By Rohma Sadaqat

Cricket is an essential part of almost every Pakistani household. You may run into one or two odd ones from this part of the world who might say that they have absolutely no interest in the game. Nevertheless, cricket is a sport that has been known to bring productivity in offices to a complete standstill. It is also known to bring absolute chaos and pandemonium to a household — as I found out while watching the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches on television.

Continue reading Cricket is drawing battle lines in my household →

By Karen Ann Monsy

Consider this a personal tribute from a ‘non-fan’.

I’m calling myself that, not because I hated basketball legend Kobe Bryant (I’m no Celtics cub) — but because I feel like an outsider, an ‘intruder upon family grief’ in the wake of the news of the Olympic athlete’s untimely passing on Sunday.

Continue reading Dear Black Mamba, from a non-fan →

By Rituraj Borkakoty

Growing up in the early 1990s, Carl Lewis was as big an icon for us as Michael Jordan, Diego Maradona and Steffi Graf — people who made sporting history. People who we thought always had the luxury of driving fancy cars and flying around the world in private jets.

Continue reading When Carl Lewis says athletes are ‘professional amateurs’, you run with it →

By Rituraj Borkakoty

Don’t hit the ball in the air,” Brian Lara, like a grammar nazi, told the kids at the Indian Heritage High School in Dubai during a special net session.

Continue reading The Prince of Trinidad wants kids to learn from King Kohli →

By Rituraj Borkakoty

Every now and then, a Dream Team breathes in the heart of every cricketing romantic. For, a fan can be a slave to his love of the game. And he could even bring down the man-made barriers to evoke the spirit of Imagine. After all, fans are the sort of people who could even stir John Lennon’s soul.

Continue reading Can’t imagine a Dream Team without Don →

By Tirtho Banerjee

Back in the early-80s, in Varanasi to be precise, cricket ran in my veins. I lived the passion every single moment.  After returning from school, I used to eagerly wait for the clock to strike 4pm, and with spring in my steps, I would stride towards the Sigra Stadium to indulge in the sport. It was during one of those practice sessions that a local hard-hitter, who would swat every ball he touched for a towering six, asked me: “Chotu (kid), have you seen Abdul Qadir bowl?” I hesitatingly nodded a shaky ‘No’. “Go, watch him,” was his terse advice.

Continue reading How Qadir put more wrist in my bowling →

By James  Jose

Indian cricket and Bollywood, and perhaps even politics, have a lot in common. There is a plot, oodles of drama, suspense and a happy ending, of course. In short, they follow a similar trajectory. They are strange bed fellows, minus the song and dance.

Continue reading Why Kohli is backing Shastri for coach →