Haseen Rizvi had banned his brother-in-law Tankeeb Akhtar from coming into their home. Purpose: Tankeeb, a failed cricketer himself, had seen potential in his nephew Sameer Rizvi and needed him to play for India.
On Tuesday, Mamu Tankeeb got here one step nearer to his dream. The Meerut-resident Sameer was picked for Rs 8.40 crore by Chennai Tremendous Kings after intense bidding to develop into the day’s highest incomes uncapped participant.
“Mamu was at all times there with me. If I feel perhaps there could be barely 14 days previously 14 years when he wasn’t with me on the floor,” Sameer tells The Indian Specific.
“He had extra perception in me than I ever had. He pressured me to sit down and watch the public sale. I by no means needed to observe it, however he made me watch it and I’m glad that he did,” shares the teen.
For years, Tankeeb stopped visiting his sister’s home due to his brother-in-law’s taunts. He visited his brother-in-law three years in the past when a 16-year-old Sameer made his Ranji Trophy debut.
“Mat bigaad usey, khud ki tarah mat bana, cricket se kya mila tujhe (Don’t spoil him. Don’t make him such as you. What have you ever gained from enjoying cricket)? These had been the phrases my brother-in-law used to say to me each time he would see me,” laughs Tankeeb.
“Again then, it used to harm me lots. Immediately, we laughed lots on this subject. Sameer’s father just isn’t effectively for the previous three years. He suffered a mind haemorrhage days earlier than Sameer made his Ranji debut.”
“Immediately, my brother-in-law held my hand and cried like a child. It’s a very emotional second for our household,” he says.
Tankeeb says the value tag has put much more accountability on his shoulders, as he doesn’t need Sameer to be carried away.
“Itna paisa is umar mein, thoda dar lag raha hai mujhe (A lot cash at such an age, I’m a bit scared). As a coach my position is over. Now he’ll get extra certified coaches at Uttar Pradesh, Nationwide Cricket Academy and Chennai Tremendous Kings. My job is now to maintain his ft on the bottom. It will be a troublesome process,” laughs Tankeeb.
Sameer got here to limelight in 2019-20, when former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi handed him a first-class debut on the age of 16.
“One of many nice aspects of Sameer’s sport is his potential to bat wherever between Nos. 4 and seven. He’s a floater, and able to bat wherever and has tailored to totally different roles as effectively. Identical to Rinku (Singh), he has bought this glorious potential to complete video games,” says Joshi, now the coach of Uttar Pradesh.
“The expertise was at all times there. When he made his Ranji Trophy debut, folks stated that he was younger however imagine me, he was prepared. Since then, he has not solely improved his sport however has taken it to the following stage. The rise has been staggering however I’m not stunned,” says Joshi.
Sameer comes with a repute for giant hitting. Within the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, he was among the many prime 10 six-hitters, with 18 maximums, hanging at 139.89. The 20-year-old hit a six each 11 balls. Within the UP T20 league, he registered the best particular person rating of 122 in addition to the quickest century that got here off 47 balls. Amongst batsmen to attain not less than 100 runs, he had one of the best strike charge within the match at 188.80, the place he was additionally the main six-hitter general. Sameer scored 455 runs, and had 35 sixes within the UP T20 League. Within the Males’s U-23 State A Trophy, he scored 454 runs, hit 37 sixes, essentially the most within the match and led his group to the title.
“Rohit Sharma is his position mannequin. Rohit’s easy batting has made him his fan. He used to harass me by asking questions on whether or not his pull shot regarded like Rohit or not. There isn’t a similarity however he thinks that he bats like Rohit,” says Tankeeb.
“I’m blissful that he’s going to CSK. The reason is that simply by being round MS Dhoni for 3 months, he’ll study lots and develop into a greater cricketer,” stated Tankeeb.