Young Guns

Fourteen and 15-year-old cricketers are usually more worried about making it to school teams. And some of the better skilled teens look to make a mark at Under-16 level. However, only a rare few such as Sarfaraz Khan (15) and Armaan Jaffer (14) get into reckoning for a place in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad.

Both the teenagers were named in the 30 probables list for the prestigious Mumbai team, in one of the boldest decisions made by the Mumbai Cricket Association on Tuesday.

Armaan is nephew of former India Test player Wasim Jaffer while Sarfaraz is son of reputed coach Naushad, who has mentored players such as Iqbal Abdullah.

On Tuesday evening, Armaan and his father Kalim were casually chatting at their Bandra home when they got a call informing about the probables list. The youngster immediately offered shukrana namaz (Thanksgiving prayers to God) for his dream that had come true and that too so soon.

The teenagers have been named alongside the likes of Tendulkars, Agarkars, Sharmas and Rahanes which will boost their confidence.

“I wasn’t sure that I would make it. It was 50-50. But it is a different feeling to be picked. I am excited about practicing alongside Sachin Tendulkar and other big players,” Armaan said.

Sarfaraz on the other hand, is busy preparing for the India U-19 tour of Australia at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. His father Naushad was ecstatic to hear the news.

“I am thrilled for Sarfaraz. His hardwork has finally paid off. Now it is up to him how he uses this opportunity to get into the 15,” said Naushad.

Armaan and Sarfaraz, products of Rizvi Springfield High School, have scored heavily in the local and the state levels tournaments.

Armaan in February broke the previous Harris Shield record of 439 set by his teammate Sarfaraz, with a mammoth 473. This was his second quadruple hundred — his previous being a 498 in Giles Shield in 2010.

He also became the first player to score 1,000 runs in a calender year — 2012-13 — in the U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy. Apart from that he was declared the best batsman for 295 runs including a century in —Talyarkhan Sheild, senior tournament, recently.

“My dream was to see Wasim and Armaan play together which will be fulfilled soon,” said Kalim.

Meanwhile, Safaraz has been a prolific scorer in the local circuit. Apart from scoring heavily at the junior level, he has also been consistent in the A Division tournaments.

The decision to blood the youngsters has been hailed by many. Former Mumbai captain and selector Milind Rege was all praise.

“Mumbai team doesn’t have batsmen. We need these kind who can score heavily and put pressure on others, who have held on to their place despite not performing consistently.

“To keep the Mumbai tradition going, we need to blood youngsters. In fact, they should be included in the 15 if not playing 11 just to prepare them for the future. I am all for such decisions,” said Rege.

The youngsters’ school coach Raju Pathak, too, was happy for them. “They deserve to be there having worked so hard over the years,” said Pathak.