Jaipur: Farveez Mahroof, the 22-year-old pacer who crushed West Indies (6 for 14 at the Brabourne stadium on Saturday) is humble and courteous. His last outing has made him a star.
A product of the Wesley College in Sri Lanka, which is famous for producing fine rugby players, Mahroof said that it was rugby and soccer for him before being bitten by the cricketing bug.
He soon started playing the game and did everything before becoming a bowler
"I started off as a wicketkeeper. I also improved my batting. One day, while playing in an Under-13 cricket tournament, five of our players went down with the flu.
"My coach asked me to give up my gloves and bowl as he had seen me bowl at the nets a few times. I got 6 for 20 in that match, including a hatrick," he recalled with pride.
But what transformed him into a strike bowler? "I have become tougher mentally," he said.
"Earlier, I used to be very tense and nervous. I also spoke to a few former pacers for some tips on good pace bowling," he said.
Short stint
Complimenting his coach, he remarked: "Tom Moody and I get along very well. He is very caring and it has helped me a lot."
Mahroof believes that his short stint in County cricket also helped him.
"When I was 19, I got the opportunity to play for Stanmore Cricket Club in Middlesex.
"There I got to play with Angus Fraser.
"That stint improved me as a bowler."
Now that he has established himself a s a bowler, Mahroof looks forward to improving his batting (he had started off as a batsman).
"I practice hard at the nets and seek help from Sanath Jayasuriya," he said.
