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| August 13, 2006 | Sunday | Rajab 17, 1427 |
Sajid is our hero, says cousin Amir
LONDON, Aug 12: Olympic Silver medallist boxer Amir Khan has lashed out at supporters who called his cousin Sajid Mahmood a ‘traitor’ during third match at Leeds of ongoing Test cricket series against Pakistan.
“He's no traitor, he's our hero,” Amir said in an interview to Daily Mirror on Saturday.
“Pakistani Muslims who were supporting Pakistan were calling him a traitor because our family is originally from Pakistan.
“But England is our country. We were born here and England is our home. Sajid is like me – he is proud to represent England,” he added.
The boxer said his brother used the taunts to motivate himself and produced a match-winning performance against the country of his origin. Olympian said even he would have strived harder if faced with a Pakistani opponent in ring.
“What a performance that was from Sajid, and under all that pressure too,” he said.
“He couldn't have turned it on against a better team — I know that if I were fighting a Pakistani opponent I would want to knock him out. There would be that extra incentive,” he added.
The 19-year-old said their entire household has been celebrating since he took four wickets in Headingley.
“Sajid is a hero for us and our family.
“He and his family came round to our house after that Headingley Test in midweek and we all chilled together with a cup of tea,” a thrilled Amir said.
“We're all just so happy and proud of what he has done.”
The boxer, who admitted to facing similar abuse by spectators, said he was impressed with way his cousin faced hostility of crowd.
“He didn't let it bother him. Anyone else being called things he was being called might have retaliated and got into trouble,” he pointed out.
“But Sajid is one of those guys who doesn't let things get to him. Instead he went and took another wicket.
“I sometimes get it in boxing too. I sometimes get stick from other fighter's fans.
“You're always going to get people who want to have a go and you have to deal with that in right way,” he said.
Amir hoped for a better reception for his cousin in future and said he would expect Pakistanis to be proud of Sajid's achievements.
“I just hope now Pakistan fans will remember Sajid and that when they next see him play — against Australia or whoever — they will say ‘that's Sajid Mahmood, guy who got a lot of Pakistan team out. Let's back him’,” Amir felt.—Agencies
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