How Manzoor Dar's life turned difficult after IPL razzmatazz

The Indian Premier League is considered a prolific breeding ground for youngsters where they get to test themselves against some of the prominent names in the international circuit. In addition to that, it is also known to shower immense wealth on them and has given rise to several rags to riches stories. But not every other story in the cash-rich league finds a fairytale finish.

One such story is of Kashmir’s very own Manzoor Dar. After getting picked by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in IPL 2018, Dar assumed that all his miseries will come to an end. However, four years later he revealed that it completely backfired and his life has become tougher. At the moment, the 29-year-old is playing local cricket in the valley to keep the wolf from the door.

Dar, who expected that his career will soar high after getting picked in the IPL soon saw his dreams deflate as he fell out of contention. After getting picked up at his base price of INR 20 lakhs, Dar invested the entire money in the construction of a new house. But he soon ran out of money and couldn't finish the entire construction. While talking about which, the cricketer got emotional and opened up about his difficult days.

“We were living in a shed, so I had to buy some land first. Then I started the construction of the house where we are living currently. With that amount, even the construction couldn’t be completed fully,” Dar told Forbes India. 

I have no other choice. If I wouldn’t play these local matches, I’d have to either return to labour work or I wouldn’t be able to feed my big family. My siblings are all studying, sisters have come of marriageable age, and mother is ill. I would never ask any local teams to pay me for playing matches, rather I spent from my own pocket. But now, I have no option left. I still don’t ask them to pay me– whatever they give, sometimes Rs 2,000, sometimes less, sometimes more– this is the only income I generate right now,” the cricketer added in a heartbreaking tone. 

I have more problems now than I had before: Dar

Soon after signing a contract for the Punjab-based franchise, the 29-year-old’s life completely changed. Previously, he was getting help from his friends and multiple companies, but that stopped in 2018. That’s what made Manzoor’s life even more difficult and as per him, even the government organisations are not helping him at the moment.

“My life became tougher (after the IPL). I had friends and companies helping me but they all left thinking my life is on track now. But they don’t know the reality: I have more problems now than I had before. I would earn somewhere around Rs 20,000 to 25,000 a month but after IPL 2018, I have not earned a penny from any other source except from playing local cricket,” Dar said while talking to Mohsin Kamal of Forbes India.

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