Srinagar: Amir Hussain Lone, hailing from Waghama village in Kashmir, lost his arms at the age of eight while working at his father’s mill. However, he still had hope and kept honing his cricketing skills and eventually, a teacher discovered his talent and introduced him to professional sport.
“After the accident, I didn’t lose hope and worked hard. I can do everything by myself and I am not dependent on anyone. No one helped me after my accident. Not even the government supported me, but my family was always there for me,” said Amir, as quoted by ANI.
Amir has mastered the unique skill of bowling with leg and batting by holding the bat between the neck and shoulder. “I have been applauded for my game everywhere, and I think it’s because of god that my hard work paid off because bowling with the legs is really difficult, but I have learned all the skills and techniques. I do every task on my own, and I am not dependent on anyone except god,” the 34-year-old said.
Amir has been playing para cricket since 2013 and is currently the Jammu and Kashmir para side captain. “I played nationals in Delhi in 2013, and in 2018, I played an international match against Bangladesh. After that, I played cricket in Nepal, Sharjah and Dubai. Everyone was shocked to see me playing with my legs (bowling) and batting with my shoulder and neck. I thank God for giving me the strength to play cricket,” he said about his career.
Sachin Tendulkar and Ashish Nehra have acknowledged Amir for his determination and unshakable spirit in the past. As a token of appreciation, Nehra had invited the cricketer to the 2016 T20 World Cup semifinal between India and West Indies at Wankhade stadium in Mumbai.
Bollywood star Vicky Kaushal, who met Amir during the reality show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ in 2023, was impressed by the cricketer and his journey and would go on to say, “If I ever get a chance to do a biopic of an Indian Cricketer then who will it be, today I got my answer. I will consider myself very lucky if I get a chance to showcase his life through a movie.”
Agencies

KR Desk