I was born in Mumbai, so it is not surprising that I love cricket. The game of cricket may be born in England but it lives and flourishes on the subcontinent. Since I remember, every game in Mumbai was greeted with high anticipation and fan fare. I even remember schools and colleges getting days-off to watch the game television. Before television we were glued to the radio and treasured every photo and article in the newspapers. I never had a chance to watch games at a stadium in Mumbai so when television came to Mumbai in the 70s, I like many other crazy cricket fans of the generation was glued to the black and white television and would not even dare to blink in fear of missing a cricket moment. Even then, we hoped that the Indian team would do miracles each time they played and make us all proud. With the exception of few matches and the 1983 world cup, this really has not been the case for the Indian cricket team. With all its commitment to the game and the team, Indian fans have never experienced its countries complete domination of the game like the West Indies did in 70s and 80s and more recently the Australian domination. This does not bother a Mumbaikar like me who has always been proud of all the “kars†in the game. This is generally true of the Indian fan who is satisfied with the individual achievements rather than the team’s performance. The result is that we have national and regional super heroes who do not function well as a team.
I moved to US in 1986 and suddenly my regular dose of cricket was interrupted. In those days before internet, there was no way to keep up with the cricket. The US media does not cover cricket, so for us die hard fans it was very hard to keep up with it. Before I moved to the US I used to play “gulli†cricket at least three times a week, debate about Gavaskar or Kapil Dev twice a week and read cricket news daily. Until the internet boom the only way I kept up with the new Indian team and Sachin’s performances was by renting cricket video tapes and by reading week old US Indian newspapers. We rarely had a chance to practice our “gulli†cricket skills but enjoyed a few knocks with tennis ball cricket during our university days and at the Marathi mandal picnics in the summer. This all rapidly changed during the mid 1990s. With the internet and communication revolution cricket once again came closer to us. Satellite and cable TV began showing live games and we watched the 1999 and 2003 world cup games staying up all night.
Then it was announced that the World Cup will be coming to the Caribbean, and I began dreaming just like any other cricket crazed fan in North America. This was our chance to once again follow the game and our team. Like me, many Indians in US discussed plans of going to the games with friends and made promises to be at the 2007 World Cup Games in the West Indies. Some of us realized our dreams and others made promises for next time.
My dream became a reality when I met Vivek Sablani in February 2007 at a conference in New Orleans. We quickly became friends sharing the love for the game of cricket. While talking he told me that his family is from Jamaica and that he was thinking of going home and catching some games, and soaking in the cricket fever on the Island. He invited me to join him and I thought he was joking. Two weeks later he called to tell me that he was going to reserve tickets for the opening game in Kingston on March 13th. He said that I should arrive at Montego Bay, where he lived, on Friday the 9th when they were hosting the Indian team for a dinner party at his house. His father Mr. Raj Sablani was appointed by the government of Jamaica to be the Indian team’s liaison during the tour. I was going to be Vivek’s guest at his house, and was excited about the chance of meeting the Indian team up close and personal. My dream became reality.
The week in Jamaica was magical. With its sunny weather and beautiful beaches it is paradise to begin with; now add to that world cup fever and college spring break. To top it all I had the privilege of staying at the beautiful Sabalani house on a hill top overlooking Montego Bay.
At eight o’clock Friday night, the Indian team bus arrived at the Sablani house. The party was setup in their front yard and on the terrace. Without the press around the Indian team relaxed quickly and were enjoying the Indian food, drinks and the admiration of 100 odd fans at the party. The good looking younger stars of the team were quickly surrounded by the young and the opposite sex. The senior super stars enjoyed the most attention. As the party continued I could see the human side of the Indian team, which until now was only an enigma on the silver screen. Here I was shaking hands with Sachin, saying hello to Dravid, taking a photo with Dhoni and enjoying tandoori chicken with Yuvi and Bhaji. This was more than I had expected when I came to Jamaica. I was in for another surprise the following day.
At night Jamaica is the place to party with its exciting night life and night clubs. Students who had come for spring break from the United States and European colleges were enjoying their vacation. I went to the Margarita Ville night club in Nigril with Vivek and his college friends, feeling like I should have been there 20 years back.
The next morning began for us a bit late but with a surprise. Mr. Sablani called us and said that we should come to the dock immediately if we were to join the Indian team for a private cruise of Montego Bay. Vivek and I were at the dock within 15 minutes. Besides the Indian team Mr. Sablani and the two of us were the only outsiders. This was strictly a private affair. The boat took us into the bay. It was a special boat where the lower level was made of glass to view the underwater coral reef. Everyone was very relaxed and enjoying the cruise. It was unusual to see the cameras in the hands of the stars who were capturing this experience with their friends, with the beautiful blue ocean in the back ground. There was music and dance. Some took a dip in the ocean to snorkel. Some who could not swim were coaxed by their friends to get in the water with life jackets. Some just stayed on the deck to catch up on sleep. The cricketing gods were like any other tourists that I have seen before. But it came to an end very quickly as the boat neared the dock. There on the shore were press cameras who had got the wind of this cruise and were ready to feed the story to the hungry fans around the world. I noticed a bit of displeasure among the team to see the media. I wondered why ?
The evening was again at a local Night Club. Here swinging with the young spring breakers were the cricketers from around the world. Many teams were well represented by their young athletes who were enjoying the Caribbean beats and Jamaican Rum. None of them had any games for few days and it was their day off until Sunday’s opening ceremony.
Sunday was another surprise for me when Mr. Sablani said that he has got three extra tickets for the opening ceremony and I could join them. This was beyond my expectation at this stage. In the morning we soaked in some sun and the beach with friends before we got ready for the opening ceremony.
The new Trelawny stadium at the Montego Bay was spectacular. It was small enough that you could see the proceedings clearly. The stadium was packed with fans from all around the world and cricket loving Jamaican fans. The Caribbeans and the Jamaicans in particular are fun loving by nature and enjoy every moment of life. Their attitude towards life is summarized by “No Problem†which is the phrase you will always hear a Jamaican say. They meet and greet everyone with their famous “Ya Mann†and approach life with “No Problemâ€. Jamaica may not be a very affluent country but you can see happiness all around.
The opening ceremony was terrific with song and dance from around the world. All the twelve teams were lined up for the ceremony. The night was enchanting and the games were declared open by none other than the Great Sir Gary Sobers. It was not the Prime minister or the President or the ICC politician as you would expect to do the honors in the subcontinent.
There is a unique place just outside the Trelwany Stadium. A small restaurant arranges boat rides at night to experience the luminous waters of the bay. This is a unique phenomenon that can be seen only at three places in the world, including this bay. In the shallow waters of the bay, where the fresh water from the river meets the ocean salt water, lives special kind of bio-luminous micro organisms. These organisms glow when the water is disturbed. So the water glows beautiful blue in the dark of the night each time the boat moves or you splash water while you swim or even when a small fish jumps in the water. In the tranquility of the night I could see the Trelawny stadium in a distance and a thought came to my mind, will the men in blue glow majestically like the luminous water of this bay? How can you blame a fan who can only hope even though knows that the reality is often far from it?
Monday was a lazy day for us. All the teams were traveling to their destinations for their group matches today. I decided to go to the Dunns River falls with my spring breaking friends. This was quite an experience. Here the beautiful blue waters of the falls gently cascades from the gentle slopes along a mountain side to meet the Caribbean ocean. The fun is not only in seeing the beautiful falls but to start at the beach at the foothills and climb the falls to the top. The young would fight the water currents and navigate the tough slopes and the others who are still young at heart would climb the gentle streams avoiding the tough slope. Either way you are soaked in fun with this hike.
On the way back we enjoyed coconut water and sugar cane at a road side stall. This brought Konkan Coast memories for me. There were also stalls that displayed Jamaican craft in particular the wood carvings by the artist who is also selling his craft on the road side. My friends and I ended this trip at a restaurant on the beach called the Fish Hut. This place is famous for their Jamaican fried fish which we enjoyed with the Stripe Beer and a beautiful sunset.
When we reached home, Mr. Sabalani had invited the press team from India that included Zee, Star, PTI and other teams. I was in for another treat. It was an intellectual and energy filled evening and dinner. I was able to get a better understanding of the press view who were here doing their job, which is to provide news and stories about the Indian team and cricket without crossing the line at which point they would become paparazzi. You could clearly see the love lost between the press and the team. I wondered why, as in my mind the relationship between the Cricketing gods and the Media Gurus should be symbiotic. Each needs the other for its existence.
Next day we took an early flight to catch the opening game between West Indies and Pakistan in Kingston. Until now I had only seen the famous Sabina Park on TV. It was even more beautiful than that. The stadium was packed with fans cheering for the home team and the home team did not disappoint the fans. I noticed that most of the West Indian fans were very knowledgeable of the game and enjoyed every move and strategy of the game. They appreciated when it was a good ball or a stroke regardless of the team. I guess they have developed a healthy respect for the game as they have once seen their team unquestionably dominate the cricket world. They still cherish the memories of greats like Sobers, Lloyd, and Richards.
A week and half has passed since I returned from the magical Jamaican experience. The world cup is unfolding and I am following the group level games on TV. I saw the elimination of the Pakistani team that is now marred with the controversy surrounding the death of their coach. Defeat by Ireland, who played beautifully, had eliminated Pakistan. How can team India with its super heroes be far behind? The Indian team never seemed to be in the game with Bangladesh. I was admiring the underrated Bangladesh team that was full of enthusiasm for the game. Their love for the game and desire to win was clearly seen on the field. It appeared to me that, in the name of fame and fortune, the Indian team has lost its passion for the game and its desire to win. I hope they do not forget that the fame and fortune they enjoy today is the result of their passion and love that they once had for the game. I guess they have a few things to learn from the Bangladesh team.
But then the hopes were raised again by individual performances against Bermuda. Records were broken when it did not matter. Then the group game against Sri Lanka proved once again that the great paper team cannot come through when it matters.
A fan like me will never give up hope. We can still go to the super eight, I think to myself, if Bermuda beats Bangladesh. Or if not, we will be back after four years and win for sure. Every Indian fan shares this dream. It is like enjoying a good Bollywood movie that always showcases the dream world but never the reality. This dreaming fan is what makes the game of cricket great.
I have no grudge against this team as I have thoroughly enjoyed the World Cup so far and will still enjoy the game with or without my team. I think I was lucky that I planned the trip in the first week of the World Cup when our hopes were alive for the Indian team and I did not wait until the final weeks of the world cup to see my Team India.
Uday Virkud writes from Wayland, MA
|
