OCTOBER 24: The Western Cape region of South Africa is known for its wine. Here, the wine made in Paarl has a special bouquet. The wine list in the menu card of a hotel will tell even a layman where a particular quality is made.Wine and cricket are linked together in Paarl because those who run the sport here are reported to be making a living out of merchandising wine.
Since 1997 Paarl has also developed a strong connection with Indian cricket. It was here that India played a match against Zimbabwe that was made memorable by Robin Singh's great innings. The match ended in a tie. Paarl, which houses the office of the Boland Cricket Association, has also seen some sparkling innings from Praveen Amre, who made a century at Kingsmead, Durban in a Test match of the 'Friendship Tour' 10 years ago. Amre was a professional here for two years and he helped Boland Province win a trophy.
The Indians were once again at Paarl for a cricket match against the Kenyans. They left their hotel at Sea Point, Cape Town, not knowing what would happen by nightfall, but even before the first drinks interval of the day/night match - after 17 overs - the Indians knew they were through to the final. Ganguly departed from the scene, but not before he and Tendulkar had raised a new world record in one-day internationals for the first wicket (258 runs). With the Indians certain of a win Javagal Srinath gave himself a little more freedom. He joined a dancing troupe and did a jig.
Sixteen months later the Indian cricketers will be visiting Paarl again to play their first World Cup league match against Holland. It should be an easy outing for them. Talking of Paarl as a World Cup venue, at least the journalists, South Africans included, had only scathing words about the facilities for the print media. While the electronic media was accommodated in enclosed boxes, the print media was given just two desks and a few chairs to work.
The United Cricket Board's Communications Manager Ms. Brownwyn Wilkinson called up from Johannesburg to say she was embarrassed. She was upset because she had informed the authorities to extend all facilities. The Executive Director of the 2003 World Cup, Ali Bacher gave a patient hearing to the complaints from Indian journalists and said: "Things will be better in 2003. They (Boland) will be spending 2 million rands to upgrade the facilities.'
October 25: The last leg of the tri-series phase of the Summer Spice Series takes one and all to Durban. This coastal city is a big commercial hub, home for Shaun Pollock, Jonty Rhodes, many South African Indians and also the Natal Sharks who once again lost to Western Province in the Currie Cup Rugby final televised worldwide for the first time by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
There's much speculation of the final being put off by a day because it had rained in the city and made the outfield unfit for play. But Kingsmead is one of the top venues in South Africa and the Natal Cricket Union of which Mr. Cassim Doctrat is the President is well equipped to deal with the situation. It did not rain on the eve of the final which made the groundstaff's job easy. October 26: Sharjah is not the only place where the big matches, including the final, are scheduled for a Friday, which is actually a weekly holiday in the Emirate. Friday is not a holiday in South Africa, yet the UCB scheduled the final on that day. There was a big crowd to cheer the South Africans as well as the Indians, though the latter's supporters were somewhat subdued after the first 15 overs, because Ganguly and Tendulkar were back in the pavilion.
The hometown boy had done the trick for his team. Pollock packed his team with fast bowlers and seamers and bowled out the Indians for 183. The enthusiasm among the Indian supporters diminished as Gary Kirsten started working the ball away and then smashing it for fours.
The plaque says, "This tree was planted to commemorate the first-ever Test match played on South African soil between South Africa and India." The sapling planted at the Kingsmead ground, Durban, by the respective skippers, Kepler Wessels and Mohammad Azharuddin on November 13, 1992, has now grown into a big tree (above).
The final does not end, unfortunately, without an unpleasant incident. The Indian offspinner, Harbhajan Singh, fielding in the deep is the target of a pitcher full of beer. The game is stopped for a brief while. The tour has not been without such stray incidents that have hurt the feelings of the Indians. According to a source, the police ejected five to six spectators shouting anti-India slogans during the first match of the tri-series at 'The Wanderers'. The same source said this happened at Paarl, too. As usual Bacher had a ready answer for questions related to security concerns during the World Cup; "We have earmarked 8 million rands for security."
October 27: The 2003 World Cup fixtures are announced. The United Cricket Board (UCB) officials are present at full strength at the Kingsmead and in a new dress which does not escape the attention of the UCB President, Percy Sonn. "You see even the UCB is getting Africanised....out go the ties. But the dress suggests some link with the Sub-continent," he said amidst guffaws.
The UCB chief introduces everybody on his side of the table and also makes it a point to greet batting legends Sunil Gavaskar and Geoffrey Boycott. He also congratulates the South African coach Graham Ford saying, 'Fordie, your team played well last night,' and thanks the Indians for giving the South Africans 'some opposition' which immediately makes Gavaskar raise his eyebrows.
The serious part of it all starts once Bacher takes centrestage. He explains why most of the matches of the World Cup will be played during daytime and certain matches at weekends and so on. Bacher's speech can never be complete without mentioning the role played by television. He said South Africa would be holding the world centrestage for 44 days and this would be the best time to market the nation.
October 28: The Natalians are disappointed. For the fourth consecutive time the Natal Sharks reached the final of the Currie Cup (Rugby) and lost to the home team Western Province, at Newlands, Cape Town. As usual there are post mortems. The newspapers run big stories and debate on whether it was the best ever final played. Well, Western Province was down 9-17 after 40 minutes before they turn around the match in the next 40 minutes. As a commentator said in SABC: "You have to play the game well for 80 minutes and not 40 minutes. That's what WP did."
October 29: The Indians begin their training for the second phase of the tour. Not at Chatsworth where not ball is bowled, but at Kingsmead. A wet outfield makes sure that the whole day is lost. As we all enter Kingsmead, a colleague points to a tree that was planted as a tender sapling on November 13, 1992 before the first Test is played between India and South Africa. The two captains then were Mohammad Azharuddin and Kepler Wessels. It's time to shoot some pictures and proceed to the ground to see the Indians going through a workout.
October 30: The Mercury runs two letters related to the India-South Africa final played at Kingsmead. One is with regard to the ground authorities preventing people from taking 'cooler boxes' inside. The letter is credited to 'Ardent cricket fans'.
The second letter, which has the heading, 'Watching the pot call the kettle black' is written by Chitra Subramanian, who lives in Glenashley. The heading conveys a lot about the text of the letter which is as follows: "It was such a terrible experience when we went to watch the cricket final between South Africa and India on Friday.
"We were sitting on the grass at East end and it was all fine until the crowd started enjoying a couple of beers. Then the trouble started. The police were called a few times to sort out altercations between two groups.
"Later, when the Indians came to field, filthy remarks were passed - by an Indian gentleman nearby - towards Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh, who were standing near the boundary ropes. I was really appalled by the language he used - he was talking in Tamil, which I could understand.
"I wonder how anyone can pass such racist remarks about members of a visiting cricket team from overseas. This experience has made us realise that it is better to watch a cricket match at home, comfortably and away from all of this nonsense. Hope this letter is an eye opener for a few people at least".
Comments
SHARE