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Jul 23 Sat 2022 UTC 02:07:19 0

INTERVIEW

Zahid Zakhail: An Afghan not in 'exile' with hope and cricket

by Smit Patel • Published on Sat, Jul 23, 2022, 07:52 AM

[Photo credit - ACB] The word spread in California about his capabilities with the bat and Zakhail found himself as part of the star-studded Silicon Valley Strikers © Cricbuzz

27 August 2021 Doha, Qatar

In his hotel room somewhere in Qatar, Afghani first class cricketer Zahid Zakhail was following the live broadcast of the draft ceremony for the Shpageeza Cricket League, Afghanistan's premier T20 tournament. He ended up being the first pick on the draft in the gold category, duly snapped by the Amo Sharks. Picked or not, Zakhail knew his participation in the tournament was a foregone conclusion. For he wasn't in Qatar out of choice, but sheer desperation.

18 August 2021 Kabul, Afghanistan

Mayhem in Kabul. Kabul had fallen to the Taliban, fanning the flames of countless political assassinations of US allies including the local interpreters and the translators employed by the US army. His blood running cold, a frantic Zakhail rushed to the Kabul International Airport to flee the country. Being a former interpreter with the US army apart from being a cricketer, he knew he was living on borrowed time after the conquest of the Taliban.

Upon arrival at the airport, Zakhail encountered a mass delirium never seen before, as thousands thronged into the airport in hope of finding a safe passage outside of the turmoil they found themselves in.

"The front door was locked. I knew I was never going to get in from there. After a point they had started evacuating the airport as they were simply not adept to support the surge. After an hour's struggle, I found a door that led me to a US army checkpoint, where I was instructed to come back tomorrow!

"Minutes later I met a few Czech officials who I thought were US special commandos who I had worked with earlier. They were kind enough to place me on standby if one of their own they were expecting did not show up. Luckily for me that guy never showed up and I was taken to the terminal" recalled Zakhail horrifyingly.

"When I got to the terminal I realized the group I was with were actually Czech as the people queuing up with the US army were about 50 yards away. After much pleading and verification of my documents I was granted a spot on the US military plane along with 500 others to leave Afghanistan. I was in tears when the plane finally took off."

In a matter of hours, Zakhail's world was torn apart. On the brink of national selection, he was called up to attend the national team camp ahead of Afghanistan's Test match series Zimbabwe just before the unrest. Zakhail embarked on his first class career with aplomb, notching up four half centuries in his first six games as well as an unbeaten double hundred while still in his teens. The Afghanistan Cricket Board recognized his promising talent by rewarding him with a domestic contract in his second year of first-class cricket, one of the select few in a truncated 40-man contract list.

Zakhail spent the next 3 weeks in Qatar before being transported to Virginia. He spent 3 months in Virginia between hotel and the military base with no idea when he would return to normalcy or what the new normalcy would even mean. Amidst this wind of uncertainty, Zakhail was contacted by a friend and fellow Afghan cricketer Nawaz Khan. Nawaz intimated him about a thriving cricket scene in California, inviting him over to try his luck in California. He also had an option to press the reset button on his life and follow the footsteps of other refugees in availing assistance with housing and job placements from the International Rescue Committee. The Pathani DNA in Zakhail chose the former, opting to 'bat' again on rather thin ice this time around.

The word spread in California about his capabilities with the bat and Zakhail found himself as part of the star-studded Silicon Valley Strikers in Minor League Cricket. With the Strikers sticking to their combination which won them the silverware last year, Zakhail warmed the bench for the first few games. However, he made it count the moment he got an opportunity at the top of the order. He didn't just make it count; he made the moment his own with an imperious 72 off 41 balls against the Golden State Grizzlies.

[Photo credit - MLC] Zakhail fled Afghanistan, leaving a lot behind. What he didn't leave though is the sheer determination to play professional cricket ©Cricbuzz

"This was a huge innings for me. I needed this innings at this point in my life against such quality opposition on a stage like this to rediscover myself. Not just as a cricketer but also as a person that I was. The moment I reached the milestone, I had flashbacks of the journey that I have lived" said Zakhail.

In his glorious six-laden (6 sixes) journey of self-rediscovery, Zakhail also admits to being back at his chirpy best. Much to the dismay of Ehsan Adil, former Pakistan fast bowler, Zakhail clattered him for a boundary on the first ball of the game. Adil exchanged a few pleasantries as Zakhail kept plundering a boundary in return for every pleasantry. Later in the day he would go on to give Adil a piece of his own medicine with a comical retort. When Adil came out to bat, Zakhail reminded Adil of how it is easier to score a half century with the ball than with a bat.

"Cricket is the only thing I know. I've lived cricket all my life. I never thought I would get back into professional fold. Tasting success with a team like the Strikers makes it all the more sweeter. I'm fortunate to be on the path of reliving my dream to be back playing cricket at level that the minor league offers" added Zakhail

Zakhail fled Afghanistan with no clothes and no money. He left behind his mother, father and seven siblings. What he hasn't left behind is his dream to play cricket professionally again.

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hail kept plundering a boundary in return for every pleasantry. Later in the day he

Zahid Zakhail: An Afghan not in 'exile' with hope and cricket

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