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Muzamil Sherzad (Pashto: مزمل شېرزاد; born 5 October 2002) is an Afghan-Irish cricketer who plays for Leinster Lightning. Originally from Afghanistan, Sherzad played for the Ireland under-19 cricket team at the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.

Early life

Originally from Jalalabad in Afghanistan, Sherzad played tape ball cricket in the streets. In 2017, his mother paid for him to travel around 8,300 km (5,200 mi) to get to Ireland so he could work with his uncle. The journey took the best part of nine months, with him crossing through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Italy and France with other immigrants. While in Croatia, he got into a truck to get to Milan, Italy. From Cherbourg in Northern France, he got into another truck to get onto a ferry. When he arrived in Dublin, he was forced to sleep in a park overnight, as he did not know where his uncle lived. After getting to a refugee centre, Sherzad was placed with a family via an agency, until they located his uncle in Tipperary.

Cricket career

In 2019, Sherzad saw an advert by Cricket Ireland looking for fast bowlers in a talent programme, which he signed up to through Facebook. Albert van der Merwe, the talent pathway manager for Cricket Ireland, was impressed by Sherzad's bowling, and invited him back for further sessions. Van der Merwe was unaware of Sherzad's story, but got to know it once he had joined the academy.

In December 2021, Sherzad was named in Ireland's 15-man squad for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. On 29 January 2022, in the Plate semi-final against Zimbabwe, Sherzad took a five-wicket haul, with five wickets for twenty runs. Ireland won the match by eight wickets, to advance to the Plate Final against the United Arab Emirates. During the match, at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck during Zimbabwe's innings.

In May 2022, Sherzad was named in Leinster Lightning's squad for the opening match of the 2022 Inter-Provincial Cup, against the North West Warriors at Sydney Parade in Dublin. He made his List A debut in the match, where he bowled three overs, but did not take a wicket.

References

1. "Muzamil Sherzad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
2. "Afghanistan to Ireland Walked slept in the park crossed 8 countries story of the world top bowler will make you cry". Cricket Surf. 15 January 2022. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
3. O'Reilly, Peter. "Young cricket maestro Muzamil Sherzad's incredible journey to play for Ireland". The Times. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
4. ^ "From Afghan street to Irish U-19 team, an 8,000 km-long story". The Indian Express. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
5. ^ "Walked 8300 kms to play Ireland". My India News. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
6. ^ "U19 World Cup: Hidden in the jungles to play Ireland, walked 8300 kms, the story of this player is a bit filmy". News NCR. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
7. ^ "From Afghan avenue to Irish U-19 crew, an 8,000 km-long story". Report Wire. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
8. ^ "From Afghanistan to Ireland: A young bowler who has walked 8,000 km and entered cricket ..! Muzamil sherzad: From Afghan street to Irish U 19 team". Pipa News. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
9. "Interview with Peter Johnston as Ireland Under-19s World Cup squad named". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
10. "Day 14 Talking Points - India end Bangladesh's reign, Ireland see off Zimbabwe in Plate race". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
11. "9th Place Play-off Semi-Final, Port of Spain, January 29, 2022, ICC Under-19 World Cup". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
12. "Five star Sherzad fires Ireland to Plate final". Cricket Europe. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
13. "U-19 World Cup: Earthquake felt at Ireland-Zimbabwe match". Top Voice News. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
14. "Muzamil Sherzad, a pair of unbeaten 70s and an earthquake shake Zimbabwe at the Under-19s World Cup". Cricket Ireland. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
15. "Chase and O'Halloran missing for Lightning". Cricket Europe. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
16. "1st Match, Dublin, May 03, 2022, Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup". ESPN Cricinfo. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.

External links

• Muzamil Sherzad at ESPNcricinfo

• 2002 births
• Living people
• Irish cricketers
• Leinster Lightning cricketers
• Sportspeople from Jalalabad
• Afghan emigrants to Ireland
• Irish people of Afghan descent
• 21st-century Irish sportsmen