Cricket: Amar’s Chitra Katha

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amarrrrshah!.jpg

Day 13 of my Cricket tuition: I’m feeling a bit woozy from all the head-spinning developments regarding certain tragic events of this World Cup. Surely there is no better moment to focus on sweeter aspects of the game, specifically how an essay penned by my erstwhile intern Amar Shah showed up on ESPN the other day. I felt nothing but consummate delight when I followed the link which was submitted repeatedly to the bunker’s hotline; there in baby blue, with his gorgeous wife too, the boy whom I had been surprisingly fond of, even before we had ever met.

It was 2002 and Amar Shah was a student from the University of Florida. I was in a windowless office at Preston Gates, near the White House. I began receiving persistent instant messages from someone with a memorable, if young-sounding screen name. Typical questions about what his internship would be like and how he should prepare gave way to actual conversation and fellowship. Who was this kid? That first day of our program, I remember that though I was excited about finally meeting all of my interns, I was extra-curious about the one who would later jump up in a hyperactive and spontaneous moment mid-orientation and show off how he already knew not just our names, but our AIM screen names, as well. And I thought he had just been chatting with me. 😉

That summer, I held his hand as he crushed on the unattainable: a girl so stunning, she looked as if she had stepped out of a Moghul miniature. I fretted over him while he bounced around the Hill; I kept him company when he was the last of my baby birds to fly away, that tear-drenched August day. It was fitting that Amar’s would be the final flight to leave DC; it was a small comfort that I had a few extra hours to spend with someone I had grown so attached to, someone who since then has always made me proud. It turns out that in an odd, small way I am AKKA to the world, as my horoscope spookily predicted I would be way back in 1989, in Seventeen magazine’s deluxe astrology section which was published in honor of that now-ancient new year. I fuss over everyone, I worry about them, I boss them around, I pinch their ears…but most of all, I love and never forget them, nor do I pass up an opportunity to brag about them as if I were their PR rep, as if they were my own.

Amarshah, I always knew you’d be huge. I just didn’t think you’d convince such a dime to marry you and grace your side while you did it. 😉

Cricket’s Yogi Berra, Navjot Singh Sidhu, once warned, “Wickets are like wives — you never know which way they will turn.”
Perhaps that’s why my wife Tejal threatened to take off the Indian cricket jersey she had reluctantly worn when she saw the line in front of the NAZ8 Cineplex. I had woken her up at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday to venture to Lakewood, near the city of Artesia, which is known as the “Little India” of Southern California. We were set to watch the India versus Bangladesh ICC World Cup match on the big screen with a movie theater full of wicket-crazy cricket nuts. By all accounts there was no better place in America where a cricket fan could go to experience the visceral feel of a real match. Plus, it was free. But now, with the sun still yet to rise, and a cold chill in the air, my wife crossed her arms and nudged me in the chest.
“We look like posers,” she said. “We’re the only ones wearing these shirts.”
She let me know that my brilliant plan of wearing the sky blue, Sahara-endorsed jerseys that I brought back from India was a stupid idea. Though the crowd was mostly Indian-centric, everyone was clad in coats, jeans and five o’clock shadows. Tejal also pointed out that she was the only girl.
When one of the men in line saw us approaching like a pair of twin Smurfs, he blithely commented that Tendulkar and Dravid had arrived, referring to the last names of legendary star Sachin Tendulkar and captain Rahul Dravid.

Any article which references the smurfs is genius. Read the rest at ESPN. I’ll just sit here like a properly chuffed elder sister, gloating about how fabulous Amar is while you do. He’s a little bit of perfect, isn’t he? 🙂

196 thoughts on “Cricket: Amar’s Chitra Katha”

  2. Is, like this cricket thing over yet? I haven’t been this completely bored by sports talk since someone explained curling to me.

    don’t feed the trolls 😀

  3. Go Monty! Go global brown! Australia is absolutely indomitable, aren’t they?

    UberMallu, are you being sarcastic, or serious?

    He’s serious, dead serious. Wake up, man.

    NVM: Yah, sure, I’m with you but while we rebuild, can we ween ourselves just a wee bit off of cricket and INVEST IN A PROPER NATIONAL SIDE IN FOOTBALL.

    I’m with you mate. We need a second sport. Chinese players are turning up on Premiership sides. No sign of Indians yet? (I’m mean from India.) We need to step up.

    The United States also needs a competitive cricket team. If Canada can have one, so can we. What, are their brownz better than ours?

    Relying on the mercurial Indian cricket team is ennervating and unhealthy. It’s also too much pressure on them. I am genuinely depressed.

  5. I checked the score of the IND-SL game and I am so much impressed by the SL players like Chamida Vaas and Jayasuriya. They have been playing for more than 10 years at the international level and their performance is almost always top notch. Muralitharan is another legend. Congratulations to SL on this great win and All the best for next rounds !!

  10. I checked the score of the IND-SL game and I am so much impressed by the SL players like Chamida Vaas and Jayasuriya. They have been playing for more than 10 years at the international level and their performance is almost always top notch. Muralitharan is another legend

    Yo, seriously. Jayasuriya specially didn’t even properly get started on his batting career till he was 28. The way he’s come good for Sri Lankans since then is so inspiring. The way Sri Lanka rose to be one of the cricket giants is probably the great story in cricket of the last decade.

  11. BBC radio is reporting that Inzamam ul Haq and Mushtaq Ahmed are to face further police questioning over the death of Bob Woolmer.

  12. Currently being questioned at their hotel in Montego Bay where they were stopping en route back to Pakistan. Mushtaq Ahmed is the assistant coach.

  15. Shruti, you are one really voluble person!

    @46:

    exactly.

    @164:

    Yes.

    Hey Red, I don’t know what you’re thinking. Care to spell it out?

  16. Well since this broke I have had a nightmare vision that a player was involved. Call it crazy but things like Bob Woolmer being strangled to death make you think crazy things in the back of your mind. But Inzy has spoken to the media and said:

    Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, speaking from Montego Bay, laughed off suggestions that the questioning put him under suspicion. He told Sky News: “There is nothing special and we shall be going home.”

    Hopefully that’s exactly how it will stay — any thing else doesnt bear thinking about.

  18. any thing else doesnt bear thinking about

    Thanks for spelling it out, Red! BBC had a report yesterday saying there were two other incidents in the past of people being murdered (or committing suicide) over the results of int’l cricket matches – one a coach and another a bookie (if I remember right).

  19. TOI article claims that Woolmer was about to spill the beans about Internation Cricket:

    ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said the head of ICC’s anti-corruption unit would investigate if match-fixing has played a role in the killing. That the coach might have been on the verge of disclosing damning stuff was further reinforced by his email, seen by The Daily Telegraph , in which he wrote:”I am going to write a book on my tenure as Pakistan coach. I shall only start after the World Cup... I believe, regardless of the money, the story is worth telling, has to be told and in the correct way. I am not a name and shame guy, just the honest facts. Let the punter make up his mind.”
  20. I’m looking forward to seeing what shape cricket commentary here takes if India and Pakistan are both out and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are both in…

    What do you mean?

  22. Strictly for old heads.

    You rang?

    OK new heads w/ good taste in music. The first few WCs were aired by BBC and had this for theme music. Soul Limbo: Good ol’ Booker T. And The M.G.’s

    Shodan, you managed to snag me into commenting in an otherwise over-my-head cricket thread. Nice find, so many classic tracks/samples on that comp. Do you listen to much stuff off of Stax? If you do, check out this compilation from Capsoul, an obscure soul label from Ohio. I’m working on a remix from the album, I’ll post it if you’re interested.

  23. Sreesanth (#170):

    What do you mean?

    I meant the vast majority of people who comment on these cricket threads are fans of the Indian cricket team (myself included), and some of these love pooping on the Pakistani team whenever possible. So now that Pakistan is definitely out and it looks like, in all probability, India will be out as well, I was curious as to what effect this would have on the comments in these World Cup posts.

  24. I meant the vast majority of people who comment on these cricket threads are fans of the Indian cricket team (myself included), and some of these love pooping on the Pakistani team whenever possible. So now that Pakistan is definitely out and it looks like, in all probability, India will be out as well, I was curious as to what effect this would have on the comments in these World Cup posts.

    I suspect the BCCI and the PCB might cook up an India-Pakistan series in April :)). Let the lowliest of the minnows frolic away from the glare and unbearable pressure of the World Cup, wrap themselves in glory over winning over their rivals, and make a ton of money for the advertizers as well. Let’s face it, the World Cup is a dud for the advertisers in the subcontinent now, since it’ll only attract the fans of the game itself as opposed to just fans of their national teams.

  25. I suspect the BCCI and the PCB might cook up an India-Pakistan series in April :)). Let the lowliest of the minnows frolic away from the glare and unbearable pressure of the World Cup, wrap themselves in glory over winning over their rivals, and make a ton of money for the advertizers as well. Let’s face it, the World Cup is a dud for the advertisers in the subcontinent now, since it’ll only attract the fans of the game itself as opposed to just fans of their national teams.

    hmm, maybe nothing will change…

  26. you managed to snag me into commenting in an otherwise over-my-head cricket thread.

    We drop cricket in non-cricketing threads and music in non-musical threads. Such is our corporate policy.

    DJDP, Soul Limbo was perfect theme for the times when West Indies ruled. They clobbered everyone into submission and were still loved, — unlike the current champions. Those were innocent times. No one in India expected much from their cricketers at WC. Most fans and even some cricketers were clueless about one-day concept. Gavaskar’s million ball 36, a case in point. Yes, would love to listen to your Capsoul remix. My first Stax album was Big Star (they only distributed it). Not exactly Stax sound. Eventually I went on to get most of their big ones.

  27. Bermuda 94/9 in their 21 overs (match cut short because of rain), Bangladesh require just about 4.5 runs per over to win.

  28. Just tuning in. Not expecting to read about an early Bangladesh wicket. 2nd Over Bermuda strikes.

    Mukuddem to Tamim Iqbal, OUT, superb catch! Tamim steps down, gets the top edge over point and Hurdle, after a n unimpressive first over charges from third man, runs towards deep point and pulls off a stunner, with both hands

    It’s early days, but the Bangladesh run-rate is lagging. Some Tiger boundaries are required soon.

  29. A FOUR and a SIX have relieved the pressure on Bangladesh.

    16 Overs to go 69 runs required. Bermudan’s run rate was 4.47. Bangladhesh are currently chipping away with a run rate of 5.20.

    If the next hour is going to be interesting, Bermuda need another wicket very soon.

  30. HOW’ZATTTTTT 🙂

    Mukuddem to Aftab Ahmed, OUT, Mukuddem gets his man! Aftab plays with the line, misses it, the ball clips his front pad in line with the off stump, Mukuddem goes up in appeal Aftab Ahmed lbw b Mukuddem 7 (14b 1×4 0x6)

    Game ON!!! (sort of…)

  31. A wicket maiden and Bangladesh’s run-rate is now down to 4.8

    This is much closer than it should be.

  32. MUKUDDEM STRIKES AGAIN!!!

    Bangladseh realing at 37 for 3.

    Mukuddem to Shahriar Nafees, OUT, and Mukuddem strikes again! a shaky Nafees tries to turn it off his pads on the on side, succeeds in getting a leading edge to Tucker at second slip. Shahriar Nafees c Tucker b Mukuddem 12

    Where y’all at. SUPPORT YOUR TEAM…EVEN IF THEY ARE A BUNCH OF USELESS PRETTY BOYS!!!

  33. As long as the run rate stays over 4 an hour, we have a game down in Trinidad.

    13 Overs to go. The required run rate is 4.15.

    And Mukuddem almost strikes again. I swear I could a nick up here. Saqibul Hasan should do the honourable thing and walk. 🙂

  34. Still 50 plus required. Run Rate creeping up. Now 4.28. Mukeddem is 3 for 18. No boundary from Bangladesh since the 3rd over. The Tigers are nervous. It’s time Bermuda took another wicket.

  35. Ohhhhhhhh!!! Almost a catch. That could be the game right there. I could smell that Tiger’s tail!!! The Bermudan fielder needs attention. How’d he not catch that!!!

    42 runs needed. 10 overs to go. Oh Ram….

  36. Enter my dog, Dwayne Leverock. What can the flying Elephant do?

    A tidy over. Only 4 runs added. And still no Bangladesh boundary in some time.

  37. Spoke too soon. Two Bangladesh FOURs in successive overs. About 25 runs needed from the remaining 40 balls. Where’s a miracle when you need one???

  40. So now that Pakistan is definitely out and it looks like, in all probability, India will be out as well, I was curious as to what effect this would have on the comments in these World Cup posts.

    Are there any particular hypotheses you are looking to test?

  41. Is not over … This is the beginning of Indian Parliament starting a lengthy tax payer money wasting session/s to “get to the bottom of Indian team’s performance”. Which would be beyond ridiculous, but than this is not a game …. and we arent talking about India !!!!!

  42. and we arent talking about India !!!!!

    Error. It should be

    and we are talking about India.

  43. Congratulations to Bangladesh, and well done to Bermuda for making Bangladesh work for this victory.

    The exits of India and Pakistan should have no bearing on the quality of cricket and comments. India and Pakistan have been crap. It follows that without them, the cricket will be better.

    The Australians, West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are all sitting pretty with two points. I am looking forward to watch all four of those teams play. The idea of carrying over the result from the previous round was inspired, and it would not be a surprise me if those four reached the semi finals.

    Next up: Australia vs. West Indies on Tuesday. If you live in New York, get yourself down to Liberty Avenue where you can get the best caribbean food in all of Noo York City. Take the A Train to the last stop and follow your nose. I fancy a nice curried goat washed down with a red stripe for breakfast.

    I believe these two fine establishments are showing the cricket: Roys Bar (111th St & Liberty) and Singh’s Rest. (132nd St & Liberty)

  44. Next up: Australia vs. West Indies on Tuesday. If you live in New York, get yourself down to Liberty Avenue where you can get the best caribbean food in all of Noo York City. Take the A Train to the last stop and follow your nose. I fancy a nice curried goat washed down with a red stripe for breakfast.

    Sounds good, mate. And thanks for the play by play today.

  45. To my American comrades: where are you watching the Cup? Did anyone fork over the $200 for the tournament? Any satellite scramblers in the house?

  46. sigh reading this makes me wish i had a big sister to look out for me. It sure would have helped with all the girl troubles I have had.