WATCH ABOVE: Arman Usman on why he wants to teach Montreal students about cricket
MONTREAL – Arman Usman loves sports – and more specifically, cricket.
In fact, he says he’s the first professional cricket player in Montreal.
The sport isn’t big compared to hockey, football and soccer in this city, but worldwide, a reportedly 3.3 billion people watch cricket on a regular basis.
Usman said he first learned about the sport when he took a trip to Pakistan with his friends at the age of six.
Get breaking National news
Ever since, he hasn’t been able to leave the sport behind.
“For me, it’s a sense of belonging. I feel like I belong here,” he said.
There weren’t many facilities for cricket when he was first starting out, but that all changed when he met his coach at the age of 14.
Usman admitted he still has a long way to go before he can compete against some of the world’s greats.
“I don’t think I’m that great a player at all.”
“I just think I’ve been surrounded by great people,” he said.
“They’ve really pushed me to be a better cricketer and person.”
Usman started playing cricket professionally around three years ago, but it hasn’t come without its hardships.
“Lack of facilities, administration, coaches: it takes a huge toll on cricketers, and it’s really demotivating for people who want to take it to the next level,” said Usman.
With professional contracts from Scotland, England and South Africa already on the table, Usman said he hopes to one day achieve his life’s goal of competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and perhaps even in the Cricket World Cup.
Comments