World Cup win was nothing, says policeman Sharma

Joginder Sharma bowled the key final over when India beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the first Twenty20 World Cup cricket final in 2007, but said he faces more pressure as a police officer making sure people stay home during the coronavirus crisis.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and others have hailed the efforts of the 36-year-old as he hits the streets of India in his role as an officer of the law.

“Obviously this contribution is much bigger because people are losing their lives,” Sharma told AFP from Hisar in Haryana where he is now a Superintendent.
“It was also a big thing, winning the World Cup for India but here we have to save the nation. And even if I am playing a small part in this, then it is huge.” 

It was also a big thing, winning the World Cup for India but here we have to save the nation. 

The ICC said Sharma had gone from World Cup hero to ‘real world hero’ as it released a picture of the all-rounder in India cricket colours and his khaki police uniform.

Sharma, who played just four one-day internationals and four T20 matches, said he is using cricket’s spirit of teamwork to tackle the crisis. “It was the nature of my sport, which is a team game and players work together to make things happen. So now we have to help each other and the biggest help will be to stay inside our homes,” said Sharma.

AFP