Srinagar-based freelancer bags Wisden-MCC Cricket ‘Photo of the Year’ award

Srinagar, May 6

A Srinagar-based freelance photographer has done Kashmir proud, pocketing the prestigious 2016 Wisden-MCC (Melbourne Cricket Council) Cricket Photograph of the Year for a stunning image, which captured boys playing cricket in the outskirts of the city, clicked by him.

Saqib Majeed, an engineer by profession, clicked the award-winning picture at the Nishat Gardens in Srinagar.

Majeed is the first Kashmiri and second Asian after Atul Kamble to receive the prestigious award. Every year, the MCC publishes a book titled ‘Wisden Cricketer Almanack’, which includes best sports pictures from across the globe. This year’s edition includes Majeed’s picture.

Majeed’s picture in Kashmir’s autumn setting certainly had all the ingredients to make the cut. It had nature’s own beauty coupled with cricketers playing the game in their own way that typify the sport with the man behind the camera having a feel of the occasion to capture the decisive moment.

“The historic Lords Cricket Ground will display my image for a year,” said a visibly happy Majeed, who was chosen among 450 participants.

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“It was an autumn day when I visited the Nishat Gardens with a friend to click some pictures. When I reached the garden, some guys were playing cricket under the shade of chinar trees. I started to click the pictures for next half an hour,” he said.

Majeed recalls trying different angles to get a perfect shot, but ended up clicking only a few.

“I am thankful to my family, friends and The Counselor Magazine, who always encouraged me,” he added. ANI