Armless cricketer bats against the odds
Amir Hussain lost both his arms in a tragic accident but that did not stop him from playing cricket
Amir Hussain Lone lost both his arms in a tragic accident when he was just eight years old at his father’s sawmill. But that did not stop him from playing cricket.
“Cricket is my passion and in the beginning, it was very difficult for me,” said Amir, who lives in Indian-held Kashmir.
“When I tried to play cricket for the first time after the accident, people used to make fun of me. Now they are very supportive”, he added.
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The 26-year-old is now the captain of the state para-cricket team. He is able to bat, bowl and even catch out opponents using his feet. His unusual technique for batting involves holding the bat between his neck and shoulder. Amir bowls with his toes - using a sweeping leg movement to launch the cricket ball.
“Batting was not a difficult task, but bowling without arms was a miracle and I somehow managed to do it,” he explained.
The accident took place in 1997 when Amir was taking food to his brother who worked at their father’s sawmill that made cricket bats.
“I used to play with the sawmill machine, but on this occasion both of my arms got entangled in the machine,” he said.
For his treatment, Amir’s father sold his business. He remained in the hospital for three years.
“I had my own sawmill and we used to manufacture our own cricket bats. But after the accident, I had to sell everything,” shared Bashir, Amir’s father.
“People used talk bad about my son. They used to say I was wasting both my money and time on him. But he is so dear to me like a part of my body. As a father why do I need wealth when my son is not well?” he added.
Eventually returning home, Amir joined the local school, but encountered a number of challenges.
“My grandmother encouraged me to go to school, I wasn’t ready but she convinced me,” he said.
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“A teacher even told me this school was not meant for [disadvantaged] children like me.”
But his passion for cricket remained and he found pleasure playing with his friends and spent two years learning the sport.
“When I was younger, I wasn’t even able to eat without my hands”, he confessed.
But his courage and passion helped him accomplish his goals, despite his injuries.
“I am a supporter of Sachin Tendulkar. He is my inspiration and I want to play like him. My dream is to play for the national team”, shared Amir.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=225&v=Av3tHPn6VoI
This article originally appeared on Barcoft.
“Cricket is my passion and in the beginning, it was very difficult for me,” said Amir, who lives in Indian-held Kashmir.
“When I tried to play cricket for the first time after the accident, people used to make fun of me. Now they are very supportive”, he added.
Women’s cricket: 25 players named for training camp
The 26-year-old is now the captain of the state para-cricket team. He is able to bat, bowl and even catch out opponents using his feet. His unusual technique for batting involves holding the bat between his neck and shoulder. Amir bowls with his toes - using a sweeping leg movement to launch the cricket ball.
“Batting was not a difficult task, but bowling without arms was a miracle and I somehow managed to do it,” he explained.
The accident took place in 1997 when Amir was taking food to his brother who worked at their father’s sawmill that made cricket bats.
“I used to play with the sawmill machine, but on this occasion both of my arms got entangled in the machine,” he said.
For his treatment, Amir’s father sold his business. He remained in the hospital for three years.
“I had my own sawmill and we used to manufacture our own cricket bats. But after the accident, I had to sell everything,” shared Bashir, Amir’s father.
“People used talk bad about my son. They used to say I was wasting both my money and time on him. But he is so dear to me like a part of my body. As a father why do I need wealth when my son is not well?” he added.
Eventually returning home, Amir joined the local school, but encountered a number of challenges.
“My grandmother encouraged me to go to school, I wasn’t ready but she convinced me,” he said.
Surgery for Bangladesh’s ‘Tree Man’ to remove warts
“A teacher even told me this school was not meant for [disadvantaged] children like me.”
But his passion for cricket remained and he found pleasure playing with his friends and spent two years learning the sport.
“When I was younger, I wasn’t even able to eat without my hands”, he confessed.
But his courage and passion helped him accomplish his goals, despite his injuries.
“I am a supporter of Sachin Tendulkar. He is my inspiration and I want to play like him. My dream is to play for the national team”, shared Amir.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=225&v=Av3tHPn6VoI
This article originally appeared on Barcoft.