espnstar.com’s Rajarshi Gupta met young fast bowlers from different walks of life enthralled by the legendary Wasim Akram.

It is not a rags-to-riches story yet but for Mohammad Abdul Baseer and Sukveer Singh, the journey to glory has just started as it has for seven other promising speedsters from different walks of life.

The Gaterode Pace Foundation, which has been working on talented pacers since 2007 unleashed the mighty Akram. As chief bowling strategist, the Sultan of Swing has been tasked with training the boys and sprucing up their skills.

And what a moment this will be for the trainees. Cricket is a way of life for most in India and it has been for generations. However, when it comes to taking up the sport seriously, parents raise their eyebrows, at times suspiciously and at others, with a spectrum of doubt.

A poultry farm owner back in Hyderabad and a bus driver in Pubjab don't necessarily think so. They have sent their sons to live their dreams. For them, cricket is not just an obsession, it can never be. There are other things to worry about.

Remember that wonderful Bollywood movie on a deaf and mute villager in Hyderabad making it to the Indian team though his poor farmer father hardly managed to make ends meet? (Yes, ‘Iqbal'). We might well be closer home to reality at the Gaterode academy.

These men, not necessarily impoverished, have seen life the hard way. Now, they are on the verge of something big.

Sukhwir will soon leave for the United Kingdom to play county cricket and at all of 20, this will herald a new journey for the young man. Well, the journey, as he knows will be tough.

"Paaji, my parents have never disapproved of my choice in life. Not for once has my father asked me to take up a job early to support the family and stay away from the game.

"In fact, his only stress has been on education and excelling in the game I so dearly love," says Sukhvir, who wants to play for Punjab some day.

Baseer's story is not too different either. He plays for the Deccan Chronicle (A division club) and wants to break through to the Deccan Chargers squad for the IPL.

These boys have all come to Delhi with a mission. Their first tryst with Akram at the nets has had an effect on most.

Baseer and Sukvir have been busy rattling up questions for the master. His tips matter and they have mattered to bowlers round the globe for years now.

"It's exciting to have Wasim bhai help us around. It's like a dream come true and I never thought I would ever stand in front of him, discussing my bowling aspects," says Baseer.

Don't the family expectations weigh them down?

"On the contrary, it is a huge motivation. I know my father works hard to run the house and I have a job to do. Cricket means money and fame and there is no shame of thinking money because cricketers work hard on their skills.

However, I have a lot to work on and improve before I come to that stage, signs off Sukvir.

There have been so many instances of men defying odds to conquer glory. Are we watching another era of gritty heroes unwinding before our eyes?

Time will tell.