Legless Boy Dreams Of Becoming A Cricketer

By Haziq Qadri @haziq_qadri

A CHILD who lost both his legs when he hit an unexploded shell with his cricket bat is working towards his lifetime ambition – to become a professional cricketer

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Videographer / director: Shams Qari
Producer: Haziq Qadri, Ellie Winstanley
Editor: Joshua Douglas

Fayaz was just four years old when he lost his legs in the explosion

Fayaz Ahmed Parray from Kashmir, India was just four years old when tragedy struck as he was playing cricket with his seven-year-old sister, Simran.

The cricket-mad youngster asked his older sister to throw what he thought was a ball towards him.

Tragically for both siblings, the ball was actually an unexploded shell, and Fayaz’s shot triggered an explosion which instantly killed his sister, and caused massive injuries to both his legs.

Fayaz wears two prosthetic legs which his father Riyaz Ahmed helps fit

Recounting the accident, which took place in May 2014, Fayaz’s father Riyaz Ahmed, said:

“I was working the field and my wife had gone out. Fayaz and his sister were having lunch outside. When they finished the lunch, Fayaz asked her sister to throw a ball at him.

“It was actually an unexploded shell that Fayaz got from a nearby field.

Tragically, Fayaz's 7-year-old sister Simran was killed in the explosion

“He thought it was a cricket ball. He was too young to judge that he was playing with the shell.

“He hit the shell and landed in hospital. His sister died on the spot.

“I heard the explosion and rushed home, but the damage had been done.”

Kashmir has seen great conflict and unexploded shells are common

Fayaz spent almost three months in hospital and surgeons had to amputate his legs to save his life.

The siblings lived next to the Tosamaidan meadow in Kashmir, an area that has been plagued by conflict and unexploded shells after being used by the army as a firing range since 1965.

Fayaz’s mum Firdousa said: “The unexploded shell belonged to the army, and they did accept that it belonged to them and not the militants.”

Fayaz was in hospital for three months after the explosion

Fayaz is hoping for a more advanced prosthetic leg

With no compensation or funding from the government the family has been forced to sell their home to cover medical costs, including the prosthetics that have helped this brave boy to continue to enjoy his favourite sport.

Dad Riyaz explained: “We sold everything for his treatment. We left our home and now we are living in a rented apartment, only for him.

Fayaz's prosthetic legs enable him to play normally with his friends

"I want to make sure that my son should continue playing cricket like others. I am moving from pillar to post for his treatment.”

And Riyaz is also worried about his son’s education after he was denied admission by school authorities in Kashmir for his disability.

The 29-year-old laborer explained: “The school authorities say that my son is handicapped and can’t get admission in a normal school because they can’t take care of him. The school told us that he won’t be able to climb the stairs or go to the bathroom. That’s why he doesn’t go to school."

Sadly his disability means Fayaz has struggled to find a school to accept him

But despite the tragedy that has affected his life, Fayaz, now aged six, is able to bowl, bat and take catches, and is determined to carry on playing his favourite game.

Dad Riyaz said: “We become extremely happy when we see him playing. Whosoever sees him playing also becomes happy. He is a very good child.”

And although Fayaz is currently waiting for another prosthetic so that he can play with more comfort, he still cherishes his dream of emulating his cricket heroes.