Bag man a true WI fan

JOHANNESBURG - Two years ago Niaz Ahmed had one thing in mind: a job in the 2003 Cricket World Cup working with the West Indies.

So the architect drew up his plan. He would work overtime all year leading up to the World Cup so he could get six weeks off to be part of South Africa's greatest-ever show.

Niaz applied to the South African Cricket Board's World Cup Committee, doing the interviews and then putting his all in at his office.

Then came the news that he was given the job as the West Indies' baggage handler.

"I was on top of the world when I heard," said the 28-year-old who hails from Cape Town. "It's been great so far.

"At first it took a little time getting to know the guys because most of them are generally quiet. But they are used to me now and I am quite relaxed with them.

"We go out together and I took them to some of my favourite places, and the guys have been enjoying themselves.

"You have to know how to operate, though. On match days I stay out of the way.

"The players really need to focus when they have a match so I just stay out of the way and let them do their job."

Niaz literally fitted right into the West Indies set-up.

He has similar features to Daren Ganga, the Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies batsman, who was among the five reserves.

West Indies manager Ricky Skerritt jokingly noted that if Ganga was in the side it would be difficult to distinguish between the two.

"They told me I look like Ganga so I guess that means I belong in the team," Niaz said with a laugh.

"West Indies were my first choice. This stemmed a lot from my father who supported the West Indies during apartheid. During that era, most Blacks and Coloureds supported the West Indies as they represented us on the cricket scene."

Niaz's job may appear simple on the surface, but he has his work cut out. He has to ensure that all the luggage, cricket equipment and other articles are safety secured on the buses, coaches and planes wherever the team goes.

Then there are the perks of staying in the country's finest hotels and receiving first-class treatment and heavy security protection.

Niaz said that now he has formed friendships with members of the team he would definitely make a trip to the Caribbean in the near future.

"The World Cup is nowhere near over, but already they have invited me to the West Indies. I will definitely take it up."

Skerritt said he was more than pleased with the effort of Niaz and the other ancillary staff accompanying the team.

"We have been lucky to have been given some fantastic people to work with us," he said.

"Our baggage handler, the liaison officer, physiotherapist and massage therapist are all fantastic persons and they have been very accommodating and helpful."