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Mahinder Pal Singh : First Sikh to make into the National Cricket Academy (NCA)

MenInG

MenInG

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Despite all the controversies surrounding the game including deprivation of international shows at home and confrontations with rival cricketing boards, cricket remains the most loved sport in Pakistan. The game has been able to maintain its grip on the hearts and minds of the Pakistani nation.

Furthermore, the games popularity has not been confined to the majority Muslim populace, as we have enjoyed a fair share of Christian and Hindu cricketers, who have represented the country on national and international stages.

However, no member of Sikh community has been able to make a name in Pakistans greatest passion until the introduction of Mahinder Pal Singh, Pakistans first Sikh cricketer. Hailing from Nankana Sahib, Singh is the first person from the Sikh community to make into the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

"I am proud to make into the Pakistan Cricket Academy, and I am proud to represent the entire Sikh community of the country," said Singh in a Tweet post.

Singh, who is also the part of PCBs top 30 emerging cricketers, further stated that he wished to make his country proud in the coming future. He went on to thank his coaches and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan for trusting on his abilities and giving him the opportunity.

http://www.brecorder.com/sports/cricket/332306-meet-pakistans-first-sikh-cricketer.html
 
hope a psl side picks him

quetta or karachi...
 
Leave the discussion to cricket or about the player
 
First Sikh cricketer secures place at National Academy

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/in-...s-place-in-pakistans-national-academy-1639956

A Pakistani Sikh player has secured a place in the country's National Cricket Academy, as per a media report, making him the first player from his community to reach the feat in Pakistan.

Mahinder Pal Singh, a resident of Nankana Sahib in Lahore, is part of a list of the top 30 emerging cricketers of the country, Geo News reported.

While the Pakistan national team has been represented by Hindus and Christians in the past, this is the first time that a Pakistani Sikh has been selected to be part of the National Cricket Academy.

In a video circulating on social media, Singh expressed his desire to make Pakistan proud and thanked his coach and Shahryar Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), for having faith in him and recognising his talent.

Pakistan's cricketing history has only seen 7 non-Muslim cricketers representing the country, Mahinder joins the list as the eighth non-muslim and first Pakistani Sikh to represent Pakistan, the report added.
 
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Man, I hope he makes it big...could be an inspiration for a number of minority groups in Pakistan.
 
It would be lovely to see a Singh playing for Pakistan.

I heard he is a medium-fast bowler.. I hope he made the list on merit and not because of a favourable PR campaign that is being run after his selection.
 
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en-gb"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mahinder Singh Pal - proud to represent the Sikh community and proud to make it to the NCA. <a href="https://t.co/0pGod7mhwz">pic.twitter.com/0pGod7mhwz</a></p>— OJ (@ovaisjafar) <a href="https://twitter.com/ovaisjafar/status/811103551472762880">20 December 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
"We have enjoyed a fair share of Christian and Hindu cricketers, who have represented the country on national and international stages". What?? We have hardly produced any non-Muslim cricketers who have played for the national side. He is representing Pakistan not the Sikh community just like our Muslim players are playing for the country as well. I still cringe at that idiotic comment by Shoaib Malik all those years back.
 
I hope he Inshallah makes it at the very top level and guides Pakistan to victory would well and truly be an inspirational story !!
 
PakLFC said:
"We have enjoyed a fair share of Christian and Hindu cricketers, who have represented the country on national and international stages". What?? We have hardly produced any non-Muslim cricketers who have played for the national side. He is representing Pakistan not the Sikh community just like our Muslim players are playing for the country as well. I still cringe at that idiotic comment by Shoaib Malik all those years back.
Click to expand...

Anil Dalpat

Danish Kaneria

Mohammad Yousuf

In the last 3 decades.

Too few.
 
Pretty cool, would be weird to see a Singh in the Pakistani lineup though:)) (Not saying it's a bad thing, just not used to it)
 
javiersuka said:
Anil Dalpat

Danish Kaneria

Mohammad Yousuf

In the last 3 decades.

Too few.
Click to expand...

A fair share. 99.99% of the country is Muslim so we can't have four or five non-Muslims playing at the same time. This really is not a issue.

Good on the paji. Hopefully, he's a good all-rounder.
 
PakLFC said:
"We have enjoyed a fair share of Christian and Hindu cricketers, who have represented the country on national and international stages". What?? We have hardly produced any non-Muslim cricketers who have played for the national side. He is representing Pakistan not the Sikh community just like our Muslim players are playing for the country as well. I still cringe at that idiotic comment by Shoaib Malik all those years back.
Click to expand...

What comment?
 
Good to know that he is a university student and is studying Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D)
 
Good on him to make it this far, but looking at where the WK was standing, he looks like a 75mph bowler, but I could be wrong.
 
Good inspiration for our minorities.originally born and raised in Mardan KPK,fluent in Pashto and Punjabi hope some PSL team select him
 
Bilal7 said:
99.99% of the country is Muslim
Click to expand...

I think you are off target by a huge margin here. You are claiming 0.01% non-Muslim population in Pakistan. I think Pakistan has 100 times more.
 
Pakistan has around 3% non Muslims. That means for every 97 Muslims that debut, there should have been 3 non Muslims debuting. If you take a look at FC level, there are almost no non Muslims (except for one or two Qadianis perhaps). Can anyone such as [MENTION=138980]TalentSpotterPk[/MENTION] list the non Muslims in Pakistan's domestics?
 
asfandyar said:
Pakistan has around 3% non Muslims. That means for every 97 Muslims that debut, there should have been 3 non Muslims debuting. If you take a look at FC level, there are almost no non Muslims (except for one or two Qadianis perhaps). Can anyone such as [MENTION=138980]TalentSpotterPk[/MENTION] list the non Muslims in Pakistan's domestics?
Click to expand...

You won't find that kind of distribution in any country if you start picking population like that. Anyway, I was just commenting about 99.99% being Muslim population. Let's debate the thread topic from cricket point of view.
 
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Buffet said:
You won't find that kind of distribution in any country if you start picking population like that. Anyway, I was just commenting about 99.99% being Muslim population. Let's debate the thread topic from cricket point of view.
Click to expand...

Actually being a Sikh is part of this thread's theme, so commenting on religious inequalities in Pakistan's domestic and international cricket teams is quite justified.
 
asfandyar said:
Actually being a Sikh is part of this thread's theme, so commenting on religious inequalities in Pakistan's domestic and international cricket teams is quite justified.
Click to expand...

You have a point. Anyway, I can't add much to this discussion.
 
asfandyar said:
Pakistan has around 3% non Muslims. That means for every 97 Muslims that debut, there should have been 3 non Muslims debuting. If you take a look at FC level, there are almost no non Muslims (except for one or two Qadianis perhaps). Can anyone such as [MENTION=138980]TalentSpotterPk[/MENTION] list the non Muslims in Pakistan's domestics?
Click to expand...

The last one who still plays on and off is Anop Ravi Santosh who is former Pak Under 19 wk and plays for PIA.

Rajesh Ramesh has probably retired. There was one Parsi player don't remember his name. No other non Muslim player as per my knowledge.
 
TalentSpotterPk said:
The last one who still plays on and off is Anop Ravi Santosh who is former Pak Under 19 wk and plays for PIA.

Rajesh Ramesh has probably retired. There was one Parsi player don't remember his name. No other non Muslim player as per my knowledge.
Click to expand...
Lal Kumar?
 
Buffet said:
I think you are off target by a huge margin here. You are claiming 0.01% non-Muslim population in Pakistan. I think Pakistan has 100 times more.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's not literally 99.99% but the point is that the overwhelming majority of the country is Muslim and if three-four non-Muslim players have played for Pakistan until now, it is a fair number given the demographics of the country.
 
asfandyar said:
Pakistan has around 3% non Muslims. That means for every 97 Muslims that debut, there should have been 3 non Muslims debuting. If you take a look at FC level, there are almost no non Muslims (except for one or two Qadianis perhaps). Can anyone such as [MENTION=138980]TalentSpotterPk[/MENTION] list the non Muslims in Pakistan's domestics?
Click to expand...

Your math is way off bruh. Religion or ethnicity shouldn't matter in cricket, the best team should play no matter what their backgrounds may be.
 
Sikh boy makes waves in Pakistan cricket

Mahinder Pal Singh has become the first Sikh cricketer to be selected in Pakistan's National Cricket Academy after he was picked for a fast bowlers' camp, being organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The 21-year old Mahinder was selected at an emerging player camp, organised by PCB in Multan in November.

"It was a proud moment for me to be selected for the camp," said Pal, who hails from the tribal region of Pakistan but lives in Nankana Sahib outside Lahore.

The eldest among five siblings, Pal is the first member of his community to be recognised at this level. "It was a great experience training with the other young pace talents in the country and we learnt a lot. But my aim now is to eventually play first class cricket," Pal, is a student of Pharmacy in Punjab University, said.

"I always loved playing cricket and I used to play for local clubs after completing my matriculation and I also worked at a academy in Mughulpura, Lahore," he said.

Pal's father, who himself is a ardent cricket lover and is a fast bowler, migrated with his family from Khyber Agency to Nankana Sahib about 15 years ago. "He wanted to play competitive cricket but couldn't do so because he had to take care of the family and set up a business in Nankana Sahib. But he has now passed on his dream to me.

"It would be lovely to become the first Sikh in Pakistan to play for the national team but right now my dream is to first play first class cricket and showcase my talent. I am learning everyday as there is so much cricket shown on television nowadays," he said.

"There is lot of cricket talent in Nankana Sahib but we don't have proper playgrounds there and we used to go and play the Gurdwara's yard," added Pal, who idolises Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Asked if he had faced any bias or problems playing cricket in Pakistan because of his religion, Pal said: "Nope! Wherever I play or when we were in the camp in Multan they only looked at my talent and performances. They made me work hard on my fitness."

Citing the example of Danish Kaneria, who played as a premier bowler for Pakistan at the highest level, Pal said if being a Hindu Kaneria could represent the country, why can't he achieve his dreams of playing at the top level.

When Shaharyar Khan visited the high performance centre in Multan to officially inaugurate it, Pal recollected that the PCB chief specially spent time with him and encouraged him. "That encouragement will spur me to do better," he concluded.

http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-sikh-boy-makes-waves-in-pakistan-cricket-2286721
 
It's actually exciting news to see him get selected for the NCA, I really hope that one day he'll be selected for Pak and make a fruitful career.
 
Never been this excited for a pacer being selected to the NCA.

Mahinder Pal Singh needs to go the distance, not only for his own religion and community but for the sake of his country as well.
 
Sikh cricketer Mahinder Pal Singh plays in Pakistan’s domestic league in rare feat

Mahinder Pal Singh on Tuesday became one of the very few Sikh cricketers to play in Pakistan’s domestic competitions as he turned out for Candyland team in a Patrons Trophy Grade-2 tournament. Mahinder is perhaps the first Sikh to play domestic cricket in Pakistan although unverified information suggests that another Sikh cricketer, Gulab Singh did appear in two or three grade-2 matches some years ago and then disappeared.

“I am so excited to get this opportunity to play the Patrons Trophy Grade-2 competition. I took two wickets in the first innings but unfortunately had a groin strain so could not bowl in the second innings,” Mahinder told PTI at the State Bank ground here where his team faced favourites Karachi Port Trust.

Mahinder, 21, said he felt out of the world when he first got a call from the Candyland manager Basalat Mirza to play in the competition. “I had appeared in a talent hunt programmes of Candyland in 2015 and they remembered me,” he said.

Mahinder belongs to the tiny 20,000 strong Sikh community in Pakistan. He belongs to Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak and some 100 kilometres west of Lahore. He first hit the headlines when he was picked as a promising medium pacer for an emerging players camp organised at the PCB High Performance centre in Multan last November.

“My father, Harjeet Singh who is a doctor, has supported me a lot specially after last year I was in the headlines for becoming the first Sikh to be selected for the PCB camp. He is now very proud of me having made it to the domestic competitions,” Mahinder said.

The Patrons Trophy Grade-2 tournament this year is a tough competition as the winner will qualify for the Quaid-e-Azam first class competition. This year, some of the top first class teams like Port Qasim Authority, ZTBL and State Bank are participating in it having been relegated from the premier tournament.

“I will learn a lot after playing against such top teams and players. Hopefully I will become a much better player. I already feel the expectations of becoming the first from my community to reach this level of competition,” Mahinder said. “It was a proud moment for me to be selected for the PCB camp but to be playing domestic cricket is the ultimate dream come true,” he recalled.

The eldest among five siblings, Mahinder said his aim was to play first class cricket and in Pakistan Super League T20. “The PSL is such a big platform for youngsters and I hope to be among the emerging players list in the next PSL and get noticed,” he said.

Mahinder is a student of pharmacy in Punjab University, but conceded that in the last few months he has given more time to cricket. His father, an ardent cricket lover and a fast bowler, migrated with his family from Mardan district in Khyber Agency to Nankana Sahib about 15 years ago. “My father wanted to play competitive cricket but could not do so because he had to take care of the family and set up a business in Nankana Sahib. But he has now passed on his dream to me.” To date only seven non-Muslims have played for Pakistan, among them five Christians and two Hindus.

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...akistan-domestic-league-in-rare-feat-4568823/
 
Very excited for this young man, I hope he plays for Pakistan one day
 
https://www.brecorder.com/2018/04/1...ricketer-eyes-to-become-part-of-men-in-green/

Right arm fast bowler Mahinder Pal Singh made history few years back after he became the first Sikh cricketer in Pakistan to make into the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Singh is now preparing for first-class cricket and is aiming to play for the country.

“I am the first Sikh cricketer from Pakistan to reach the National Cricket Academy [NCA] and get selected [for the emerging players],” said Singh, quoted BBC Urdu

The right arm fast bowler, hailing from Khyber Agency, was selected among the emerging player in 2016.

“Being a Sikh I am the only player who is favored to practice at the NCA. I am the only club payer or Grade II cricketer in history to practice at NCA. I can come to the Academy for training whenever I wish to and practice under the guidance of NCA coaches,” said Singh.

Singh further said that he dreams to represent Pakistan one day, after playing in the first class cricket. He is of the view that his minority status would not hamper his chances.

“I believe that nobody will stop me in my progress for being a Sikh,” said Singh, signifying the fact that the passion of cricket in Pakistan is not confined to the majority Muslim populace.
 
MenInG said:
https://www.brecorder.com/2018/04/1...icketer- eyes-to-become-part-of-men-in-green/

Right arm fast bowler Mahinder Pal Singh made history few years back after he became the first Sikh cricketer in Pakistan to make into the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Singh is now preparing for first-class cricket and is aiming to play for the country.

“I am the first Sikh cricketer from Pakistan to reach the National Cricket Academy [NCA] and get selected [for the emerging players],” said Singh, quoted BBC Urdu

The right arm fast bowler, hailing from Khyber Agency, was selected among the emerging player in 2016.

“Being a Sikh I am the only player who is favored to practice at the NCA. I am the only club payer or Grade II cricketer in history to practice at NCA. I can come to the Academy for training whenever I wish to and practice under the guidance of NCA coaches,” said Singh.

Singh further said that he dreams to represent Pakistan one day, after playing in the first class cricket. He is of the view that his minority status would not hamper his chances.

“I believe that nobody will stop me in my progress for being a Sikh,” said Singh, signifying the fact that the passion of cricket in Pakistan is not confined to the majority Muslim populace.
Click to expand...

His focus is only on 'him being the first Sikh to get into the NCA', shouldn't he refrain himself from the media?
He hasn't even played a single first-class match.
 
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