5 players who chose cricket as their career over their education degree
There comes a time in the life of every youngster when a choice has to be made between his passion and profession. While most youngsters pursue their profession and their passion takes a backseat, there have been a few instances when love for the game of cricket has forced a few professionals to give up their profession and take up cricket professionally.
The passion for the game of cricket was such that in spite of toiling it hard to get a professional degree, there were no second thoughts to give up their profession to pursue a career in cricket.
Here is a look at five cricketers who in spite of being professionally qualified, took up the game of cricket as their profession.
5. Geoff Lawson
Geoff Lawson, the former Australian fast bowler, is an “Optometrist”(Healthcare profession concerned with eyes and related structures) by qualification. Lawson chose cricket over qualification. The fast bowler picked up 180 wickets in 46 Test matches and 88 wickets in 79 ODIs for Australia in an international career of 9 years i.e. from the year 1980 to 1989.
After retiring from the game, Lawson took up commentary as well as coaching assignments. He was the coach of the Pakistan cricket team from July 2007 to October 2008. He also coached the IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011.
4. Saeed Anwar
Saeed Anwar was one of the finest openers to have played the game of cricket. Anwar studied at NED University of Engineering and Technology at Karachi and graduated from NED in 1989 majoring in Computer System Engineering.
His plans to study further and obtain a Masters degree took a back seat when he decided to take up cricket as his profession.
The left-handed opener played 55 Tests scoring 4052 runs at an average of 45.52. Anwar was a successful ODI batsman where he scored 8824 runs in 247 ODIs and led Pakistan to many victories in international cricket.