13 Cricketing stories of rags to riches in Indian cricket

6. Yusuf Pathan and Irfan Pathan

The Pathan brothers are known to almost every modern cricket fan, owing to their astounding cricketing abilities. While Yusuf is famed for his power hitting, Irfan made his mark with his impeccable swing bowling. Both the brothers have been a part of historic moments in Indian cricket. But their childhood wasn’t all that rosy!

The Pathan family initially had to live their days in a mosque, since they did not own a residence of their own. After a few years, they did move into a house of their own, but it only comprised a single room, where a family of five, including Yusuf, Irfan, their sister, brother and parents had to live.

They couldn’t afford proper cricketing gear as their father, who worked in the local mosque, earned a meagre monthly wage of Rs. 200-250. In an interview, their father revealed that Irfan used to borrow Rs.50 from him occasionally to buy second-hand shoes from a local Friday market, and patch them up for use, since they were unable to afford costly sports shoes.

While Irfan was a part of the victorious Indian team in the World T20, 2007 and the Champions Trophy 2013; Yusuf lifted the 2011 World Cup trophy with the Men in Blue.