Sheryar Hussain (center) is seen here with Pakistan greats, Mohammad Yousuf, (left) and Inzamam-ul Haq (right).

Sheryar Hussain (center) is seen here with Pakistan greats, Mohammad Yousuf, (left) and Inzamam-ul Haq (right).

By Saif Yasin
When people think about the stalwarts of cricket in New York, the Millat Sporting Goods Brand stands tall amongst its many competitors. Established in 1984 by Muhammad Hussain, Millat Sports has been providing high quality cricket equipment to teams across the tri-state area from their Neptune Avenue location in Brooklyn, New York. Today, the establishment continues to do the same, but Mr. Hussain has passed the company’s reigns to his son Sheryar Hussain.

Sheryar Hussain with his dad Muhammad Hussain.

Sheryar Hussain with his dad Muhammad Hussain.

Sheryar has visions of taking the company to new heights and at the young age of 27, he is ready to accept the challenge. He got his start in the family business at the age of 11 and attributes his vast knowledge of the cricket industry to his father. Since taking a larger role in the company, Sheryar has overseen the expansion of the brand his father created. His first accomplishment was opening a new location in Jamaica, Queens. The popular hub for players and enthusiasts alike, has been in business for nearly four years and continues to provide quality equipment to the cricket community.

Sheryar and the Millat brand continues to make strides in promoting the game by sponsoring local cricketers with their high quality gear, and tournaments for them to showcase their talents. Promoting their brand locally wasn’t enough for him however; he was able to strike endorsement deals with Pakistani national players Nasir Jamshed and Misbah Ul-Haq. This is an accomplishment that he is very proud of and he is hoping that he can achieve this feat with more international players in the coming years.

While his business skills are impeccable for someone at such a young age, the humanitarian in Sheryar is seen throughout his various charity works. He was an instrumental part in the NYPD Under-19 tournament as a player turned manager, for his father’s team Pak-Brighton. He didn’t hesitate to become involved in the tournament as he viewed it as a great initiative that promotes cultural diversity within the NYPD. It is also great, in that it keeps the youths off the streets and promotes a healthy behavioral lifestyle amongst them. Like his business, his charity work is not only localized to the New York region. Through a partnership with Mr. Shiek Mohammed of Star Sports Guyana and the Guyana Cricket Board, Sheryar has been able to donate cricket gear to budding cricketers in the South American nation of Guyana.

Sheryar Hussain poses with former West Indies players, Faoud Bacchus (left) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (right).

Sheryar Hussain poses with former West Indies players, Faoud Bacchus (left) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (right).

Away from the business aspect of the sport, Sheryar enjoys his weekends playing for the NYPD Senior cricket team in the Commonwealth League. He was also instrumental in the formation of the team back in 2009. If you ask him what his plans are for the future, his immediate response is “… to continue to provide the best gear at affordable prices, while promoting the highest quality of cricket in New York.” He is a goal driven individual who stops at nothing to provide the best service for his customers. The upcoming years look to be promising for Sheryar and his Millat brand, as he looks to expand his franchise and cement his place as one of the giants of cricket in the US.