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Cricketing Brain - December 2007

Sohaib Akhtar,the bad boy of Pakistan cricket has been dropped yet again.The reason this time is that he defied the diktat of the chief of PCB to return to Pakistan and prove his fitness by playing Domestic matches..Sohaib had stayed back in India to explore the possibility of finding a good role in Bollywood Movie.There was some buzz initially that some producers were interested in him.Sohaib in the meanwhile also participated in some Television Reality Show as a Guest Judge.This indiscretion on his part has again cost him his place in the team selected to be played against Zimbabwe.

Sohaib has done nothing in his career except for a few fast and furious spell which brought him some wicket as well.When he toured India the very first time then he was an unknown quantity.Then the Pakistan was led by Wasim Akram,probably the best left arm bowler ever,and Waqar was his bowling partner so nobody gave any thought about the new bowler named Sohaib Akhtar.But the two wonderful deliveries shattered the wickets of two of the greatest batsman of this era,Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.Sohaib was catapulted to the instant stardom after this achievement.He was being touted as the fastest bowler ever.This sudden adulation and fame spoiltSohaib and his career graph started declining.He got inflicted with various injuries and missed most of the matches.


The sensation he generated and the world media attention he captured made him superstar and he started comparing himself with the greatImran Khan.This self-boasting made him very unpopular with the team members and this was the reason behind his fight with fellow bowler Md.Asif.Sometimes back the fighting due were accused of taking performance enhancing drugs and were banned too for some time but the matter was buried and they were exonerated.


Pakistani Authorities and surprisingly many former players too believe that he creates awe and fear in the opposition camp so he has his rightful place in the team.


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The Maharaj Of Indian Cricket !

December 25th 2007 15:26

He was considered to be a sensational cricketer and was picked for the tour of Australia at a very young age.But that tour proved to be a nightmare for him .His attitude was questioned and there were only negative reports about him in the press.It was said that he refused to serve drinks and discharge other duties as the twelfth man of the team.His aristocratic upbringing was highlighted and he was deemed unfit for a team game like cricket.As he came,so he went , completely unnoticed.His performance in the domestic circuit was also not exemplary so when he was picked for the tour of England,cricket pundits bemoaned and pointed this as yet another whimsical selection at the behest of the then all powerful,Jagmohan Dalmia,the president of the Board of Cricket Control of India.
He started his second innings with a grand century at Lords and here the "Maharaja"finally found his rightful position.Rest is the history as the maharaj,also known as Saurav Ganguly kept growing in stature to be ultimately appointed the Captain of the Team.
When he relinquished captain ship, he had already become the most successful captain of Indian cricket.He introduced a new culture in the team and returned every opposition irrespective of their stature in equal measure; off the field as well as on the field.He advocated fearless cricket and did not mind rubbing the wrong way whoever acted snobbish and pricey with him.Steve Waugh and Andrew Flintoff must surely remember some of those incidents.As for his game, once Rahul Dravid famously described him as "the God of off side".
No other Indian Captain has weilded as much influence and commanded as much respect as Saurav did.He had the absolute authority primarily because of his fanatic fan following and his very close proximity with Dalmiya.
Saurav wanted to start a Cricket Academy in Kolkata and had sought expert advice from the Australian Great Greg Chapel.It was on Saurav's recommendation that Greg got the job of coaching team India.But Greg had other ideas and he was not anymore comfortable with Saurav Ganguly in the playing eleven.Amidst huge controversy,Saurabh was dropped and the law of justice took its own course when the wheel turned full circle and Greg too had to quit for good.
Nobody,including Saurav himself would have imagined the stupendous ways his journey would take.His determination was awesome and he achieved all his unfulfilled dreams.He is perhaps the most valuable cricketer of India today.The whole of India is immensely pleased that he is playing his 100'th test.Hopefully he would continue with this form and keep playing up to the next World Cup.India adores her Saurav !
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