New Delhi, Oct. 11 -- When a heartbroken Farooq Amirie set off from Afghanistan towards Europe, he wanted to end up in Ireland. For over two months, he continued on the harrowing journey westwards, hitchhiking when he could, walking when he had to. He crossed six countries-Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Austria-and traversed more than 6,000km by road to reach Passau, Germany.
Apart from escaping the strife in his home country and running away from the misery of the refugee camps in Peshawar, Pakistan, Amirie sought the greener pastures of Ireland since it would help his cricket career bloom.
"I had set off alone, leaving my family behind, some in Afghanistan and some in Peshawar," says the 31-year-old from Herat, who now live...