Mothers Day - Tale of two sons, Irfan & Yusuf

Mothers Day - Irfan Pathan Yusuf Pathan

He is the heartthrob of millions of female fans across the country, but his mother still remembers him as a naughty child who made her run around every other day. Irfan Pathan was pretty mischievous in his school days and often received a sound scolding from his mother Shamimbano.

“Irfan was always up to some mischief or the other with his elder brother Yusuf especially during vacation time. I had a tough time controlling both of them when they played together as I had to run behind them,” recalls Shamimbano.

“But both were quite good at studies. I never had to scold them for academics as they balanced cricket with school work very well,” she adds.

Shamimbano recalls how Irfan once escaped a near-death situation when he was just three-and-half years old. “He fell into a water tank in our mosque while playing with a toy. The guests at our place noticed him floating on the surface and pulled him out. He was in a critical condition and doctors had put him under observation for 32 hours, but he fought back bravely,” she said.

But being constantly on the road playing for different tournaments has affected family life. But though Irfan gets very little time to spend with his mother, both insist that their relationship is as strong as ever. “He tells me about his experiences playing cricket and also about his personal life when he is at home. We get very little time to spend together, but we still share a warm relationship. Whenever he is touring in India or abroad, he makes calls me every day, and we chat for a while,” she said.

Irfan constantly urges his parents to travel and experience new cultures. “He wants us to travel instead of sitting at home,” says Shamimbano.

So what is Irfan’s favourite dish? “He loves to eat the biryani and the methi ki sabzi that I make,” says the doting mother, who ensures that the dining table is laden with both her sons’ favourite dishes whenever they are at home.

The shy cricketer, who was once compared to all-rounder Kapil Dev, does celebrate Mother’s Day. “If he is not in the city, he sends me flowers on Mother’s Day and wishes me on phone. I feel very special and proud that day,” said Shamimbano.