Struggle beyond the line: The story of Farhan Saeed

August 04: Saeed plunges in from a long run, crutches drive him along the way, and delivers the ball with the entire strength he can muster. “My mother told me that I went down with a fever and then I become a polio victim. That’s when my life took the turn it did and pushed me into disability,” Farhan Saeed, Pakistan Disabled Cricket team’s fast bowler said.

Farhan was born into a poor family that lived in a rented house in Korangi Karachi. At just two years old he contracted polio.When he was 15 years old, he started working in a factory that made bangles because his family needed financial support to survive.

“I then left school when I was in the 8th year, because my family couldn’t support my education expenses.” He was passionate about cricket, and was completely blown away whenever he watched his favourite fast bowler Shoaib Akhter on TV. “Shoaib Bhai played a major role in my career. I learned a lot from him due to his passion, aggression and thrust for victory. I wanted to be like him.”

Saeed started playing cricket with his fellows in the streets, tried his luck as a fast bowler and dreamed of being as quick as Shoaib Akher but, it was not easy. People criticised him and laughed at him because they thought he couldn’t bowl because of his disability. “It was hard for me to play cricket. I can’t tell you how much I regretted being disabled when people laughed at me and criticised my disability,” he recalls. “I sometimes cried and asked why I was born disabled. This isn’t my fault, but at the same time it was because of people’s jokes that I resolved to prove what I could do,” he said. “Sometimes I fell over while bowling, and sometimes when batting, and on occasions I would bleed and this caused anxiety to my family, but I never became disheartened and never gave up.” Then suddenly family pressure meant he had to start searching for work. He looked here and there for jobs but no company was prepared to employ him due to his disability. He did not give up until he found a job as an operator in a garments company. “The owner of the company was a nice man; he gave me job and a wage of 7,000 Rupees which was better than nothing.” One day his friend told him about a trial for the disabled cricket team at the National Cricket Stadium. “The very next day I went there and took part in the trials. Nazim Bahi (Joint Secretary and Media Manager of the Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association) was inspired by my fast bowling and I was selected for Pakistan’s disabled cricket team in 2007,” he recalls. “When he came for the trials, he looked quite enthusiastic and motivated in the nets, and he is such a God-gifted talent for Pakistan. It brought a tear to everyone’s eyes when they saw him bowl for the first time against England in UAE in 2012,” said Muhammad Nazim. It was a very exciting moment for him considering that is when his idol Shoaib Akhter also watched him in action. “Shoaib Bahi was there and he was amazed by my bowling. He told me that my line length is very good despite having these disadvantages,” he said.

Shoaib Akhter then mentioned in a newspaper interview that Farhan was quite an inspiration to him, as professional cricketers were sometimes unable to control their line length. He added that he even learned some things from him.

In 2012, Saeed was selected for UAE’s tour against England. “It was a dream come true for me. We faced England and we made a clean sweep against them. I was very happy that I played my part in a winning performance for our team.” He still works in the garment factory to meet his basic needs, as there is no monthly salary or contract for disabled cricketers.

“Many of us work in different jobs and sometimes it’s difficult for us to obtain leave from our employers for a cricket tour,” he said. The Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association was established in 2007 by Saleem Karim, and his idea was to represent Pakistan in disabled cricket. He knows Pakistan is rich in talent in the game of cricket and can make its name in this field also.

Next month Pakistan is going to take part in a tour in Bangladesh against 5 countries: Pakistan, Bangladesh, England, India and Afghanistan. Farhan Saeed is looking forward to this tour. “We will play against India, and I want to give 100 percent in that match, so that my team will beat the others,” he said, "I also have a dream to play my part in winning a Disabled World Cup for Pakistan, but unfortunately there is no Disabled World Cup in the ICC schedule."

PDCA’s cricketers only receive match fees and TADA (travel and daily allowance) for each tour. The Pakistan Cricket Board should look into this and provide them with financial assistance so that more people can enter this field and bring honour to their country is my appeal.

“We’ve never considered asking donors or companies for help, but if someone wants to support us we would welcome that. We’re planning to introduce central contracts for them in the future so they’re paid regularly. They’re our heroes and should be treated as such,” said Muhammad Nazim.

Farhan Saeed’s Video link:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid3944763523001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAu-f-8Kk~,XmIdfJLsQzC3w5TzzwsCGgJ9yfsymPdw&bctid=4083367255001