Whatcha doing today? Come out and play...

Irfan Pathan
Cricketer   

Even before I picked up a bat and ball, I played many other games as a kid. I, alongwith my elder brother Yusuf, got into serious cricket at the age of 10. But it was not just cricket, we had other hobbies too.

I played cricket with plastic and rubber balls before we took up the game seriously. Not just that. We played gilli danda, marbles, and staapu. Then we used to build a pyramid of seven stones, make two teams and then try to break it with a ball (called lagori in Maharashtra). We also played langdi where you had to catch someone out while hopping on one leg.

The other passion was catching kites that would fall after being cut by the thread of another kite flier. We would run after it like mad.

There were no phones or tabs at that time. And most of our time was consumed in the outdoor activities. We still recollect those days, how much fun they were. We miss them.

I remember how Yusuf bhai and I, would hang on to a bullock cart while returning home from cricket academy. The cart driver never realised that we are hanging to it on the rear and whenever he used to look, we would duck out of sight. Our half-an-hour journey back from the academy would be done in 15 minutes.

People think we struggled a lot in our childhood days. We struggled, yes, but it was fun. The struggle was in terms of lack of facilities such as cars or bikes which are there in the cities. Even a cycle was a luxury.

To be honest, we were never fascinated by such material things. Our parents have taught us to value life instead of being materialistic. 

Thanks to Allah, it was due to his kindness that we played cricket and earned respect and money. But what was important was the respect that we possess. Our parents taught us that whatever you get, you should be happy and to be at peace always. Money won’t necessarily give you happiness but what is important is mental peace.

We have always valued our relations. I never thought that I would buy a house in a big city like Mumbai but made a house here at my small town in Baroda. I have my close friends and relatives here and I don’t want to lose them. I am happy to have few friends and relatives I can trust.

It is unnecessary to run after things which you won’t be able to handle. There is no meaning to it. I am happy that I have a cricket ball in hand, which makes me happy. And so does the memories of the bullock cart journey with my brother.

I want today’s kids to venture out in the open. Don’t restrict yourselves to gaming, cell phones or tablets. Yes, it is important to have the knowledge of these things too, but you should not depend too much on it.

Go. Venture out. Play some sport. I am a cricketer but I won’t necessarily say play cricket. Play other sports — football, volleyball, tennis or whatever you love. Sports teaches you a lot of things which you may not learn staying put at home.

I was weak in English. I studied in a Gujarati medium school. But today I can speak the language, thanks to cricket. And it is because I ventured out. I travelled and met different people.

Sport teaches you to fight, grind, struggle. Even in a Test match, when you bowl one bad spell you can bounce back in the second. It teaches the attitude of never say die, which makes you successful.

I am not saying that education won’t do that, but activity helps you get fitter, grow your muscles, memory and to fight out in different and tough conditions.

The other day I met a relative’s child. I asked him what sports does he enjoy. He unenthusiastically referred to a couple of sports. That is the problem. You should enjoy sports.

Parents, too, should take keen interest in their kids. They should go out and play with them. Don’t send them out so that you are able to get some free time to spend on phone or tablet. Because once your kid’s childhood is gone, it won’t come back and the virtual world will keep evolving.

As told to Taus Rizvi.