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When 8-year-old Ajaz Yunus Patel moved from Mumbai to New Zealand in 1996, he did not dream of becoming a cricketer. This young man born in the largest city occasionally plays cricket at school.
Twenty-five years later, this is an exciting time for Patel, as he is preparing to participate in a test match at his “home” venue, Wankhede Stadium. Although he will play for New Zealand, his family in Mumbai will also be there to cheer for Patel.
“It’s emotional. When we landed in Mumbai and I was coming out of the airport, I was thinking about this. I remember how many times I left that airport or went on vacation with my family. This time is a different thing, I Came here to play cricket in New Zealand,” said left arm spinner.
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Patel has visited the iconic Wanhead Stadium many times in the past-thanks to his teammate Mitchell McLennahan, who had earlier played for the Mumbai Indians. “Every time I came, he gave me tickets very friendly. I also bowled several times against the Bombay Indians in the Nets, so it’s really nostalgic to come here. But it’s disappointing because With the new crown virus, I cannot see my family,” Ajaz said. In an ideal world, Ajaz would visit his relatives, but with a biological bubble, this is impossible.
“Many family members will come to the ground on different days. This is the beauty of the cricket test, everyone can come when they are free. It is a busy week, but many family members will come,” he said . “It’s very special. They haven’t had a chance to see me play with their own eyes. They will look at me in the stands for the first time…”
How Ajaz landed in New Zealand
Coming from a Gujarati family-his father works in the refrigeration industry and my mother is a school teacher-originated in Tankaria village in the Bharuch district. Ajaz fell in love with cricket only after moving his base.
A few months later, his uncle Sayeed Patel registered him and his cousin with the New Lynn Cricket Club in the suburbs of Auckland. By then, Ajaz had begun to follow Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne on TV. At Avondale College, he is already a friend of another Indian, Jeet Ashok Raval, and he is now his teammate in the national team.
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Although he is not very tall-five feet six inches tall-Ajaz was originally a fast bowler. Thanks to the former New Zealand international Dipak Patel (Dipak Patel), he decided to become a left-arm spinner in the mid-1920s.
At the time, Deepak was the coach of the New Zealand U-19 team, and Ajaz would participate in the national training camp. “It may go back (slightly more than) 10 years ago. He used to be a speed bowler. With his height, he is very good, but he always has the potential to be a spinner,” Deepak told athletic star Earlier.
After failing to enter the New Zealand U-19 team, Deepak encouraged Ajaz to try to spin bowling. “He is very enthusiastic about this (the idea). He decided to play bowling and we have worked closely together for many years,” Deepak said.
‘Strong-willed and patient’
But how did Deepak, who participated in 37 tests and 75 ODI competitions in New Zealand, realize that this young man can actually be an excellent spinner? The 60-year-old smiled and said: “The main quality is that he can spin the ball, which is the most important.”
“More importantly, he also has a temperament. He is very opinionated and patient. Spinners don’t really run through the team, so you need to shoot multiple times and be accurate to succeed at the test level. He did it,” Deepak said .
However, Deepak admitted that when he first met Ajaz, he did not expect that this young man would really play for the black hat. “Ten years ago, maybe not. But the work we did when he was in Oakland last season, I think he always has potential. The left arm spinner is valuable at any level, and he proved it. After a while Efforts, he has broken into the New Zealand team. He is rewarded by listing the numbers on the board,” he said earlier.
However, Ajaz’s finger rotation started to impress, and he became the Plunket Shield for his top team Central Stags for three consecutive years from 2014-15 to 2017-18 (2014-15 to 2017-18). The tallest goalkeeper in the game. When the current New Zealand international and draft pick Gavin Larsen told him that he had finally broken into the New Zealand team, he couldn’t believe it.
Since his debut in New Zealand, Ajaz has not looked back. When he was preparing for another test outing, he was excited, excited, and elated. After all, this is the way home for the Bombay boy.
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