Beams, binges and busted fingers
Jamie Alter looks back at the week that was February 25 to March 4
Jamie Alter
04-Mar-2007
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The Pakistan Chronicles
Pakistan's departure for the West Indies was highlighted by the absence of three players, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq. While Razzaq was ruled out with a knee injury, the double withdrawal of the fast bowling duo raised more than a few eyebrows. Injury or cover up? The debate rages on. The Pakistan board named Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami as their replacements.
Pakistan's departure for the West Indies was highlighted by the absence of three players, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq. While Razzaq was ruled out with a knee injury, the double withdrawal of the fast bowling duo raised more than a few eyebrows. Injury or cover up? The debate rages on. The Pakistan board named Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami as their replacements.
Six and out
This has to be a first. Would you believe, a low-hanging ceiling beam at Harrow Leisure Centre has denied Harrow a place in the London Youth Games under-13s indoors cricket final? Horror of horrors. A six, in mid-flight, was stopped by the beam and dropped straight into the hands of a fielder below. Check out the final score: Harrow 97 Brent 103.
This has to be a first. Would you believe, a low-hanging ceiling beam at Harrow Leisure Centre has denied Harrow a place in the London Youth Games under-13s indoors cricket final? Horror of horrors. A six, in mid-flight, was stopped by the beam and dropped straight into the hands of a fielder below. Check out the final score: Harrow 97 Brent 103.
Good night, and good luck
A drunken rampage through central Napier resulted in three Taranaki cricketers spending a night in the slammer. Police were called just before 1.30am with reports of a group of five men causing chaos after being refused entry to Rosie O'Grady's Irish Pub. The official report said the men threw and kicked rubbish around, ripped down signs, abused people, damaged letterboxes and shattered a parked car's windscreen with a tree branch. And it wasn't even St Patty's Day.
A drunken rampage through central Napier resulted in three Taranaki cricketers spending a night in the slammer. Police were called just before 1.30am with reports of a group of five men causing chaos after being refused entry to Rosie O'Grady's Irish Pub. The official report said the men threw and kicked rubbish around, ripped down signs, abused people, damaged letterboxes and shattered a parked car's windscreen with a tree branch. And it wasn't even St Patty's Day.
Giving it the finger
Remember all that talk about Jacob Oram being willing to amputate his injured ring finger so as to play in the World Cup? Reports have filtered in that it was just a joke taken out of context, and that Oram clarified he made the statement humorously in the course of an interview about how his injured finger was healing leading up to the tournament. Five fingers make a fist, four a handful?
Remember all that talk about Jacob Oram being willing to amputate his injured ring finger so as to play in the World Cup? Reports have filtered in that it was just a joke taken out of context, and that Oram clarified he made the statement humorously in the course of an interview about how his injured finger was healing leading up to the tournament. Five fingers make a fist, four a handful?
The kids aren't alright
Another random act of violence in Bangladesh cricket. During a Standard Chartered Young Tigers National School Cricket Tournament game between Happy Times International School and BCSIR School, boys from the latter used abusive language. Happy Times continued the game at request of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials, according to a press release issued by the Happy Times. After the match, the Happy Times captain, who went to complain to the rival coach, was attacked by an opposition player which followed a mass assault. Allegedly, the BCSIR students used bats and wickets as weapons. Other students weren't even spared. Both teams were suspended from the tournament as well as next year's. Happy days are here again.
Another random act of violence in Bangladesh cricket. During a Standard Chartered Young Tigers National School Cricket Tournament game between Happy Times International School and BCSIR School, boys from the latter used abusive language. Happy Times continued the game at request of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials, according to a press release issued by the Happy Times. After the match, the Happy Times captain, who went to complain to the rival coach, was attacked by an opposition player which followed a mass assault. Allegedly, the BCSIR students used bats and wickets as weapons. Other students weren't even spared. Both teams were suspended from the tournament as well as next year's. Happy days are here again.
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Employee of the Day
The Times of India, India's largest-selling English daily, recently hired Rahul Dravid as its guest editor for a day. Dravid's first prerogative was to remove cricket and movies from the front page. "There are far more important things to be written about," he said, adding: "I grew up reading the newspapers back to front, but now I read the front pages first, probably because what was in the back pages earlier has now moved to the front pages." The point was missed by his temporary editorial colleagues, who splashed his face and story as the lead front-page headlines the next day.
The Times of India, India's largest-selling English daily, recently hired Rahul Dravid as its guest editor for a day. Dravid's first prerogative was to remove cricket and movies from the front page. "There are far more important things to be written about," he said, adding: "I grew up reading the newspapers back to front, but now I read the front pages first, probably because what was in the back pages earlier has now moved to the front pages." The point was missed by his temporary editorial colleagues, who splashed his face and story as the lead front-page headlines the next day.
The Outsiders
No Roman holiday, this. Greg Chappell, India's coach, took a two-day private visit to Alappuzha, in the southern Indian state of Kerala - also known as God's Own Country - with his wife and helped the owner of the resort they stayed at receive a legal notice. The Foreigners Act states that the owner of a hotel, resort or cruise must inform the local authorities within 24 hours of any foreign tourists in their establishment. Rainbow Cruises, owners of the houseboat where the Chappells stayed, aren't exactly beaming. They were "victimised unnecessarily", said a spokesperson.
No Roman holiday, this. Greg Chappell, India's coach, took a two-day private visit to Alappuzha, in the southern Indian state of Kerala - also known as God's Own Country - with his wife and helped the owner of the resort they stayed at receive a legal notice. The Foreigners Act states that the owner of a hotel, resort or cruise must inform the local authorities within 24 hours of any foreign tourists in their establishment. Rainbow Cruises, owners of the houseboat where the Chappells stayed, aren't exactly beaming. They were "victimised unnecessarily", said a spokesperson.
Watch out FTSE and Nasdaq...
This was bound to happen, eh? Given the intensity with which Indians indulge themselves in cricket and stocks, it comes as little surprise that the corporate world has merged with the cricket mania in a newly launched virtual cricket stock exchange called CrickStock.com. Developed by students of IIT Roorkee and IIM Ahmedabad, the portal enables cricket buffs to buy virtual shares of international cricketers and trade them online. The stock prices of cricketers will be determined by their recent performance and what fans feel about them. Can anyone spare a dime for Michael Vaughan?
This was bound to happen, eh? Given the intensity with which Indians indulge themselves in cricket and stocks, it comes as little surprise that the corporate world has merged with the cricket mania in a newly launched virtual cricket stock exchange called CrickStock.com. Developed by students of IIT Roorkee and IIM Ahmedabad, the portal enables cricket buffs to buy virtual shares of international cricketers and trade them online. The stock prices of cricketers will be determined by their recent performance and what fans feel about them. Can anyone spare a dime for Michael Vaughan?
The Punisher
Ramesh Powar, neglected for India's World Cup squad, found himself watching his West Zone team-mates practice at the Brabourne Stadium after he forgot to bring his formal colours to a nets session. Coach Chandrakant Pandit, who had already convinced Irfan Pathan to wear the official uniform for practice sessions during the first round matches, forced Powar to watch the nets from a cane chair, but allowed him to join the team meeting. Well, that'll teach you to show up in white. Or not...
Ramesh Powar, neglected for India's World Cup squad, found himself watching his West Zone team-mates practice at the Brabourne Stadium after he forgot to bring his formal colours to a nets session. Coach Chandrakant Pandit, who had already convinced Irfan Pathan to wear the official uniform for practice sessions during the first round matches, forced Powar to watch the nets from a cane chair, but allowed him to join the team meeting. Well, that'll teach you to show up in white. Or not...
For your consideration...
With just over a week to go for the Cricket World Cup, a new film on the game is all set to hit screens in India. Salaam India, which stars model-turned actor Milind Soman as an overzealous coach, whose passion and determination to win border on the obsessive and even unscrupulous - now where've I heard that before? - is due to release in the middle of the World Cup. If India doesn't do too well, I fear for theatre owners.
With just over a week to go for the Cricket World Cup, a new film on the game is all set to hit screens in India. Salaam India, which stars model-turned actor Milind Soman as an overzealous coach, whose passion and determination to win border on the obsessive and even unscrupulous - now where've I heard that before? - is due to release in the middle of the World Cup. If India doesn't do too well, I fear for theatre owners.
Its just a game...
Xbox and Codemasters, the video game developers, launched the official game of the World Cup, 'Yuvraj Singh International Cricket 2007' in Mumbai. The game will be available to gamers March 27. Bollywood superstar and fellow Xbox brand ambassador was present at the unveiling.
Xbox and Codemasters, the video game developers, launched the official game of the World Cup, 'Yuvraj Singh International Cricket 2007' in Mumbai. The game will be available to gamers March 27. Bollywood superstar and fellow Xbox brand ambassador was present at the unveiling.
Quotehanger
"For us to beat Australia would be like the Faroes beating Brazil at football. In fact it might even be bigger than that - more like us beating Brazil when Berti Vogts was in charge."
Scotland batsman Majid Haq on his country's prospects in their World Cup opener next month
"For us to beat Australia would be like the Faroes beating Brazil at football. In fact it might even be bigger than that - more like us beating Brazil when Berti Vogts was in charge."
Scotland batsman Majid Haq on his country's prospects in their World Cup opener next month
Jamie Alter is editorial assistant of Cricinfo