Muzamil Sherzad Explained

Muzamil Sherzad
Country:Ireland
Birth Date:5 October 2002
Birth Place:Jalalabad, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan
Batting:Right-handed
Bowling:Right-arm medium-fast
Role:Bowler
Club1:Leinster Lightning
Year1:2022
Columns:1
Column1:List A
Matches1:1
Runs1:
Bat Avg1:
100S/50S1:–/–
Top Score1:
Deliveries1:18
Wickets1:0
Bowl Avg1:
Fivefor1:
Tenfor1:
Best Bowling1:
Catches/Stumpings1:0/–
Date:3 May 2022
Source:http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/1278229.html Cricinfo

Muzamil Sherzad (; 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]

Early life

Originally from Jalalabad in Afghanistan, Sherzad played tape ball cricket in the streets.[4] In 2017, his mother paid for him to travel around 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

In 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Muzamil Sherzad . ESPN Cricinfo . 3 May 2022.
  2. Web site: 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 . 3 May 2022.
  3. News: Young cricket maestro Muzamil Sherzad's incredible journey to play for Ireland . The Times . 3 May 2022. O'Reilly . Peter .
  4. Web site: From Afghan street to Irish U-19 team, an 8,000 km-long story . The Indian Express . 15 January 2022 . 3 May 2022.
  5. Web site: Walked 8300 kms to play Ireland . My India News . 3 May 2022.
  6. Web site: 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 . 3 May 2022.
  7. Web site: From Afghan avenue to Irish U-19 crew, an 8,000 km-long story . Report Wire . 3 May 2022.
  8. Web site: 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 . 3 May 2022.
  9. Web site: Interview with Peter Johnston as Ireland Under-19s World Cup squad named . Cricket Ireland . 15 December 2021.
  10. Web site: Day 14 Talking Points - India end Bangladesh's reign, Ireland see off Zimbabwe in Plate race . International Cricket Council . 3 May 2022.
  11. Web site: 9th Place Play-off Semi-Final, Port of Spain, January 29, 2022, ICC Under-19 World Cup . ESPN Cricinfo . 3 May 2022.
  12. Web site: Five star Sherzad fires Ireland to Plate final . Cricket Europe . 3 May 2022.
  13. Web site: U-19 World Cup: Earthquake felt at Ireland-Zimbabwe match . Top Voice News . 30 January 2022 . 3 May 2022.
  14. Web site: Muzamil Sherzad, a pair of unbeaten 70s and an earthquake shake Zimbabwe at the Under-19s World Cup . Cricket Ireland . 3 May 2022.
  15. Web site: Chase and O'Halloran missing for Lightning . Cricket Europe . 3 May 2022.
  16. Web site: 1st Match, Dublin, May 03, 2022, Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup . ESPN Cricinfo . 3 May 2022 . 3 May 2022.