'Playing so often is also not a good thing'
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan speaks to Raj Singh Dungarpur on his memories of India's tour of Pakistan in 1984
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan
06-Jan-2006
It's been more than 21 years, but Raj Singh Dungarpur remembers the 1984 tour to Pakistan vividly. Just like this time, Dungarpur was the manager of the Indian side on that tour and spoke about the contrast between then and now. In a short chat with Cricinfo, a few hours before boarding the flight from Delhi to Lahore, he talked about the thaw in Indo-Pak relations and the curtailed tour in '84.
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Do you see a distinct change in India-Pakistan relations in the last few years?
I haven't managed the side since 1984 but have travelled to Pakistan a few times since then. I think the ice has completely melted, often to the point of embarrassment. I remember the last series in 2004, when I had gone to Lahore. I was out shopping and people were very reluctant to even accept money.
I haven't managed the side since 1984 but have travelled to Pakistan a few times since then. I think the ice has completely melted, often to the point of embarrassment. I remember the last series in 2004, when I had gone to Lahore. I was out shopping and people were very reluctant to even accept money.
Has the on-field intensity also reduced?
If the on-field intensity reduces, why play. It adds the essence to the game. It should be like when Australia and England play where there is terrific on-field intensity but nothing off it. Sometimes, especially last time, the goodwill factor was overdone but I think the players are as geared up as they were before. But playing so often is also not a good thing. As Shaharyar Khan said, we have played 16 times in 18 months. That definitely is like killing the goose that lays the golden egg. Why not be like Australia and England when you play every two years. That way, the anticipation also increases.
If the on-field intensity reduces, why play. It adds the essence to the game. It should be like when Australia and England play where there is terrific on-field intensity but nothing off it. Sometimes, especially last time, the goodwill factor was overdone but I think the players are as geared up as they were before. But playing so often is also not a good thing. As Shaharyar Khan said, we have played 16 times in 18 months. That definitely is like killing the goose that lays the golden egg. Why not be like Australia and England when you play every two years. That way, the anticipation also increases.
Talk us through the situation in 1984 ...
The security was simply overwhelming. If we boys sat in the lounge, there would be 40 people surrounding us. It completely destroyed our privacy. Because we spoke the same lingo as them, we couldn't make fun even among ourselves. We always had to be on our guard and the players were a bit overawed by it all. There were so many people who wanted to approach us and meet us, but the security was so tight, that nothing was possible.
The security was simply overwhelming. If we boys sat in the lounge, there would be 40 people surrounding us. It completely destroyed our privacy. Because we spoke the same lingo as them, we couldn't make fun even among ourselves. We always had to be on our guard and the players were a bit overawed by it all. There were so many people who wanted to approach us and meet us, but the security was so tight, that nothing was possible.
Any memories of the on-field action ...
Jimmy Amarnath and Ravi Shastri saved us the Lahore Test after we were in deep trouble. We were bowled out for 156 odd, on a beautiful pitch by Azeem Hafeez. Both noticed that I was glum throughout the game and promised me that they would save the game. I remember Amarnath walked up to Ravi and said 'don't let the ball hit the pad, the time has come for us to be given out'. That was how scared we were of the umpiring. Winning was so important for both teams that events often went beyond the boundary. It was on that tour that Roger Binny was given out without any of the Pakistani players appealing. When I asked Roger why he didn't even protest and gesticulate, he said 'At one level you are saying I am not protesting, at another level you are saying you would set up an enquiry for those not accepting an umpiring decision.'
Jimmy Amarnath and Ravi Shastri saved us the Lahore Test after we were in deep trouble. We were bowled out for 156 odd, on a beautiful pitch by Azeem Hafeez. Both noticed that I was glum throughout the game and promised me that they would save the game. I remember Amarnath walked up to Ravi and said 'don't let the ball hit the pad, the time has come for us to be given out'. That was how scared we were of the umpiring. Winning was so important for both teams that events often went beyond the boundary. It was on that tour that Roger Binny was given out without any of the Pakistani players appealing. When I asked Roger why he didn't even protest and gesticulate, he said 'At one level you are saying I am not protesting, at another level you are saying you would set up an enquiry for those not accepting an umpiring decision.'
How did the players handle the news about Indira Gandhi's assassination?
They were quite shattered. Most of the players were part of the '83 team that had won the World Cup and she had personally met them after that triumph. They couldn't manage sleeping for many days. I remember the deputy high commissioner in Karachi talking to us till the early hours of the morning, narrating incidents about her. She had such a presence. It was tough to accept that she was gone.
They were quite shattered. Most of the players were part of the '83 team that had won the World Cup and she had personally met them after that triumph. They couldn't manage sleeping for many days. I remember the deputy high commissioner in Karachi talking to us till the early hours of the morning, narrating incidents about her. She had such a presence. It was tough to accept that she was gone.
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is staff writer of Cricinfo