By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS
Bangalore : A cut-glass dinner displayed at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium – where the third India-Pakistan Test started Saturday – reminded visitors of the 100th Test of then Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in 2005.
It had been presented to Inzamam on the occasion of his 100th Test. But an error in the inscription on the 47-piece customised, handcrafted dinner set, made at a cost of Rs.40,000, had forced the manufacturers to make it all over again.
The Made-in-Indore set with the error is still displayed in a glass showcase at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) office premises inside the stadium.
As India batted after winning the toss Saturday, the now-retired Inzamam was in the country but about 2,300 km away from Bangalore, in Panchkula, near Chandigarh, where he is playing in the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL). It is learnt that Inzamam, who is captaining Hyderabad Heroes, is closely following the Test series, which India are leading 1-0.
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Referee Madugalle completes unique ‘century’
Former Sri Lanka batsman Ranjan Madugalle completed a different kind of century Saturday when he officiated in his 100th Test as an International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee.
The 48-year-old former right-handed batsman, who played 21 Tests and 63 One-Day Internationals, began his stint as an ICC referee in the Pakistan-Zimbabwe match in Karachi in December 1993, and went on to become its chief referee.
KSCA, known for recognising personal milestones of players and officials, felicitated Madugalle by presenting him a silver memento during the lunch break on the opening day of the Test. Madugalle has also officiated in 209 ODIs and 12 Twenty20 Internationals.
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Brijesh Patel, a tireless worker
Brijesh Patel, the KSCA secretary and former India batsman, worked till well past midnight Friday, personally checking every nook and corner of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Looking calm and composed even after a hard day’s work, Patel ensured that everything was in order before 9.30 a.m. Saturday, when the Test match started.
On Friday night, as he returned to his office after taking one more round, Patel inquired from a worker if everything was in place for the Test match. The man informed Patel that a water tank had burst in a section of the stands.
“Get it repaired now,” Patel told the man. “Sir, I will get it done by 7 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday),” he replied. “It should be done before 7 a.m. because the (stadium) gates would open at that time,” instructed Patel before once again walking down the stairs to check something.
“Okay, I will get it done by 6 a.m,” was the reply he got.