Southern Express skipper Jehan Mubarak was left in no doubt about the popularity of cricket in India as he lapped up the adulation at a hotel here on Thursday, two days before the qualifying round of the OPPO Champions League T20 gets underway.
The six-footer is no run-of-the-mill cricketer, having cracked the Sri Lankan national swimming squad sometime ago. “I still swim for fitness training,” says the strapping southpaw. “There is a common perception that players are past their prime when on the wrong side of 30. I think we peak in the latter half of our careers,” he told The Hindu with an air of assurance.
Born to a doctorate-holder father, Jehan and his sister were always curious to know how things worked.
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“Dad put a chemistry spin to everything,” reminisced Mubarak, who graduated with physics, chemistry and applied maths from the University of Colombo.
Deeply influenced by his academics-oriented parents, he began work on a part-time R&D job with CIC Agri Business, almost as soon as his cricket career took wing a decade ago.
“Since domestic cricket is not so professionally rewarding, most players do something on the side to make a living,” he observed.
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Mubarak has since moved to MAS Active Garments, where his job requirements are more flexible. “Besides, many establishments employ cricketers who take part in these mercantile tournaments that are therefore quite competitive,” he said.
Logical choiceWas his elevation to the captain of Southern Express expected? “I was deputy to Lasith (Malinga), who chose to play for Mumbai Indians. Dilshan (Tillakaratne) was playing county cricket in England and couldn’t play for Southern Express in the Super Fours (Sri Lanka’s domestic T20 championship),” Mubarak said, suggesting he was the logical choice for captain.
Having amassed over 1200 runs back home, this could only take him forward. “I’m keen to ensure that my fitness levels are up there with anyone else. Irrespective of age, I can compete on the international stage,” said Mubarak of his third tryst with the CLT20, having turned out earlier for Wayamba in 2009 and 2010.