By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS
Bangalore : Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has hogged all the limelight on the present tour, sometimes for the wrong reasons, but continues to remain popular with the masses. Some spectators at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here came only to watch the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ bowl.
‘We bunked classes to watch Shoaib Akhtar bowl’ read a placard held by a spectator on the second day of the third and final Test against India here Sunday. This shows how popular 32-year-old Akhtar is in India.
However, fans were disappointed as Shoiab did not bowl Sunday morning. He was out of the field Saturday due to a back problem and as per rules he cannot bowl again unless he has spent the same time on the field as much as he was off it. He left the field minutes after lunch.
Akhtar is said to be mulling over a film offer from an Indian producer. As they say, you can love him, you can hate him, but you cannot ignore Akhtar.
-*-
KSCA clubhouse canteen closes – unusually
The clubhouse canteen of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has been closed, rather unusually, for the duration of the ongoing India-Pakistan Test match. It is unusual because on previous occasions the canteen had served food for KSCA members at night.
According to a KSCA official, the canteen could have been closed due to security reasons. This has posed problems for the guests staying in the KSCA clubhouse within the stadium premises for the Test match. They now have to go out of the stadium for food.
While dinner is not being served, buffet breakfast continues to be offered for the guests and other KSCA members. Guests are also given temporary membership, which entitles them to make use of all facilities on offer to permanent members for a nominal fee.
-*-
Pakistani team catches up on Indian films
The Pakistanis, be it the cricketers or media personnel, are hooked on to Indian films. In Bangalore too, most of them spend their evenings watching new releases like “Goal” and “Dus Kahaniyan”. Almost the entire Pakistani team went to watch “Goal” at a multiplex.
During the first two Tests in Delhi and Kolkata, the Pakistani players went to watch “Om Shanti Om”, “Sanwariya” and other films.
However, except for Shoaib Akhtar, the Pakistani players do not attend parties. Shoaib was seen and photographed dancing at a disco.