SRINAGAR- A 28-year-old Mateen Teli, from North Kashmir’s Sopore, was recently selected as a net bowler for England’s test squad, ahead of the team’s second test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge cricket stadium in Nottingham, England.
Mateen, a former student at the Business School of Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham, has been living in England for the past few years alongside his brother.
A passionate cricketer, Mateen often tried his luck at local Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) organised trials, but was never selected to represent J&K. As luck would have it, the Sopore youth, who plays club-level cricket in England, was called by an England Cricket Board (ECB) executive who wanted him to “pack his bags” and come bowl against English test stars.
And Mateen did not disappoint.
According to various reports, Mateen took two wickets during the net session. Successfully clean bowling famed English cricketer Johnny Bairstow with his first ball and then taking the wicket of top order batsman Zak Crawley. Mateen’s bowling session earned praise from England coach and former player Paul Collingwood.
Mateen Teli’s success is a story of hard work and talent seldom going to waste.
