Behind Rasheed's rise, a tale of sweat and tears

Father's struggles over the years helped batter to reach big stage

- FIROZ MIRZA @ Mumbai

CHENNAI Super Kings youngest ever opener Shaik Rasheed's story is full of struggles, hardships and sacrifices. His father, Shaik Balisha Vali, had to quit his job to ensure his son got proper cricket training. At times, he had to sell fruits to keep the family afloat.

At one point, a couple of Balisha's friends — one of whom is a doctor in Hyderabad with another being a banker in the same city — too gave financial aid to help fuel Rasheed's dreams.