His parents know of him as the rebellious young man who snuck around behind their backs to play cricket and then ran away to Kabul when he was 17 to pursue the sport instead of becoming a doctor.
But, if you had to sum Hamid Hassan up in one word, it would have to be passionate.
The 27-year-old right-armer spent so long answering the first question yesterday there was barely time to ask another before he was whisked away by the team manager.
Hassan will try his arm against Scotland in today's pool A World Cup match at the University Oval in Dunedin.
His story is of a 6-year-old boy who, with his parents, sought refuge from the civil war in Afghanistan and fled to Peshawar, in Pakistan.
''When we go to Peshawar, it was the first time I saw cricket, and slowly, slowly I get love for cricket,'' he said.
''I would play with the boys in school, in the streets and everywhere.
''I play in secret from my family. When I was 11 or 12, I play for a team against my brother ... and he asked me where did I learn cricket?''
When I was 17, I get first trial for Afghanistan under-17 team and I escaped from home.
Only my mum allow me to go. She say it is your life, your choice, but don't say to us you have wasted your life.
''Every parent wants their kids to become doctor or have some good future. I was good in school also, but I was crazy about cricket.
''But my dad says `don't go'. He says `what is cricket it, is a s... game anyway'.''
The teenage Hassan was ''very fat'' and weighed about 120kg. But he was quick, even off three or four paces and was selected for the under-17 national side. Three years later, he toured England with the national side.
He had a setback in 2012 with knee injuries but has stood out at the World Cup, backing up his billing as the most lethal bowler in associate nations cricket.
On Sunday, he picked up three wickets during Afghanistan's match with Sri Lanka in Dunedin.
The delivery which removed Kumar Sangakkara was a gem and Hassan celebrated with that part cartwheel, part high-speed forward roll that has already become infamous.
Who knows how he will celebrate should he pick up a wicket today?
