Nafees’s son Shahwar dreams of becoming a cricketer

Fathers are a source of immense strength, courage and inspiration in a word. They are to perform a lot of responsibilities. Fathers are the important pillar of a family and children need them while they grow up. Father is like a big window that opens up the entire world in front of the children. Children start getting familiar with the entire world through the eyes of their father. For the children, their father can play a role as the best guide to teach them about what is in this world. Fathers not only carry their own dream but also help fulfill each dream of his family members. That is why role of a father is undoubtedly very important in growth and development of children.

But what is the father's dream? Yes, fathers have some dreams although their dreams often remain unmet. Fathers feel very proud when children can fulfill the dreams of their father. Cricketer Shahriar Nafees is set to be included to a club of proud fathers. His son Shahwar Ali Nafees is following the footsteps of his father. Like his father, Shahwar Ali is nourishing a dream to wave the flag of the country with bat and ball at his hands.

Country’s leading and popular online news portal risingbd.com has arranged a new episode titled ‘Like Father Like Son’. In its third episode today, there will be a story about Shahriar Nafees and Shahwar Ali Nafees.

How Bangladesh will forget an innings in which Nafees scored his maiden century against mighty Australia! Why only Bangladesh? Can Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Brett Lee forget the innings? That innings will remain as one of the brands forever in the history of Bangladesh cricket.

That innings of Nafees is very favourite to his son Shahwar Ali. 12-year-old Shahwar watch that innings when he gets a chance. He keeps dreaming to become a great cricketer like his father someday.

Shahwar Ali, a seventh grade student of Scholastic School, has already made his way towards that dream. He is regularly doing practice, playing matches. Like his father, he is a left-handed batsman. He feels comfortable to do medium pace bowling with his right hand. Nafees says, ‘His son desires to be a pacer all-rounder and is taking preparation that way.’

But his son was allowed to play cricket keeping a different thinking in mind. Initial thinking was that: ‘As parents, we primarily thought that our son should play cricket to keep his body fit. Playing cricket can help him develop mentally. It will inspire him to do good work.’ Nafees started getting good outcome after sending his son to fields. Nafees said with pride, ‘He increased his deep concentration on study from the day when he started going to fields. It helped him pay full concentration on study due to his increased physical fitness.’

As a father, Nafees never thought that his son must be a cricketer. Nafees, who played in 24 Tests and 75 One Day Internationals for Bangladesh national cricket team, said his son has got enthusiasm to play games by birth.

‘His eagerness to cricket grows from his own. He likes to play games since his childhood. That’s why he gets inspiration from me. He was not forced to play cricket. Rather, I have given him less time. He himself has played and learnt. Basically, my son was greatly inspired by me as I was a cricketer,’ Nafees said.

Son Shahwar Ali was not given much time he was already in play. But he got an opportunity to give his son time during this coronavirus period. He has performed his duty as his son’s batting coach during this time. He enjoys well watching his son’s practice. But he does not like to watch his match as he feels very nervous to watch it. As a father, I want that my son play of his own accord.

In his cricket life, Nafees would not think of his career much more. He has just played with cheerful mind. He never thought that he must play for the national team, earn name and fame, must be a poster boy. He thinks of the same thing for his son. Father Nafees has only a dream over his son: ‘I wish my son will be a good human being first of all and remain honest so that everybody in the world can say the boy is good. After these, I want that he professionally reach the peak of success in his personal life.’

** Mahdi on way to fulfill father’s dream

Dhaka/Yeasin/Amirul