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When I asked Lasith Malinga to defeat the English team with 100 runs, he did

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Anjoo Mohun
Anjoo MohunFeb 10, 2017 | 19:57

When I asked Lasith Malinga to defeat the English team with 100 runs, he did

I could’ve cried, big gasping sobs of relief... Lasith Malinga is back!

He will play, he will bounce his bronze-tinted curls and the batsmen will be bounced off one by one... It is said often that it is us, 1.5 billion South Asians, who have kept the English game in the green.

We are like a big, dysfunctional joint family - noisy, difficult and disagreeable, but when it comes to those outsiders - read Australia, South Africa or the English teams, we unite in holy cricketdom, geopolitics notwithstanding.

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I have my own mantra, India obviously comes first in my loyalty tables. Then I would root for Pakistan, followed by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. When the minions of cricket Bangladesh made a victory, I wanted to be part of the celebrations from Khulna to Jessore to Dhaka.

It was serendipitous to be in Sri Lanka when the World Cup was being held in 2011. Ponting and party were sitting at a table away and they had a match against us, the second semi final... I couldn’t be mistaken for anything but Indian, though we did have an eclectic mix of guests.

With all good manners I went across to wish them all the best, knowing that with Dhoni at the helm and Yuvraj in form, they didn’t have a hope. But cricket isn’t called a gentleman’s game without reason and I have been a card-holding member of that boy club for decades. I don’t even think it’s sexist!

But Ponting didn’t rise to the bait and sent me off with a curt nod of acknowledgement. I felt a stir of alarm. If he was so focused and stern, would our boys be in trouble?

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The next day we packed them off in style and then it was Sri Lanka playing England... who had given us a scare earlier.

I had work to do, but it is a well known fact that I always feel ill whenever a crucial match is on and manage to find a way to a TV screen munching Digene tablets. But this time, breadwinning came first and it was a late, late hour when I made my way to an empty food court for sustenance.

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It was serendipitous to be in Sri Lanka when the World Cup was being held in 2011. (Photo: Reuters)  

Lo and behold... who said hard work doesn’t pay off! In walked Mr Malinga and his even lovelier wife and he went to order some hoppers. I melted in that moment. The sheer view of a hero, live, eating a simple dinner, no airs or attitude and a smile to spare for all.

Even those who didn’t watch cricket would have been humbled by his natural humility. Sri Lanka fans walked up slowly, bowed and waved and left him in peace. He looked in the eye at everyone and in that moment I realised why our own stars are wary... we shout, we push, we scream and we misbehave. Who wouldn’t be scared at the sight of the Indian mob!

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That night in the subterranean dining centre, I got an insight into the power of politeness. Our Sri Lankan brethren have always been soft-spoken and gentle, I attribute it to their Buddhist way of life. But then we don’t worship Shakti for nothing, do we!

And the Indian fan in me kicked in.

He was alone finally, speaking to his wife. I stood up. Twirled and twisted a bit till he raised his head at the disturbance. I had no intention to be a nuisance but this was too good a chance to pass up. I raised a hand and he smiled back.

Hadn’t he heard an entire Indian stadium go silent as one of his majestic deliveries with a killer swing dispatched one of our greats? I slid over... and boldly asked him to defeat the English team with 100 runs. I could hear a collective sucking in of shocked breaths. 

This was worse than a "cricket for dummies" moment. Duh! How does a bowler defeat with runs. He takes scalps, I mean wickets! My friends cracked up. He allowed me a photo - those were the early, heady days when phones had just come out with camera. I scurried away in my own ignominy.

That day he went on to do exactly as I had begged... the Sri Lankans defeated the English team by 10 wickets... as good as I asked. Isn’t that equal to a loss by 100 runs? For days, my phone pinged with congratulatory messages from the world over, asking me what I had actually said to him.

This is how myths are created and I basked in my own glory. Of course, it set up a dream final between us and them and we won, and all was well with the world. I airbrushed my double chin and that portrait sits in a special section in my very valuable cricket folder.

Now if only I could get Malinga to sign it. Yes, I am aware he must have forgotten the moment I left, but the memory of a cricket fan? Never challenge that!

Last updated: February 10, 2017 | 19:57
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