Tasaduq Hussain
Srinagar, Aug 29: The national youth icon and cricket sensation from Jammu and Kashmir, Manzoor Dar locally known as Manzoor Pandav said that he has been finding it hard to earn a living after making a debut in the Indian premier league (IPL) in 2018.
Manzoor, a resident of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district was the second player from the valley to be auctioned and sold to Kings 11 Punjab in one of the world’s biggest cricket platforms, IPL in 2018.
After making a debut in the IPL he came to the limelight and was felicitated with national youth icon award by then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and the union home minister Rajnath Singh and was assured about a government job.
In an exclusive chat with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) he said that he is struggling hard to earn a living and the administration has totally ignored and failed to provide a job despite promises and assurances.
He said that he is currently surviving on cricket and there is no denial to the fact that he is facing financial problems as mere amount of 20 lakh, which he got as auction money in the IPL, don’t give the life lasting comforts when there are huge responsibilities on the shoulders.
“I have family responsibilities and the money earned from IPL wasn’t enough to fulfill all the requirements,” he said.
He said that the state government totally ignored him despite being felicitated with a state award and was assured a government job.
He said he comes from a very poor family and he had faced immense hardships to make it to the IPL. “If I am disappointed to this level with the government’s inaction despite assurances and being a deserved contender why would the lakhs of people with similar passion who follow me would play cricket and expect anything in return from the government.”
He said there is totally no response from either the central government or union territory administration in any manner. “My ailing mother requires over 20 thousand rupees every month for the treatment but neither the local administration nor UT admin came forward for any sort of help when I am struggling under the immense financial crunch.”
He said that presently he plays cricket to earn a living but it won’t last long as there is a long way to go and he has huge responsibilities on his shoulders.
“I have four unmarried sisters, three brothers and elderly parents while the government never paid any heed to the sufferings I have been facing over the past few years,” Manzoor said—(KNO)
