Samir created the international sports initiative, Cricket Beyond Boundaries, in 2011 to help those from disadvantaged backgrounds utilise cricket to improve their quality of life. Working with several handpicked, British educational institutes, including the prestigious Cheadle Hulme and Durham Schools, and renowned cricket authorities, such as the cricket academy of former Indian cricket captain, Dilip Vengsarkar and various selected orphanages, overseas in India, the former accomplished cricketer has successfully set up a philanthropic program whereby poor Indian youth can have the opportunity for a better, elevated life via the passion of cricket. “Having played a lot of the gentlemen’s sport growing up, later on going to play at league level and represent English universities,” Samir opened, “I wanted to spread the benefits of the sport to those who were less fortunate.” Indeed, to date, “20 young cricketers have benefitted from the scheme.” This includes Prithvi Shaw of the Delhi Daredevils and Sarfaraz Khan of Kings XI Punjab. More specifically, the organisation facilitates the travel of financially struggling cricketers to Britain for short periods of time to play and develop their cricketing abroad in Britain, allowing them good education and an invigorated outlook on future prospects along the way. The youngsters can ascend to play Club cricket with teams in the Yorkshire and Durham leagues during their time in the country: “Some have returned two or three times on the scheme.”
This also provides a great advantage upon the young cricketers’ return to India, boosting their sporting careers as well as alternative desired employment, even inspiring others in their challenging social situation. “The chosen children are given the opportunity to be immersed in a new way of life, which builds both confidence and hope. It’s about more than just cricket: we want to open up a wider experience to them. It can be quite intimidating to go from poverty to an environment of privilege but this at once pushes youth to value their abilities and realise their worth alongside honing the sport. If you can surmount those challenges, you can acknowledge having a brighter future and overcoming any obstacle. Additionally, candidates can acquire good English and vocational expertise, and really bond with the British children so everyone gains cross-culturally: they embark on an exciting and positive journey together.” The charity had one candidate, for example, “Rupash Borade, who lost his parents at just the tender age of six, and was subsequently placed in Chembur Children’s Home in Mumbai. He was quite timid when he came over initially, but by the end of his time with CBB, he was so sociable he didn’t want to go back – I think his suitcases were overweight from all the gifts his classmates had given him!” With Cricket Beyond Boundaries then, the practice extends from their dissolving of global boundaries to the emotional barriers within.
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In fact, cricketing and its inherent soft skills have greatly enhanced Samir’s career, who currently works as a liver and pancreatic surgeon: “I am in my final year of specialist training as a liver and pancreatic sub-specialist, but have continued to play cricket recreationally. I also work as a clinical lecturer with the University of Bristol, researching surgical innovation: over time, cricket has helped sharpen my concentration, the ability to prioritise time, and work collaboratively and alongside people rather than competitively.”
However, despite his undeniable connection to cricket - Samir was recently appointed to the renowned Marylebone Cricket Club committee– he made sure to emphasise the generally constructive impact of sport as a discipline itself: “everyone is equal on any playing field: some of our youngsters, for example, know they are good cricketers but being able to do that in a different environment and reinforcing the sporting talent builds courage yet more– all sport is also an excellent platform for bringing people of different cultures and backgrounds together. Just go to any sports final or arena!” From cricketing to football and table tennis, sport is an unspoken yet highly accessible, “shared language.” In fact, the mutual cultural resonance cricket has with both India and Britain braces the anchor provided for Indian youth to feel at home in England.” As Samir stated: “if Rugby were more widely played in India, you can be quite sure it would have the same effect on the CBB candidates,” giving them that grounding force.
Also, elaborating on his medical background outside of CBB, Samir continued: “as such a wide range of people are present at sporting events, it presents an opportunity for public health screening: you could screen people for common conditions such as diabetes and use the opportunity to raise public awareness: for example NHS transplant last year used a test match to create more dialogue around organ donation, and kidney donation in particular as there is a high requirement for kidney transplants in the Asian community due to the higher rate of Diabetes.”
And so, Cricket Beyond Boundaries doesn’t just demonstrate the universal power of physical recreation but also the professional merit in being a well-rounded individual: especially in the expansive, personal field. Samir concluded: “of course, we’re very proud of the high-profile success stories the cause has generated, but equally so of its wider contribution to orphaned and underprivileged cricketers who’d have never had the chance to develop themselves at all: it’s about giving the faceless a chance to succeed. Some may not become high-flyers or play international cricket, but at least they are given a chance to truly seize life.”
Tell us a bit more about Cricket Beyond Boundaries: what you do and your future vision?
Eventually, we’d like to get disadvantaged youth from England to have a similar experience of cultural exchange in India, and expand the scheme to all cricket playing nations. We’d also like to help potentially disabled cricketers as well as getting more female cricketers into the program.
On practical terms, we have a solid team of cricketing experts and excellent players recommending us the youth who could benefit from the program. We have great people on the ground. When coming to England, we always make sure there is physical training worked into the youngsters’ schedule to keep them connected to the sport.
In terms of support, the British High Commission and schools here has been very supportive, and our team is so diligent and hardworking. We are developing a great track record all round.
Finally, we host charity events, for example at the House of Lords with such notable cricketers as Sachin Tendulkar , Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.
Having been a big cricketer yourself, what are some of your strengths?
I was quite a good wicket-keeper!
What especially pulled you towards cricket?
It’s been an organic love for the game. I’ve grown up with it – there are certain players who I love to watch, and styles they have which I’m drawn to. The game has an imitable sense of team spirit, comradery.
Does cricket Relieve the pressure for your work as a doctor?
Certainly. Cricket builds the emotional energy to replenish me for sometimes stressful medical work.
Finally, you work across two very intense passions. Do you think that ambition itself can be passed on?
I’m not sure about that – it’s more innate, I think.
