Kashmir hard-hitting sensation Manzoor picked up by Kings XI Punjab

Srinagar, Jan 28: The hard-hitting sensation of Kashmir, Manzoor Dar (Pandav) has been picked up by Kings XI Punjab for Rs 20 lakh in the IPL 2018 auction.
The tall, tough Kashmiri lad known for hitting long sixes will share the dressing room with iconic cricketers like Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch and Yuvraj Singh.
Dar’s, interestingly, was the last bid of the second day of IPL auction for the league, which will start from April 7. He thanked his mentor Arshad Nizam Shawl, Director The Kashmir Monitor, for guiding him in making it to IPL.
Kings XI, as per the schedule, will play their first match on April 08 against Delhi Dare Devils at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali.
Dar has been nicknamed Pandav after his immense strength and size.
Known for his power-hitting, he was won a couple of matches in the recently concluded Mushtaq Ali T20 North Zone tournament for Jammu and Kashmir.
Interestingly, Dar is called Mr 100 metre sixer. His coach Abdul Qayoom had recently told News 18: “He is Mr 100 metre sixer man. He gives the ball a real thump. Last year in a match with Punjab, he hit a few sixes that were 100 metres plus,” recalls Qayoom. His coach explained that his 6 feet two inches, 84 kg ward could tilt the game in the space of 12 to 15 deliveries.
He reportedly got the nickname after he carried home three members of the opposite side into his own half. The son of a labourer he hails from a poor family and they often struggle to make ends meet. He even juggles a few jobs, working as a security guard at night and wood craftsman by day, while packing in a few hours of practice.
For years he cycled from his workplace to the stadium, unable to pay fare. His big six-hitting ability has made him part of folklore and local clubs pay him to destroy the opposition.
KXIP has now done that on a much bigger scale and the Kashmiri Pandav might soon be wreaking havoc in the Indian Premier League with a little tutelage from the likes of Chris Gayle and Virender Sehwag.