Kamal got his Irish citizenship last month. Photograph: Laura Hutton / The Irish Times
New to the Parish: Kamal Merchant arrived from Pakistan in 1983 to play Irish cricket
Kamal Merchant was in his mid-twenties the first time he travelled to the island of Ireland. It was 1983 and the young Pakistani cricketer was looking for an opportunity to develop his skills overseas. Already a serious cricket player with the United Bank Limited team in Karachi, Merchant was offered a contract to spend five months playing with the Northern Irish Downpatrick Cricket Club.
“People talked about the Troubles but from the first day I couldn’t see anything like that. I got such a warm welcome from my club and I remember all the families helping me. I was the only Pakistani on the team.”
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