Web Story Desk
Umar Ashraf from Baramulla in north Kashmir has been selected to represent India in the upcoming Tri-nation series to be held in Kolkata in April.
The other teams participating in the series are Bangladesh and Nepal.
Umar, 27, hailing from Sultanpora, Baramulla, has had a remarkable journey in the world of cricket despite being deaf and dumb since childhood as per The Web Story.
He began playing cricket after the accident and has since then earned laurels in 92 national and international matches. His performances have also helped his family communicate non-verbally.
In 2008, Umar got his first major break when he was selected for J&K’s deaf and dumb cricket team to play in Delhi.
This was the beginning of his successful cricketing career, which saw him represent the state at national level tournaments in Delhi, Bhopal, Varanasi, Nagpur, Punjab and Haryana as an all-rounder.
In 2016, Umar went to Dubai to play a match against Pakistan’s U-19 deaf and dumb team, which he considers as his most memorable match. He scored 59 runs in that match.
“This was my most memorable match. I was playing against Pakistan. I still recall I scored 59 runs.”
Simultaneously, Umar’s cricket career started picking up and he got selected for national level tournaments in Delhi, Bhopal, Varanasi, Nagpur, Punjab and Haryana. He represented the state’s deaf and dumb team as an all-rounder.
In 2017, Umar was a part of the team that won the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, which he considers as a great achievement in his career.
“It was a great career achievement for a person like me”
Umar’s selection for the Indian Deaf team for the Tri-nation series is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and serves as an inspiration for others facing similar challenges.
