From earning Rs 60 a day to a contract worth 20 lakh: Manzoor Dar's journey

The Indian Premier League (IPL) isn’t just a cricketing extravaganza but gives players from the smaller cricketing centres in India a chance to rub shoulders with some of the best from around the world. The monetary aspect can change the life of a cricket as has been seen in the case of players like Nathu Singh, T Natarajan and Mohammed Siraj. Another domestic Indian cricketer who earned an invaluable contract this year was Jammu and Kashmir cricketer Manzoor Dar.

Not long ago Dar worked as a security guard to earn the bread for his family, is constructing a small house for the last three years but doesn’t have a door and windows. The first time he played a club cricket match the 24-year-old didn’t have a cricket kit or shoes. But his ability to hit big sixes has got him far, he doesn’t just represent J&K in the domestic circuit also earned a contract from the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL 2018 auction.

Thankful to God and KXIP

He was grateful to God and the team owner for giving him the opportunity. Dar talked about his journey of earning 60 Rs a day to bagging the contract worth Rs 20 lakh in the auction.

“I am really thankful to God for this opportunity, also KXIP and Preity (Zinta) madam. My life has been full of struggle and when I finally found a team (at auction), I thought about the time I used to earn Rs 60 in the village as a daily labourer,” Dar was quoted as saying by MyKhelTimes.

Celebrations in the state

His signing was not only a high for his family or village but for the entire state as he eventually was the only cricketer from J&K to be picked by an IPL team. He stated that as many as 30,000 people have visited his house to congratulate his family.

“I spoke to my mother a short while ago. She told me some 30,000 people came to my house to congratulate. It is really moving to receive such love,” he said.

Working as a security guard was the only way he could make ends meet in a family that has three brothers and four sisters. He made it to the J&K squad in 2011 but could only get a debut in 2017.

“But it was the only way I could keep playing. I worked as a night guard from 2008 to 2012 but it was also the time I made my name in club cricket. The aim was to play as many matches as possible because it meant more money. I clearly remember I did not have shoes or cricket gear when I played my first club game,” he recalled.