Muzamil Sherzad (Pashto: مزمل شېرزاد; born 5 October 2002) is an Afghan-Irish cricketer who plays for Leinster Lightning.[1] Originally from Afghanistan,[2] Sherzad played for the Ireland under-19 cricket team at the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.[3]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 5 October 2002 Jalalabad, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium-fast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Leinster Lightning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 3 May 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editOriginally from Jalalabad in Afghanistan, Sherzad played tape ball cricket in the streets.[4] In 2017, his mother paid for him to travel around 8,300 km (5,200 mi) to get to Ireland so he could work with his uncle.[4] The journey took the best part of nine months, with him crossing through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Italy and France with other immigrants.[5] While in Croatia, he got into a truck to get to Milan, Italy.[5] From Cherbourg in Northern France, he got into another truck to get onto a ferry.[6] When he arrived in Dublin, he was forced to sleep in a park overnight, as he did not know where his uncle lived.[6] After getting to a refugee centre, Sherzad was placed with a family via an agency, until they located his uncle in Tipperary.[7]
Cricket career
editIn 2019, Sherzad saw an advert by Cricket Ireland looking for fast bowlers in a talent programme, which he signed up to through Facebook.[7] Albert van der Merwe, the talent pathway manager for Cricket Ireland, was impressed by Sherzad's bowling, and invited him back for further sessions.[8] Van der Merwe was unaware of Sherzad's story, but got to know it once he had joined the academy.[8]
In December 2021, Sherzad was named in Ireland's 15-man squad for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.[9] On 29 January 2022, in the Plate semi-final against Zimbabwe, Sherzad took a five-wicket haul, with five wickets for twenty runs.[10] Ireland won the match by eight wickets,[11] to advance to the Plate Final against the United Arab Emirates.[12] During the match, at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain,[13] a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck during Zimbabwe's innings.[14]
In May 2022, Sherzad was named in Leinster Lightning's squad for the opening match of the 2022 Inter-Provincial Cup, against the North West Warriors at Sydney Parade in Dublin.[15] He made his List A debut in the match, where he bowled three overs, but did not take a wicket.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Muzamil Sherzad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "Afghanistan to Ireland Walked slept in the park crossed 8 countries story of the world top bowler will make you cry". Cricket Surf. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ O'Reilly, Peter. "Young cricket maestro Muzamil Sherzad's incredible journey to play for Ireland". The Times. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b "From Afghan street to Irish U-19 team, an 8,000 km-long story". The Indian Express. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Walked 8300 kms to play Ireland". My India News. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b "U19 World Cup: Hidden in the jungles to play Ireland, walked 8300 kms, the story of this player is a bit filmy". News NCR. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b "From Afghan avenue to Irish U-19 crew, an 8,000 km-long story". Report Wire. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b "From Afghanistan to Ireland: A young bowler who has walked 8,000 km and entered cricket ..! Muzamil sherzad: From Afghan street to Irish U 19 team". Pipa News. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "Interview with Peter Johnston as Ireland Under-19s World Cup squad named". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "Day 14 Talking Points - India end Bangladesh's reign, Ireland see off Zimbabwe in Plate race". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "9th Place Play-off Semi-Final, Port of Spain, January 29, 2022, ICC Under-19 World Cup". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "Five star Sherzad fires Ireland to Plate final". Cricket Europe. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "U-19 World Cup: Earthquake felt at Ireland-Zimbabwe match". Top Voice News. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "Muzamil Sherzad, a pair of unbeaten 70s and an earthquake shake Zimbabwe at the Under-19s World Cup". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "Chase and O'Halloran missing for Lightning". Cricket Europe. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "1st Match, Dublin, May 03, 2022, Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup". ESPN Cricinfo. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.