An 800-km train journey to watch two special wins
A long journey, queues and ticketing troubles could not take away from the great show that Afghanistan and Scotland put on in Nagpur
Srinath Sripath
13-Mar-2016
Their own form against Zimbabwe aside, Afghanistan enjoyed support from a sparse, yet vocal, crowd • AFP
Choice of game
As someone who has been following the Associate cricket scene fairly closely since the 1999 World Cup, I have always wanted to watch the likes of Scotland, Ireland and Afghanistan play live. Once it was decided that Zimbabwe v Afghanistan would be a direct knockout, last-minute arrangements were made to make the 800-odd km train trip from Mumbai.
As someone who has been following the Associate cricket scene fairly closely since the 1999 World Cup, I have always wanted to watch the likes of Scotland, Ireland and Afghanistan play live. Once it was decided that Zimbabwe v Afghanistan would be a direct knockout, last-minute arrangements were made to make the 800-odd km train trip from Mumbai.
Team(s) supported
Afghanistan and Scotland. Every time Afghanistan take the field, the mind goes back to Taj Malik and Out of the Ashes. Their form in the run-up to this fixture and their defeat of Zimbabwe in Sharjah earlier this year meant their victory would not be seen as any kind of upset.
Afghanistan and Scotland. Every time Afghanistan take the field, the mind goes back to Taj Malik and Out of the Ashes. Their form in the run-up to this fixture and their defeat of Zimbabwe in Sharjah earlier this year meant their victory would not be seen as any kind of upset.
Scotland - John Blain, George Salmond, Gavin Hamilton. Those are the kinds of names that pop up in the head when I think of them. It was, therefore, astounding that they have never won a World Cup game in any form since they made their debut in 1999.
Key performer
While Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Nabi played vital roles in the Afghanistan win, Mohammad Shahzad's early blitz set the pace for the game. Though sparse, the Afghanistan fans were out in vociferous support, chanting "Shahzad, Shahzad", as he sent one ball after another for boundaries across the wagon wheel.
While Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Nabi played vital roles in the Afghanistan win, Mohammad Shahzad's early blitz set the pace for the game. Though sparse, the Afghanistan fans were out in vociferous support, chanting "Shahzad, Shahzad", as he sent one ball after another for boundaries across the wagon wheel.
One thing you'd have changed about the match
The ticketing. Fans were forced to go to the old VCA stadium in Civil Lines, a good 20 km from the actual venue. The comic relief, in all this, was on a notice board announcing ticket collections. It seems ticket collection was to be at the Jamtha stadium, and a last-minute shift meant a plain, white paper was plastered over the word 'Jamtha'. Simple, brutal and convenient.
The ticketing. Fans were forced to go to the old VCA stadium in Civil Lines, a good 20 km from the actual venue. The comic relief, in all this, was on a notice board announcing ticket collections. It seems ticket collection was to be at the Jamtha stadium, and a last-minute shift meant a plain, white paper was plastered over the word 'Jamtha'. Simple, brutal and convenient.
Moreover, there were no separate entry queues at the ground for the day's fixtures, and plenty of Afghanistan fans waited from as early as 6am to beat the line.
Face-off you relished
Samiullah Shenwari bowling to Malcolm Waller and Richard Mutumbami. Shenwari seems every bit the hard-working cricketer, not willing to give an inch to the opposition while batting, bowling or fielding. While he was hard on himself for dishing out balls down leg, he produced a few perfect deliveries any legspinner would have been proud of - flight, dip and sharp turn to beat the bat. One of these was to Waller in his second over, and when he came back for his third over, he hit the off stump with an almost identical delivery. First the feint, then the knockout punch.
Samiullah Shenwari bowling to Malcolm Waller and Richard Mutumbami. Shenwari seems every bit the hard-working cricketer, not willing to give an inch to the opposition while batting, bowling or fielding. While he was hard on himself for dishing out balls down leg, he produced a few perfect deliveries any legspinner would have been proud of - flight, dip and sharp turn to beat the bat. One of these was to Waller in his second over, and when he came back for his third over, he hit the off stump with an almost identical delivery. First the feint, then the knockout punch.
Wow moment
Right before the Zimbabwe innings began, wicketkeeper Shahzad and Noor Ali Zadran, who was fielding at first slip, had a lengthy argument about where the third man fielder should stand. In the end, they both decided that one of them should go to the crease to decide this once and for all. Shahzad, clearly the less athletic and orthodox of the two, sent Noor Ali to the crease. With Sibanda waiting to take strike, Noor Ali shadow-batted a cut to third man, and asked Gulbadin Naib to move to his left. As he walked back, the two had a hearty laugh. Not quite the autopilot settings that the likes of India and South Africa have, yet thoroughly enjoyable.
Right before the Zimbabwe innings began, wicketkeeper Shahzad and Noor Ali Zadran, who was fielding at first slip, had a lengthy argument about where the third man fielder should stand. In the end, they both decided that one of them should go to the crease to decide this once and for all. Shahzad, clearly the less athletic and orthodox of the two, sent Noor Ali to the crease. With Sibanda waiting to take strike, Noor Ali shadow-batted a cut to third man, and asked Gulbadin Naib to move to his left. As he walked back, the two had a hearty laugh. Not quite the autopilot settings that the likes of India and South Africa have, yet thoroughly enjoyable.
Close encounter
Among the players and officials at the venue, Inzamam-ul-Haq got the loudest cheers when Afghanistan were warming up. A section of Indian fans somehow elicited a wave from the shy Inzibhai. A grinning Makhaya Ntini on the big screen came a close second.
Among the players and officials at the venue, Inzamam-ul-Haq got the loudest cheers when Afghanistan were warming up. A section of Indian fans somehow elicited a wave from the shy Inzibhai. A grinning Makhaya Ntini on the big screen came a close second.
Shot of the day
Despite its brevity, it's impossible to pick out one shot from Shahzad's innings. An entire over from Tendai Chatara had one improbable shot after another - a front-foot pull to a short ball, then a blistering square cut, followed by a cheeky hook over short fine leg. You could play these in your head over and over again, and still run out of adjectives to describe them.
Despite its brevity, it's impossible to pick out one shot from Shahzad's innings. An entire over from Tendai Chatara had one improbable shot after another - a front-foot pull to a short ball, then a blistering square cut, followed by a cheeky hook over short fine leg. You could play these in your head over and over again, and still run out of adjectives to describe them.
Crowd meter
Earlier in the day, I ran into a number of Afghanistan fans, decked in their traditional khet partugs, waiting for their tickets at the old VCA stadium. A majority of them were students, who had made the 700 km trip from Pune, while some others had come from as far as Kandahar and Herat. "Insha'allah jeet jayenge aaj," (By the grace of Allah, we shall win today) was the common sentiment. These fans were a tireless cheering squad that picked out three of their biggest stars - first "Shahzad, Shahzad", followed by "Nabi, Nabi" and "Hassan, Hassan", as the players took Zimbabwe apart.
Earlier in the day, I ran into a number of Afghanistan fans, decked in their traditional khet partugs, waiting for their tickets at the old VCA stadium. A majority of them were students, who had made the 700 km trip from Pune, while some others had come from as far as Kandahar and Herat. "Insha'allah jeet jayenge aaj," (By the grace of Allah, we shall win today) was the common sentiment. These fans were a tireless cheering squad that picked out three of their biggest stars - first "Shahzad, Shahzad", followed by "Nabi, Nabi" and "Hassan, Hassan", as the players took Zimbabwe apart.
Entertainment
The running between the wickets from the Zimbabwe and Hong Kong batsmen provided the most entertainment. Samiullah Shenwari, ever the livewire, took a shy at the stumps casually towards the end of the Zimbabwe innings. Donald Tiripano's bat was inside the crease, but not grounded. It was yet another comic run-out from Zimbabwe, in what has been a dreadful series for them.
The running between the wickets from the Zimbabwe and Hong Kong batsmen provided the most entertainment. Samiullah Shenwari, ever the livewire, took a shy at the stumps casually towards the end of the Zimbabwe innings. Donald Tiripano's bat was inside the crease, but not grounded. It was yet another comic run-out from Zimbabwe, in what has been a dreadful series for them.
Overall
Afghanistan were clinical, and it always felt like they were on fourth gear, from start to finish. Their fans from far and wide made it an atmosphere worth savoring. Associate sides get the wrong end of the stick far too often, and it was a joy to see them get past Zimbabwe. Likewise, a few Scottish fans by the South stand were there to witness their side's first-ever triumph at this level. The perfect evening for them, despite the rain trying its best to deny them a deserving, account-opening victory.
Afghanistan were clinical, and it always felt like they were on fourth gear, from start to finish. Their fans from far and wide made it an atmosphere worth savoring. Associate sides get the wrong end of the stick far too often, and it was a joy to see them get past Zimbabwe. Likewise, a few Scottish fans by the South stand were there to witness their side's first-ever triumph at this level. The perfect evening for them, despite the rain trying its best to deny them a deserving, account-opening victory.
Marks out of 10
7. I almost missed the match due to the ticketing system. With no separate queue for this game, we had to stand in the same, long queue as that for India games. An understanding VCA official saved our day, just in time, to ensure we had the tickets before the game started.
7. I almost missed the match due to the ticketing system. With no separate queue for this game, we had to stand in the same, long queue as that for India games. An understanding VCA official saved our day, just in time, to ensure we had the tickets before the game started.
The new VCA stadium, the venue for the games, is a top-class facility and the experience in general was better than what you have at packed India games. You could roam around almost anywhere without being asked a thousand questions, and it was a chance to sneak around to some of the other stands and boxes to get a different view of the game.
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