The Challenger Trophy is used to unearth young talents for the future, but very few impressed in this year’s Challenger Trophy at Ahmedabad.
Iqbal Abdullah relishes the wicket of Virender Sehwag
AHMEADABAD: Before the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy in 2005, Piyush Chawla was an unknown leg-spinner from Uttar Pradesh.
But his destiny changed after he took the wicket of batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar — foxing him with a googly that rattled the legend’s stumps. It was a no stopping Chawla after that.
The Challenger Trophy is used to unearth young talents for the future, but very few impressed in this year’s Challenger Trophy at Ahmedabad.
Mumbai’s 17-year-old left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah, playing in his first challenger series for India Green, did a decent job.
He did not take wickets in bulks and only managed to scalp four, but he impressed people with his bowling. And not to forget the prize wicket of India Blue skipper Virender Sehwag.
Sehwag did not show any mercy to the India Green bowlers, comprising big names like Chawla and Munaf Patel.
He thrashed the bowlers all around the park hitting 14 boundaries and a six in the first 18 overs.
However, destiny had made plans for Abdullah. The left-arm spinner, bowling in the 19th over, bowled a beautiful delivery which damaged Sehwag’s stumps and also
destroyed his century hopes.
“Oh! Sehwag’s wicket was a special one. It was an arm ball which he failed to read,” said Abdullah after the game.
Abdullah says that he will cherish this wicket for years.
“The last time Piyush Chawla took Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket his destiny changed. I hope it happens to me also. But sab Allah ki marzi hai (It’s all god’s wish),” Abdullah added in a humble way.
Abdullah’s prime objective is to perform in the Ranji Trophy starting from next week. “I will start practicing from tomorrow as this an important season. And I hope to do well here as well,” he said.
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