am thankful to God for making this come true.”
A simple man with fairly straightforward views, Fazal is not thinking too much about what will happen after the Zimbabwe tour. “I will try and control whatever is in my capacity without worrying about the consequences. There is no denying that I want to play for India in Tests as well. However, I am not thinking much about that and will focus on what is at hand.”
Irrespective of what happens on the Zimbabwe tour, Faiz Fazal’s story is an excellent example of the fact that players who do well in first class cricket have equal chances of making it to the Indian team as those performing well in IPL. A guy who knows where he comes from, Fazal has faced a lot of problems in his career but persistence and patience have helped him get the chance to wear that coveted blue jersey.
“Der aaye, par durust aaye!!! (I might have arrived late, but I have arrived at the right place),” he says.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
