MAY 27: It is a special home- coming for Pedro Collins, the man who accounted for Sachin Tendulkar on three occasions. It is a big prize for Collins to have snared the Indian batsman thrice but there is a small reward waiting for him at the Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados.
A group waved the Barbados National Flag. "Welcome to Barbados. Welcome to Pedro."
Members of the Outdoor Club in Bridgetown is led by Julian Hunte, a sports enthusiast. Giving him company are Alice Gunning and Tamisha Grazette, two well known dancers, dressed in the traditional costumes acquired from the National Cultural Foundation.
Hunte is very pleased with Collins' performances and has offered 50 Barbados Dollars for every wicket he takes, 50 BDS for every catch and 10 BDS for every run scored. The kitty is not big but Collins is moved by the gesture of the Outdoor Club. He promises to swell the purse in the season ahead, what with New Zealand schedule to arrive even before the Indians leave the Caribbean.
For Collins, it is a special moment for the simple reason that he values the support of fans a lot. "They mean a lot to me because of their support and wishes. For Julian, Alice and Tamisha, it is also something special. And they certainly do not mind if Collins makes them part with a greater purse in the series against New Zealand. After all, he makes every Barbadian proud with his success against the Indians, especially his skills against Tendulkar.
May 28: His portly figure sets him apart. He can be spotted at every venue where the West Indies plays. Uncle Lester Armugam is the official mascot of the West Indies team really. The players like him a lot and consider him part of the fraternity.
Worldwide there are supporters who keep their team going. Percy from Sri Lanka is one with a following for himself. They need not exercise their vocal chords to make their contribution. Just waving the flag in the stands conveys the message to their team on the field to give its best.
Uncle Lester forms a small cheer brigade but very effective. His very sight in the stands is big motivation for the West Indian players. He has Harry Persad for company and now even the West Indies Cricket Board recognises the contribution of Uncle Lester and his group.
The WICB decides to honour all former cricketers with a special pass which will give them access to all international cricket. It is a move generated by WICB President Wesley Hall in recognition of their service to cricket in the domestic and international fields. "Our popularity in the world is because of these cricketers and this is the least we can do for them," says Hall.
The recognition is also extended to the supporters. The WICB decides that any one who has been present at 75 or more matches in and outside the Caribbean will also earn the privilege of this special pass. Those who qualify right away are Uncle Lester and Peter Mathews, both Trinidadians. The two supporters obviously must be delighted at some reward for their loyal support and splendid service to the game, as the WICB describes it.
May 29: The All India Radio team is a two-man army. Ravi Chaturvedi, a veteran in hindi commentary, and Tushar Mehta, a cricket freak from Chennai and a good English commentator. They arrive in Kingston for the one-day series but all they can relay back is weather report. It is obviously frustrating for both of them as the first two matches are washed out.
Barbados brings smile back to their faces but only for a short while. On reaching their commentary box they realise that the host association has not provided them with a scorer. A big change from back home where the AIR team is always assisted by very competent scorers.
Now without the scorer to update them, Messrs. Chaturvedi and Mehta are stumped. Harsha Bhogle recalls the stint he had with Suresh Saraiya in South Africa in 1992-93 when they would take turns to do the scoring. Messrs. Chaturvedi and Mehta adopt the same policy and are quite comfortable as the Indians begin the chase. I am sure by the time they finish the tour at Port of Spain, they would have learnt a trick or two of the scoring trade.
May 30: What a surprise! We reach our hotel in Port of Spain from the airport in just half an hour. Whatever happened to the traffic? As we discover, it is India Arrival Day in Trinidad. It signifies the day when the first batch of Indians were brought in a ship as slaves 157 years ago.
The Arrival Day celebrations include a grand puja devoted to Lord Vishnu with song and dance at the Palmiste Park. Among the invitees is the Roman Catholic Archbishop.
But there is a note of dissent from Clive Nunez, a former trade unionist. He argues that "Indian indentureship was akin to slavery and as such one does not celebrate a people brought into slavery but the day that should be celebrated is the day that indentured labour ended. A point worth a debate.
May 31: The Queens Park Savannah in Port of Spain is Trinidad's version of the Hyde Park. The lush green Savannah attracts joggers and strollers from morning to dusk. Kids enjoying a game of cricket or football is as common as training sessions of athletes aiming to make it big.
In the evening you can come and relax and even drink coconut water. It is also the venue for the Carnival-related events every year. Brian Lara is one of the regular faces at the Savannah. His mansion, atop a hill, overlooks the Savannah. The mansion is a matter of pride for the esteemed cricketer and also an object of attraction for his fans, who do not mind driving past it once in a while. The Savannah, however, remains an essential part of a tourists visit to Port of Spain.
June 1: They are known as the musical ambassadors of the Caribbean, supporting the cricketers in their own way. The Caribbean Vizion is a unique group indeed, mixing cricket and music in a classy way.
Quite similar to the West Indies cricket team, the Caribbean Vizion draws its repertoire from more than five islands, thus showcasing musical talent with variety. The youngest members of the group are eight-year-old Chocolate and six-year-old Vanilla, both budding vocalists from Trinidad.
The group claims Caribbean Vizion is more than a music band. It is a movement for Caribbean unity. Their music is a blend of Caribbean rhythms and not just calypso from Trinidad or reggae from Jamaica.
June 2: The crowds have left the Queens Park Oval but the song 'Rally, let's rally round the West Indies' comes wafting from the Trinni Posse Stand. The tour has come to an end and one is left with some fond memories of cricket in the Caribbean - it is very special, very different and one which brings out the sporting character of the average West Indian cricket follower. A defeat shatters him as would a personal loss and nothing brings him greater joy as does a victory on the cricket field.
Kids save money to buy a day's ticket and catch a glimpse of their heroes; most cabbies take a day off to just listen to the commentary on the radio and visualise the contest at the nearby stadium; women do not lag behind in supporting the West Indies cricket. And they all have their statistics right.
The passion for the game in the West Indies is amazing. The debates that are generated in restaurants, bars, stands and at street corners can, at most times be fierce, but very enlightening too. The average cricket fan in the Caribbean is so well informed about the game and his love for it is simply unmatched. I know cricket in the sub-continent can bring things to a stop but in the Caribbean it plays a different and greater role in the society.
Nothing unites the West Indians as cricket does. It is only in cricket that the islands come together and field one team. And that is what distinguishes the cricketer in the Caribbean.
He has a special place in the hearts of the people and nothing motivates him more than the fact that his success on the field is shared by every little island.
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