T-20

It was 24-Sep-2007, final match between India and Pakistan in the first ever T20 world cup, broadcasted live around the world. It was thru channel Ten Sports that me and my room-mates had intended to watch the match. Unfortunately it was Monday, so no off from office, though we spent most of the time in office talking about what India team shall do to win it, relaxing in the fact that we didn’t had any Paki in our office to subdue our opinions.

Just to go back, T20 was new to us with India sending a lesser-known young team to the tournament but when on 19-Sep, Yuvraj hit those six consecutive sixes against England, the interest towards this format had taken its prominence. India suddenly looked a great team after entering super8, then beating South Africa to enter semi-finals, beating Australia to entre Finals.

When I left office India had done with its batting for 157/5 in 20 overs. Not so impressive keeping in mind Pak batting order. I reached home to find my room-mates already glued to the TV screen. When I came back from my shower, I saw the TV was blank and the room deserted. I asked my neighbors as to what happen, to which he replied DEWA was experimenting with the electricity wires of our building. I already guessed that my room-mates would be cursing DEWA(Dubai Electricity & Water Authority) to mistime their adventures. I knew my room-mates wud have gone for early dinner to catch up at least the last leg of the match.

I too went towards Vasanth Bhavan. I was not amazed at the thin traffic on roads and people gathered around TV shops. When from Al Faheedi Street, I had passed Astoria Hotel and towards Khalid Bin Waleed Road for Vasantha Bhavan, on second lane from Astoria, next to Sind Punjab Restaurant, suddenly one of my room-mates pulled me towards him. He was staring at the TV screen of a video shop which was projected for public viewing of the match. Even I got interested to stand with him unknown of the fact as to how much time people from DEWA wud take to repair stuff in our building. We were running out of choices. I sort of shouted when Irfan Pathan took the wicket of Shoaib Mallik and Shahid Afridi in consecutive balls. Suddenly my friend spoke to me in Tamil and asked me to keep my emotions to minimum. Only then I realized I was surrounded by dozens of Pakistanis around me. They had an air of confidence with themselves that Pakistan wud easily pull this thru, but when their star batsman Shahid Afridi went for duck, they were furious. And I was instantly subject to stares from them. I also realized that this was first time in my life that I was watching a live cricket match between the arch rivals surrounded by more Pakistanis then Indians. Most of those guys were cabbies who like us Indians, patronage Cricket very much and wud throw a bash every time Pak beats India. Though it was scary and I was rethinking as to why am I putting myself into such an ordeal. As Pakistan needed only 54 from 24balls more Pakis came around as the win for Pak was certain. Somehow me and my friend still stood there with all our guts. But we decided to withdraw from that scene when Misbah-ul-haq hit 3 sixes off Harbhajan Singh in one over with the crowd rejoicing, celebrating and sort of squaring on us Malabaris. By the way malabari is a generic term used at Dubai for all south Indians. We were not use to this and felt fretful when we realized that we were the only Indian standing there. We decided to quit when in next over Sohail Tanveer hit two more sixes.

Going away from that place we thought of dinner. Question popped as to where exactly. At Vasantha Bhavan were we had intended to go first or to Saravana Bhavan near HSBC close to creek or Madurai Vilas. Then my friend suggested buying a razor from Gift Land (5-10 dhiram shop) near Thomas Cook Al Roustamani Exchange before proceeding for dinner. After he was done buying his stuff, we decided for Vasantha Bhavan.

As we were nearing the same sight which we left minutes ago, the crowd was suddenly dispersing. We knew the match was over but we were finding it difficult to locate an Indian among the crowd to ask as to who won. We feared asking any Paki for what if India had won. Huh ! no way…chance ille, I spoke to myself. The few Paki guys that we recognized didn’t show a face of rejoicing which was delightful. Out of eagerness, we asked one of travel agent shop about the match, to which he said India with much fervor. We were very happy though missing those final moments was lingering within. We decided to treat ourselves, not going straight we took the road adjacent to Vinverth showroom and headed towards Rangoli on Meena Bazaar lane.

It was only next day that we saw thru news and net as to how Misbah paddle-scooped to give away Sreesanth a catch. Later me and my room-mate laughed about what happened last evening and our chances of listening to some harsh remarks by Pakistanis towards us malabaris when the catch was taken by another malabari-Sreesanth. We know what Pakistanis must be quoting that this people come up at every place possible.

We also chewed the fact that for few days we cant dream of venturing into Karachi Darbar ! huh ! People talk about keeping politics away from cricket….how about keeping cricket away from food joints …