More »
 |
| click on cartoon |
Showing posts with label ICL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ICL. Show all posts
Breaking Bond
Shane Bond’s book Looking Back is out and the ex Kiwi pacer has taken his chance to explain a lot of things and better express some of his concerns (again) during his start-stop career in it.
When I read the headline on Cricinfo, I thought here he goes, whining again about being a victim of politics and probably even being scared silly by bomb-blasts in Bangalore while putting up in Kolkata but then I remembered how tough it was for him to even turn up to play the game he loved. A lot of things broke over Shane Bond’s career. It was his back most of the time, sometimes it was an ankle here, a shin bone there. But the guy kept coming back. Despite mending jobs which seemed straight out of gore film sequences, like a Frankenstein he came back to play with nuts and screws and what not in his body, keeping it all together.
Bond was one of the handful active international cricketers to join the ICL while the rest waited for developments before joining the gold rush. He clarifies that he joined the ICL after getting an ‘iron-clad assurance’ from the NZC that he could play both international cricket and ICL T20; that nothing in his contract prevented him from doing so. What else did he expect the NZC to tell him when he was such an important player for them? The fact that the board got away as long as long as he paid dearly is another thing that angered him. Moreover, how can you trust a board to defend its players and its actions when it can’t say no to a player with the availability record of Bond? He does not mention what he would have done had the board said no. That would’ve set the record straight.
The shit he found himself in after that, including accusations he did not want to play for the country pained Bond. He steered clear of taking any legal action because ‘there were talks’ that indicated NZC and his teammates would suffer. That part is quite believable I must admit and I hope the book throws a lot more light on these talks instead of just hinting at something vague. He maintains though that he does not regret playing in the ICL. It did give him more than the financial security he needed during his 18 months outside the NZ national team, which incidentally would have been akin to the period of a lengthy recovery gone bad for him.
He also says that despite being a top Black Cap, he hadn’t played enough to sustain him for long after his career ended. Well, good on you Shane, hope your book sales are great!
Crownish also blogs at the fckingblog
Lalit Modi - Love him, hate him…
He didn’t allow a free regime in sports.
Any sport or game shouldn’t be the franchise of only the rich, famous and powerful. If you look at Golf (in India), which is supposedly a sport only the rich and famous indulge into there are many among the top 10-20 golfers in the country who started off as caddies. Don’t think these are the Steve William’s of India. These are kids from poor families who worked in a club fetching the bag and balls of the rich and famous. I am not sure if the golfing establishment in India did anything to throttle these caddie turned players, leave alone small bickering here and there. I am talking about organized throttle here.
That is precisely why I don’t like Lalit Modi, the way he throttled ICL. And in effect took away a valuable couple of years from some promising Indian talent, the way he did it was despicable. I am sure we remember the extent his regime stooped to those days. Denying use of facility for those who signed up to the ICL, cancelling the pension of the ex-cricketers who were part of ICL were some gems we would remember. If only the PCR (Prevention of Civil Rights) Act of 1955 could be used against the IPL, there might me more cases than all those pending cases in the Indian courts.
But as they say “Every dog has its day”. Modi had his day and also saw its end. And when it did end, it ended as a shock to him of course and to the cricketing world as a whole. While one could say he has been paid back by the same coin, it might be a little harsh to say that.
Whatever he is, this is the man who made the Indian cricketing establishment sit up, be respected and feared by the other boards and the ICC. The man whose marketing techniques ensured the world had to buy the arguments of Shashank Manohar’s father Mr. Manohar and let “The Obnoxious Weed” off (make no mistake, I am not justifying what the Aussies did). It is the Indian money that the other cricket boards envy and fear about.
And Modi got them the money and with it came the new muscle.
Although Modi hijacked the idea from ICL, he still applied his mind like every boss in the world does to give that idea a bit of tweak and make it his.
There wasn’t a concept of franchise in ICL, Modi got all his rich, famous & powerful friends to come in and buy a team. There were people who said he is copying the western model of club sports, that he was trying to replicate the Super Bowl. There were also a few who went a bit farther and said IPL would the Super bowel (aka Shit) of cricket. That it would fail, collapse etc. We have seen 3 editions till date, and one last year where Modi took on the Indian government and moved the IPL to South Africa. Still, it was successful.
IPL gave life, money and fame to almost everyone who talked, wrote or involved in it. Including those who wrote books about the IPL model, talked about the economics of the league and even to a guy who masqueraded as a Fake IPL Player during the last season. This guy is now promoting his book across platforms, thanks to IPL & more importantly to its creator, Lalit Modi.
A couple of years ago we only saw shirts & trousers (of players) that had a logo. Modi rewrote the rules, now we see many logos that make up the shirt & trouser. Advertisers thought T20 was too quick a game that doesn’t offer enough advertising time. Modi made sure there were enough advertisements (meaning many happy advertisers who feasted on the eyeballs that IPL created) by creating the concept of a “Timeout” in cricket. He even branded the hits, catches, misses and almost everything imaginable in the game and even more like the annoying blimp, commercials on the big screen in the ground between balls.
Now that the business model is established and is getting the returns BCCI wanted, they don’t want Modi. This is typical of the BCCI and the brand of politics we have seen there. Dalmiya, Rungta, Lele, Dungarpur are examples of those who fell prey to the same brand of politics they espoused.
In all these there are some interesting questions that might well have some very interesting answers. Will we have those interesting answers out in the public domain is a million dollar question. Sp here are the questions…
You had a IPL governing council with some full and part time politicians as members. Would you want to exonerate those governing council members and bring in charges only on Modi?
Shouldn’t a Rajeev Shukla or a Sunil Gavaskar or Ravi Shastri be equally held responsible for what has happened?
Is Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s “we should have… We didn’t ” interviews in media be considered an excuse to let the governing council off while Modi is vilified?
How justified is Shashank Manohar trying to put the blame squarely on the professionals who were part of the IPL set up for all that has happened ?
To top it all, this is probably the second time Sharad Pawar has been unusually quiet since the food grain shortage issue was discussed in the Indian parliament.
All this said… I think Modi is going to make a comeback soon as the IPL commissioner. What do you think?
It happens only in Indian cricket!!
Some thoughts about the IPL
(thought about while Akshay Kumar was jumping around like a monkey and laughing like a donkey)
1) Win or lose, someone makes money – IPL 1 was the beginning. There were the DLF Maximums and the Citi Moments of Success. We stifled a puke. IPL 2 introduced the strategic timeout. We almost barfed. Now in addition to the DLFers, we have the Karbonn Kamaal Catches. And ads between deliveries. Shots of the MRF blimp thingy. Lots of shots of the MRF blimp thingy. Akshay Kumar heehawing, Gauti – Viru doing a Brokeback imitation, players singing “Ooh La La La La”…cannot control it, gotta go hurl.
2) Owners or mascots – More than the players, the franchises are increasingly being recognized by their team owners/mascots, especially the female ones. Preity Zinta is KXIP, Nita Ambani is MI and Shilpa Shetty is RR. A great shot by Tendulker and the next shot is of Nita Ambani with her half an inch smile. A diving stop by Yuvraj (becoming a rarity these days) and we see Zinta jumping up and down. What better way to target the female demography which controls the remote control in the Indian homes than to show someone whom they can identify with the most?
3) Harsha Bhogle is God – Amidst all the nonsensical soundbytes about tracer bullets, huge shots (which barely cross the ropes) and double Ds, there is one beacon of hope, an oasis in the desert, a diamond of the coal mine, a….should stop (hearing too much commentary is injurious for mental health),. He goes by the name of Harsha Bhogle. The man is awesome enough to talk sense even while burdened with compulsorily plugging those sponsors. The man was the first to mention ICL and get away with it. He also spoke words to the effect of “The law is an ass”. And he also is self assured enough to tolerate jokes about his brand new hair.
4) Welcome to E..E…Extraa Innings – You want any proof of Set Max trying to capture the eyeballs of the ladies. I present you the hosts (in the set and on the field). All chosen based on the symmetry of their faces, broad shoulders and proven track record of attracting the ladies. Only thing forgotten by the worthies working for the channels was checking the effect brought about by the “hunks” exercising their vocal chords. For proof of that, I submit before you the only exhibit required – Angad Bedi!! The only thing he is good at is wearing a too small for his biceps suit. His stammering makes SRK’s talking seem normal. He looks petrified before the camera and he makes you do something totally against his brief- change the channel. However one good side effect of hiring this flesh and blood mannequin is that the ranting of a certain retired left arm slow bowler have ceased. For the time being.
5) The ICL effect – Who among the new Indian players seem promising to you? Most of you will pick Sathish, Rayadu, and Jhunjhunwala among others like Tiwari and Tiwary, Naman Ojha and half the RR side (Warne is awesome btw.). The common thread that binds the first three chaps is that they were earlier known as the ICL rebels. These are not the only one. Waiting in the wings are other ICLers like Stuart Binny, G. Vighnesh and Ali Murthaza. One chance and I bet they would prove themselves invaluable. Two years in that league have certainly enhanced the skills of these guys. For that, ICL should be given its due.
6) Class: IPL 1 was not good for the senior citizenry of cricket with Tendulkar, Kallis and Gilly struggling to keep up with the relatively new format. IPL 2 saw them more attuned. IPL 3 is seeing them at their best showing the young turks why they are the real deal. Tendulkar’s “killing ‘em softly” strokeplay, Kallis’s all round excellence and Murali’s vicious turners (not to forget Vaas, Hayden and Kumble) are the real highlight of the IPL for me.
These are some of the random thoughts about the IPL crossing my mind today. And I have not even mentioned other awesome fellas like Agarkar. More to come.
by Dhaanu
blogs at Bakwaas Baatein (Random rambling of a raving borderline lunatic)
RAZZAQED. (an attempt to unite India and Pakistan over cricket, again)
Razzaq’s memories of playing for an Indian League go back to the ICL – he ganged up with himself and took the whole lotta them Lahore Badshahs on. Closer examination will tell you they took him and his entire clan on. They were all on first name basis, teri yeh and teri woh; just shows life can get intimate without Bhajji.
One part of Razzaq knows he doesn’t belong. If I was him, I’d start my own league. He’s too good a cricketer to be wasted daydreaming about playing for someone else’s team. Nobody wants him, not Pak, not IPL, not the Badshah’s, I won’t be surprised if Abdur doesn’t want Razzaq and vice versa. Or is it Abdul doesn’t want Abdur and vice versa?
He really is one of those Lance Klusener types – so damn gifted, he can’t keep it to himself. Poor man ran outta luck a long time ago. He also makes me think of Kaif, Mishra, and Razdan. All cricketers born under a bad sign. Together they should form their own league – The Untouchables. Or what the hell, just Razzaqed.
Last few days, Razzaq was under the impression the IPL wanted him; ask Mishra he will tell you, on good days, he feels India wants him. Kaif, ok, let’s not even go there. And Razdan, he really should’ve played more, would’ve kept him clear of the com box.
Anyway enough clues there, high time we came out with a Razzaqued (or is it Razzaqed?) Eleven – there will be no twelfth man, as all eleven are basically…yeah, right, Razzaq will say, that was below the belt, but who cares – Nobody. Sad but true. All these guys can do is rue. Or form their own Razzaqed XI
1) A Razzaq
2) A Chopra
3) W Jaffer
4)
5) S Badrinath
6) D Karthik
7) M Tiwary
8) A Mishra
9) S Sreesanth
10) ……
11) …..
As for the empty slots, they’re for the super forgotten Razzaqed players – when you touch an all-time low that’s when you’ll connect to the player, like I’m thinking Kaif @ 4. See that’s how it works. You can even make your own eleven. But for that, you must feel suicidal, slightly.
Of course, the Pakistanis may feel a little done in, only Razzaq in this side, but hey, there are still three slots – and you don’t need no Modi or PCB to put your guys in this team. Hell, right now I’m thinking of a Pak player even cricinfo can’t help me on – rumour was he got done in in the Imran Khan years, and he was some batsman…I liked but can't remember him no more.
PS: Notice how my Razzaqed XI has no first names - that's because nobody is on first name basis with them; just the other day I heard somebody call out for Razzaq, you won't believe what they said - AAA Razzaq...
Why did Shane Bond play
He was not injured.
Fitness aside, can you put an age to Shane Bond? Not that he’s timeless, but he doesn’t look any particular age. Almost like his twin, Putin. Can you put an age to Putin?
Even Bond doesn’t know he’s 34. It’s like Afridi doesn’t know he’s forty or Jayasuriya doesn’t know he’s a hundred or Sachin doesn’t know he’s not eighteen. And what the hell is age but a number that lies.
But Bond is 34, that’s what his birth certificate says. What this cert doesn’t say is that he’s played 17 tests strewn all over the Lord of the Rings sets, and a pocketful of one-dayers.
Shane Bond returned to play Sri Lanka in a twenty20. He returned in body, not in spirit. Bond doesn’t have spirit. If he was an alcoholic, even then he wouldn’t have any spirit.
He is a limp biscuit. Dipped in a Delhi ICL team, that was so bad, to conform he had to be equally bad. Ditto with Lara and his Mumbai Champs.
Bond’s ICL jaunt was called Delhi Giants and they made a midget out of him. They lost everything, except maybe games against the Champs, which both teams lost.
This of course cannot be proven as there are no records of the ICL. For the record, Bond’s non-existent spirit was broken by Dilshan, four fours of his first over.
Later, standing alongside Vettori he seemed small, almost like a left arm spinner. Vettori though, still didn’t look like a quick bowler.
Bond pulled it back, but not because of his bowling, the zip was missing, and the buttons too. He bowled yorkers that weren’t, speeds that were ICL-like at best.
There was a smallness to him, and that was sad. He just needs to play India again. On conditions of anonymity, Vettori told me, 'if not for India I would be half the bowler I am.'
That would be the bitter half.
NADA: Whoabouts are you ?
Yesterday it was about WADA...
So what is new today ?
NADA
Yes, National Anti-Doping Agency. It is the Indian version of the WADA. It is an autonomous body that comes under the purview of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. Full marks for guessing that this was formed to clean-up Indian sports. Especially after the dark era of weightlifting post the last Commonwealth games. This is the same body which handled the Monika Devi episode during the Beijing Olympics.
Post that episode the Sports ministry wanted to streamline the operations of this body. The first step for them was to write to all the sports federations in India asking them to be part of this body. There were some associations that readily complied with this request and adopted their anti-doping standards. There were many who didn't even care to reply thinking NADA was just another nada.
Finally the Sports ministry thought enough is enough and promulgated a notice in the gazette and got it published in the leading dailies in India.
What did those ads say ?
All sports bodies in India needed to write back and comply to the NADA regulations. It would be taken for granted that those who don't reply by September 15, 2008 concur with the regulations of NADA.
It would be September 15 in another month the only difference, this is 2009. There still were associations that have not complied. Among those who failed to respond was this big, cash rich sports body. They suddenly woke up yesterday, roughly a year after the deadline according to the newspaper ads and more than that if you take into consideration the initial communication that was sent to all the sports associations in India.
I am sure you would have guessed right by now... BCCI is the body we are talking about. There are some of us who believe that BCCI had the "GUTS" to reject WADA, that was day before if I am not wrong.
Do those of us feel gutted now, that BCCI is signing up with NADA - the country cousin of WADA ?
May be all this while BCCI had doubts about the "whereabouts", of NADA
Or was that the "Whoabouts" ?
Tail piece: NADA also goes by the WADA code, so what's the point in rejecting one and embracing the other ?
ICL & IPL... Does that ring a bell ?
So who will be the Noah of NADA ??
Happy Bored Day rockstar!
Happy b'day Chris Cairns. Isn't it funny, that our last cricketing memory of you is the ICL eviction. Whatever happened wasn't quite cricket. And who was that with you, Dinesh Mongia? And your team was Punjab something, right? See how the ICL's gone for a big six, like one of yours, out of sight.
does pakistan really need yousuf…razzaq…?
icl seems to have accepted yousuf and razzaq's resignations...thereby paving the way for them to return to international cricket...
pcb too can't seem to wait for their return...and we might see them playing for pakistan sooner rather than later...
but does pakistan really need them...?
i for once don’t think so...
razzaq...was seen as a spent force in one dayers as well as tests...his bowling was dipping alarmingly for him to be termed as an all rounder, and i'm not sure his batting credentials are such that he can be included in an international team for batting alone...t20 may be...but certainly not in the longer format of the game...
after all the flip-flops of yousuf and his media war with malik (then captain) one can really imagine the kind of ‘camaraderie’ he will have in the dressing room...i would go to the extent of saying that he will be nothing but a negative influence which is the last thing this pak team needs at this time of rebuilding...
pak seem to be on their way to finding a combination under the leadership of younis...and including yousuf at this stage is not only an unwanted distraction but it also has the potential to derail the whole process...
let's not got carried away with yousuf and razzaq tonking losers in icl...
let pak team play cricket without these side shows both on and off field and let them find roots and a right combination...
more importantly let's show some patience with younis once we have bestowed him with this responsibility...let's give him some time to make his imprint on this young and vibrant team pakistan...
your thoughts...?
Mark of a cricketer
Most of the cricketers these days look at picking up a couple of endorsement contracts when they are in their 20's, sign a lucrative contract with their respective boards by their mid 20's and move on to IPL or ICL when they are closing 30 and retire into a commentary box when they are about to touch 35.
There are a blessed few whom their parents christened Shane, Adam & Mathew who after passing 35 and retiring from international cricket start their career afresh. Playing what is dubbed the 3G version of cricket, the T20 and being a force to reckon with.
There are a few not so blessed...
When I say not so blessed I mean, when god made them he said may you have all the talent in the world... But... But, you shall always lack luck. These are the guys who show tremendous potential but they always have detractors crying a false start. But most of the guys in this category got their chances, they had at least one set of favorable board in their entire career that they got a good run with their national teams. Case points being Vinod Kambli of India & Graeme Hick of England.
But here is one cricketer who would have fared better had be been a football in EPL. He was kicked all over, his share of international cricket came in piece meal installments. Whenever England didn't want any favorite sons get to the abattoir, Ramprakash was called in. Be it a difficult Ashes (the Gatting's magic ball Ashes) or a doomed Indian tour, he was called in as the sacrificial lamb.
The class act he is, closing 40 in a matter of another 121 days he still churns out 100's for his team Surrey. I am not sure if I would even have some motivation to play street cricket when I am 40. Given the fact that till date his name comes into the discussion tables of ECB whenever a test team is selected, only to strike his name off due to one reason or the other, I wonder what makes him tick. What makes him score all those 100's.
Ramps scored his hundred number 104 (I hope I'm right with this number!!) against his former team Middlesex day before (May 06). A team he captained for quite a while, including those days when the English press were going gaga about the arrival of who would be the best of English captains in the future.
Makes me wonder if he is a man or machine. Mark Ravin Ramprakash, would remain the enigma of English cricket.
well done bcci !!!
for offering amnesty to ICL players...hence showing other boards the way...how to do it...
"A lot of cricketers and support staff with the ICL met us and informed us that it was a mistake committed by them in joining the ICL and they want to return to the BCCI," Shashank Manohar, the BCCI president, said. "They will be allowed to play domestic cricket immediately. "
while its good news for those players who are looking to return to the fold...at the same time its bad news to all those who made the living out of condemning bcci for almost everything happening in cricketing world...though i am sure they will still find a way to do it...after all old habits die hard...
long live ailing ICL!
to see other good work done by bcci...click here...
India Kiddie XI
When NC commented on this post on WWC at All Padded Up, asking me to write on kiddie cricket, I started thinking. And it took me a long, long while to think of a concept for this post!
So, here is the post on kiddie cricket, which lists the Indian Kiddie XI to play in the ICC Kiddie World Cup, if such a tournament ever takes place. Considering the number of ICC sponsored tournaments are to take place in this year and the next and the one after that, it isn't that distant a possibility.
I guess it is only befitting that this post comes from the kid on the Bored, as confirmed by the Bored mail correspondences. From the kid on Bored, about the kids in Indian Cricket!
I hope you will, along with me, push for success of these new kids on the block!
Indian Kiddie XI
Sachin Tendulkar [Coach, Mentor, Thank Acceptor]: The hunger for runs he displays even at this age, surely makes him a kid for cricketing terms. Yada Yada. Little Master. Blah blah blah. And though the yadas and the blahs are all true, Tendlya simply will be making an entry into any team that as Indian written over it, unless he chooses not to.
Gautam Gambhir: The most obvious choice as opening partner to Sachin, with his kiddish demeanour and all. Ironically, he turned 18 this week only. So, you got to find us a replacement now! I propose Ajinkya Rahane, but it is for you to choose.
Cheteshwara Pujara: The next wall to some, simply Che to others! Will be making the No. 3 position his own. Amen!
Darsheel Safary: If we are having a Kiddie XI, we might as well have a kid among the team. And as the latest Parle-G ad suggests, he can do better than Amir Khan, who as we all know is a match winner when it comes to nerve-wrecking situations (remember Lagaan?!)
Kunal Khemu: He desperately wants to go back to being a kid, when he was still loved by the public. He gets this place out of that sympathy.
Parthiv Patel [WK]: Caught in a time-warp, this poor fellow, has failed to grow. In terms of stature or age!
Kapil Dev [C]: For crying like babies or bahus on National Television. With that moustache, he couldn't get into WWC, so we might as well include him here. Though the other BCCI doesnt't let him play, we got absolutely no problems with this ICL rebel, as long as he performs well.
Piyush Chawla: Again the kid face does the trick!
The slot for the off spinner is open. I thought of Bhajji, but that stubborn kid refuses to learn the magic of flight. Hence, kept out of team (ala class) for disciplinary reasons.
Ishant Sharma: The biggest kid sensation in the International Arena, comes in to the team as an automatic choice.
Dhawal Kulkarni: A star cricketer in the making, bowls fast, real fast, learns faster and could be a perfect foil for Ishant.
Irfan Pathan [12th Man]: The kid with promise, ruined probably forever. With Dev already in the team, this Kapil impostor could only make it as the 12th Man.
And yeah, two kids from the Bored have teamed up for striking new strokes, Check out their Paddle Sweep!
Talk About Modesty...
By Q
“I’ve been Pakistan’s best batsman in recent times. My records show that. I can still give my best for two, three more years. And I don’t think there is anybody good enough to replace me (in the team),”
“It’s Pakistan which will suffer without me"
Mohammad Yousuf speaks out.
Pakistan vs. Lahore Badshahs
Played at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium on a Friday
Match notes Most run-outs, most beards, most former captains, most present captains, most reverse swing, most ball changing, most ball tampering, most choking, most fixing.
Toss Coin did not land. Currency note used instead, last number odd or even?
Debuts Javed Miandad's niece (Pakistan), Inzamam-ul-Haq Jr (Lahore Badshahs)
Umpires Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis
TV Umpire Salim Malik
Match Referee Sarfraz Nawaz
Result Bowl out. Nobody hits. The longest T20 game ever, continues every Friday
Player of the match TBA
If not for the ICL
Sami would never have bowled a slow ball
MoYo would never have spoken n smiled at a teammate all in one go
Symcox would never have called the trophy "18 inches long, no 18 inches high"
Bored beyond bones – Conspiracy theory 1
Ever since the friends across their borders assured help, to avoid arrest the exodus and to improve the standards of the game,
They have lost talent, they have lost their experience to the rival league.
It is not the new guys who have put them in this winning position suddenly, for if they had new guys why didn’t they infuse this new blood long back?
It is actually the old guys, the guys who were part of the numbers (11) but didn’t contribute to anything except to probably taking their position in the team bus, hotel, breakfast table etc. who seem to make the difference now.
So how did it all happen all of the sudden?
How does a supposedly strong Kiwi team suddenly start losing hands down to those who were minnows till the Kiwi plane touched down in
Have the friends across borders started to deliver what they promised?
Monies, gentlemen?
Improved standards of the game?
Justin Vaughn, Sir Richard Hadlee, Daniel Vettori or someone from BCB should be able to explain better.
I didn’t drink that coffee officially…
by Raja Baradwaj
That is perhaps what Shashank Manohar, the president of BCCI would have told the waiter who brought him the bill post his meeting with the ICL officials.
David Morgan, the ICC honcho had wanted the BCCI to meet the ICL officials to discuss the possibility of legalising the ICL. This as we know happened during the course of last week or thereabouts. There was a deadpan silence from the BCCI side about this meeting, and now we know that they indeed met.
Kapil Dev, Himanshu Modi & Shashank Manohar met at a coffee shop, I believe the meeting got over even before coffee could be served. It is reported that the meeting got over in 15 minutes or so.
Here is my take on what one could do in all of 15 minutes.
On an average it takes about a minimum of 5 – 7 minutes to shake hands and settle on the seats. And then we have the customary “it’s very hot outside”, “the monsoon this year has been disappointing” etc., which would take another 4 – 5 minutes. By which time the waiter would have come in with the menu. And it would have taken another 5 – 7 minutes to settle on something from the menu and order it. That makes it 14 minutes going by the minimum standards. And then an okay seeya, bye and another shake hands would have taken another 2 – 3 minutes.
So effectively the 15 minutes is over and out, even before the coffee they would have ordered got hot (ready) in the kettle. And then I am sure Mr Manohar in his grandiosity as a BCCI honcho would have announced loudly that no one associated with the BCCI can have coffee with the unofficial league guys. If anyone does have or is seen paying up for the unofficial league guys coffee, then he shall be banned for life. Walked off, he would have updated Mr Pawar on his mobile.
And now, for the scoop of the day…
While all this was happening a source tells me that there was a guy keeping a close watch on the three from the mezzanine floor. This guy was seen leaving as the other three were, and was seen calling / talking on his mobile phone with someone. I am told this person had a distinctive lisp. I wonder who it would have been !!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
