Tea-seller’s son from Shangla included in under-19 cricket team

BISHAM: The son of a man running a tea stall in Lahore’s Anarkali bazaar and belonging to Shangla district has been selected in the under-19 Pakistan cricket team.

Though Zaid Alam was born in Lahore, his father Alam Khan belongs to Bela village in Puran tehsil in Shangla. His father is a ‘chaiwala’ but he allowed Zaid Alam to devote time to cricket to fulfill his passion.

Zaid Alam, who had been playing cricket for the Lahore region, will represent Pakistan in the under-19 Asia Cricket Tournament in Sri Lanka in December. Zaid Alam is 10th grade student at the Government Boys School, Qilla Lakshman Singh in Lahore.

Initially, 35 players were selected, but after trials the number was reduced to 24 and in the end he was included in the 15-member squad.Zaid Alam is an all-rounder and his selection in the under-19 cricket team has whipped up frenzy among the residents of remote Shangla district as they hope he would make it to the national team.

Meanwhile, the residents of Puran held a function to celebrate the selection of Zaid Alam.Provincial Minister for Tourism Abdul Munim was the chief guest on the occasion. The fellow villagers also visited the ancestral residence of Zaid Alam to congratulate his family on his selection.