Imran Butt, a silver medallist at the 2014 Asian Games and Champions Trophy, could not have cared less about hockey for it had no room for him, a left-handed player. Cricket, on the other hand, made no such distinction.
“I wanted to play as a forward but found there were no lefties here. So, cricket was fine for me. Azhar Ali (a former Pakistan cricketer) was a good friend and we used to play together. He is still one of my closest friends,” recalls Imran.
Things were brighter for Imran’s elder brother, Rehan Butt. Five years older than him, Rehan had found a companion in the hockey stick. He was a sensation for his school and club teams, flourishing in the role Imran yearned for.
