By Qaiser Mohammad Ali
Kanpur, Nov 11 (IANS) Some innovative local politicians have started using cricketers’ photographs alongside theirs on roadside hoardings, taking advantage of the third India-Pakistan One-Day International being held here.
One particular politician has chosen to bask in the reflected glory of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He had the hard-hitting batsman-wicket-keeper’s picture printed along with his put up on hoardings on roads leading to the Green Park Stadium.
“These days everyone wants to be seen in Indian cricketers’ company, so why not politicians,” commented a cricket fan.
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Woolmer remembered in city of his birth
Local organisers who interacted with late Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer when the team played here in 2005 fondly remember the Kanpur-born former England player. Woolmer, who mysteriously died aged 58 on March 18 in the West Indies, was born in the city where his father was posted during the British Raj.
Sunil Tiwari, one of the oldest match organisers, had not only spent time with Woolmer two-and-half years ago but also had a photograph clicked with him. “My most memorable memory of Woolmer is the humbleness with which he talked to me. And when I requested for a photograph with him, he immediately put his arm around my shoulder and smiled. That remains a memorable picture for me,” Tiwari told IANS at the Green Park Stadium.
During that match, Woolmer was also presented a specially framed birth certificate by the hospital where he was born here May 14, 1948.
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Fans queue up since 2 a.m.
It seems die-hard Kanpur fans would do anything to watch an international match. This was evident at the Green Park Stadium as people started queuing up outside hours before the ODI began.
Believe it or not, some people, obviously well aware of the notorious role of the local police during cricket matches, began forming a queue as early as 2 a.m. – a whopping seven hours before the scheduled 9 a.m. start of the match.
One of the match organisers who left the stadium for home, said he was surprised to see people standing outside the stadium in the middle of the night. “We finished work at the stadium at around 2 a.m. and when we were leaving, we saw ticket holders of the general stands queuing up at that unearthly hour,” Prabodh Sharma told IANS.
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New additions to Green Park
While chaos ruled a day before the match here, there were some distinct improvements at the Green Park. The organisers, Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), provided for the first time, free wi-fi Internet facility in the media box. This move comes after years of chaos and requests by the media for basic minimum facilities for the huge media contingent. The organisers seem finally to have paid heed to the long-standing demand and, naturally, both parties were happy Sunday.
The second welcome addition was a giant electronic screen for the spectators. The screen, on which scores and non-controversial replays are continuously displayed, has been put up next to the world-famous giant scoreboard, which shows more details of a match in progress than any other in the world. If the spectators missed a delivery Sunday, they immediately turned to the electronic screen to watch the replays.