A cricketer from Tellicherry, the birth place of Indian cricket, steers UAE to a historic win over Ireland

By K.R. Nayar

CP Rizwan, who hails from the small town of Tellicherry, had chased a dream of playing international cricket and help the UAE win against top teams. He cracked a century (109) along with Mohammad Usman (102n.o) to stun Ireland in the opening match of the four match series against Ireland on Friday. Rizwan’s tale is that of determination backed by a consistent performance for the last seven years

CP Rizwan (left) with Mohammad Usman after scoring their centuries 

A cricketer from Tellicherry in Kerala, who has been consistently  performing in the UAE’s domestic tournaments for the last seven years, carved out a historic moment for the UAE national team at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium today (Friday).

 Cracking a century and bagging the man of the match award, Chundangapoyil Puthiyapurayil Rizwan, known popularly as CP Rizwan, steered UAE to a stunning six-wicket win over Ireland. This win over an ICC full member and Test playing nation is new feather in the UAE’s cricket cap.

CP Rizwan and Mohammad Usman during their stubborn partnership

Rizwan hit 109 off 136 balls with nine boundaries and a six. This 32-year-old cricketer who has represented Kerala state team hails from Tellicherry, a small town located in the northern part of Kerala. This is the town from where cricket is said to have started in India during the British rule. Colonel Arthur Wellesley, who was commanding the East India Company’s army in Kerala in the 1790’s, had introduced the game to the locals. This town then went on to be known as the town of three C’s  - cricket, cake and circus. The first cakes were also introduced by the British, who baked them in the Mambally's Royal Biscuit Factory. Tellichery is also the birth place of Indian circus.

 Through his century, Rizwan has made many cricketers from Tellicherry living in the UAE, proud. In fact, Rizwan made his UAE domestic cricket debut when he played for the Nucaf Tellicherry cricket team, one of the oldest cricket teams in the country. Today there is also a popular cricket academy in Dubai called the Tellicherry Cricket Academy.

Speaking to krbuzz.blogspot.com after his match winning century against Ireland, Rizwan, who now works as an Engineer with Eastern International owned by Abdul Rehman Bukhatir and plays for Bukhatir XI in domestic cricket, said: “I am delighted that I could play a role in UAE’s big win. I am thankful to a lot of people who have supported me over the years to help me make it to the UAE team.  I am grateful to Nucaf Telllicherry’s CTK Nazir and CTK Mashood who gave me the opportunity to play for Tellicherry and thereafter to Khalaf Bukhatir, who gave me a job and picked me to play for Bukhatir XI. All these people helped me chase my dream to play international cricket.”

In the match against Ireland, Rizwan was backed by Mohammad Usman, who scored an unbeaten 102 off 107 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes. Together they chased Ireland’s impressive total of 269 for 5 in 50 overs, made through opener Paul Stirling’s 131 and Ireland skipper Andy Balbirnie’s 53. Rohan Mustafa bowled tight to take two wickets for  43 runs. UAE won by six wickets with six balls to spare.

CP Rizwan speaks about nearly achieving his dream in 2018

When Rizwan was picked for the UAE team in 2019, and I interviewed him, he’d stated: “My long wait and hard work has been finally rewarded. Ever since I came to the UAE in March 2014, I have been working hard to get a call from the selectors.”

During another interaction in March 2018 when he had completed four years to be eligible for selection to the UAE national team,  he had remarked : “I have given my best in all the opportunities that I got to perform. I’ve been carrying the dream of representing the UAE for the last four years. One day I hope to do well for the UAE as an important member of the team and help them win major ICC tournaments.” 

Winning top awards with an eye on  making it to the UAE team 

That season Rizwan bagged the top seven awards in UAE’s domestic tournaments and a raft of tall scores and bagful of wickets with his leg spin. 

Rizwan’s role in UAE’s victory against a Test playing nation like Ireland, who have arrived here after defeating the reigning world champions England in their last match, will stand out as an example of a cricketer’s chase of his dream with grit and determination.