Father-son duo turn out for Kuwait cricket team at Asian Games

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The Kuwait national cricket team

In the Asian Games, when Bangladeshi batsman Tamim Iqbal played a square cut which was caught by Bastaki Mahmood, and helped his son Fawad Bastaki get a wicket, it turned out to be a historical moment for cricket and the Bastaki family.

The cricketing duo turned up for Kuwait against Nepal and Bangladesh.

How the Bastakis picked cricket

Mahmood, the captain of the Kuwait cricket team, a banker by profession, picked up cricket at the age of 10 when he was growing up in Mumbai. He carried on his passion for the game for nearly five decades and injected the passion into his son Fahad Bastaki.

The younger Bastaki was the deputy to his father at the Asian Games. The achievement made them the first father-son duo to captain and vice-captain an international cricket team at the same time.

The head of Ahila BKMEA Bank in Kuwait, Fawad wants the tradition to follow in the coming years in the Kuwait team.

Moment to treasure

The 23-year-old, originally a wicketkeeper, took three wickets against Bangladesh on Wednesday, left the field with his head held high even after a 203-run defeat.

"Though it was a bad delivery, it gave me a lot of pleasure, especially because my father took the catch," Fahad remarked on the feel good moment to the Daily Star. "As I'm also a wicketkeeper, I have taken many catches off my father's bowling, but it was the first time today that the reverse happened. I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.

"I have seen these players on TV only. This is the first time I am seeing them in person and talking to them. It is a dream come true."

Bastakis junior was not the only saving grace for Kuwait, as his father Mahmoud also took two important wickets which included opener Anamul Haque.

"By the grace of Allah, I am very happy and I thank the Kuwait cricket board for giving us such an opportunity to represent the national team," the 58-year-old.

"I want to keep playing cricket for as long as I am fit."

Kuwait were bowled out against for just 20 and 21 against Nepal and Bangladesh respectively. But they sure had their moments in the tournament at Yeonhi Cricket Stadium in Incheon.

Another father-son duo in cricket at the moment are legendary left-handed batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and his son Tagenaraine who currently play for Guyana in the West Indies domestic cricket.