The City

Finally, their time has arrived. The sports loving fraternity of Kolkata have a chance and they’ve decided, very true to their nature, to pounce on it. Talking of chances, they have lost one for hosting the India vs England WC match on Feb 27 due to reasons best known to CAB and the people. And how ironical that turned out to be. (That match returned a TRP of 17, a record per se.) One of the best cricket match one will ever witness was played, instead, at Bangalore. So the people have decided this time they re not going to miss out on the Most-Sports-Loving-City Tag. I talked to few of the folks and the mood was more than just upbeat about the coming two matches. The first one is on 18th March and between the associate heavyweights Ireland & Netherlands. As, one of the cricket lovers put it, “We would have loved to have our compatriots from across the wire-fenced border on the east play against the devils in Blue but we will have to do with whatever resources we have( No I am not copying/quoting anybody else here).” So my question was who will you support? “Well, it’ll be Netherlands of course.” Of course? Pardon my ignorance but I can’t understand the logic behind that. “It’s easy. Look, in WC 2007, Dada wasn’t the captain and India was kicked out of the ICC event. Pakistan was also, by Ireland. So what it did was lessen the backlash on Greg ‘Anguli’ Chappel and Rahul Dravid on whose dismissal in a match against SA we clapped. We’re so happy you know. Tumhi bhoojti padi naa? " He added. Flabbergasted and incensed at the reasoning and logic of this guy, I moved on to the other guy, who was having a smoke outside the ITC Virgina HO on Park Street, in search of a more intellectual-kind of people. The man looked reasonable with his big black specs, hairs well-oiled and combed in a pull back fashion and a Jute Bag to accompany him. I asked him about his and his folks’ plan for the other match, i.e., the Big Fight coming on 20th March between the African pioneers of cricket, viz., Zimbabwe and Kenya. Nonchalant as Ganguly used to be during his “God-of-Off-Side” Shots, he answered, “Look we care for Zimbabwe’s suffering and hence we, the people of Kolkata, have decided to wear black armbands in show of our continued support towards the people of Zimbabwe and against the illegal Mugabe Government.” So are you saying that you will support Zimbabwe, the same nation that produced gems like the Flower Brothers? He continued in his baritone, “ That’s not what I said. Well, we’ll be supporting Kenya.” Why? “Can we have this off-the-record?” Sure, we can.”Actually, Kenya was Dada’s favourite team. He just loved to bat against them. Do you remember back-to-back centuries against Kenya? Man, what innings of importance and what a timing for the knock. Must Win Games.” So should we expect a jam-packed Eden Garden alike the India-SL semis in 1996 WC? “Believe me, this will be bigger than that. The inside news is Didiji (For the ignorant fools, Didiji is how Mamata Banerjee widely known as in Bengal) is also coming to watch this ‘big-ticket’ game and will also present a lifetime achievement award & a leadership award to, guess who, Shourav.” He added in a fit of excitement. So, should we expect any moves from Dada on the political arena? “Well, although I am not the right person to comment on this, still I’ll tell you. The word is, Didiji has planned to take the presence of her party on a national-level. Dada being a welcome face across the nation, will be the best ambassador. The CPM is finished. They have belied our expectations and given us the wrong end of the stick. They promised us moon and gave Kolkata(Off the record please). But no worries, change will bloom and flourish soon in the land of Boses, Tagores & Sens. A change even the goondas of CPM can’t resist. Didiji is also contemplating a Railway Cricket Academy on the lines of MRF Pace Academy. Of course who better than Dada could be in-charge of the affairs there.” He concluded as he stubbed his cigarette under his leather chappals.As we take/make (in Kolkata you always have to make ways) our ways, my eardrums register a muffled voice of Jago Bangla in the same familiar baritone.

That’s all for today’s bulletin.

Aayush Anand for Baking News

Disclaimer: Yaar Hatao... ab itna kya Formal hone ka... :)