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Showing posts from September, 2023

The Bharat Army - G Force Cricket Academy joint venture will facilitate cricket fans to witness live the India-Pakistan World Cup match on October 14

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By K.R. Nayar Team India’s official global supporters group, The Bharat Army, has joined hands with G Force Cricket Academy, one of UAE's leading cricket academies, to facilitate cricket fans in the UAE to watch the India-Pakistan match on October 14 live from the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.   At a time when the frenzy to watch this much-awaited match of the ICC World Cup 2023 is at its peak, the agreement between the Bharat Army and G Force to provide fans with a two-night, three-day package to travel to Ahmedabad and back is a significant boost for the die- hard fans. Interestingly, both these passionate cricket-loving organizations have come forward at a time when all hotels in Ahmedabad are said to be fully booked for this match, and all tickets sold out. In fact, there have been reports of fans seeking full-body check-ups and overnight stays at hospitals to save money on lodging and get their health checked as well. There have also been reports that five-star hot...

My blog krbuzz.blogspot.com crosses 200,000 readership

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By  K.R. Nayar    My blog  https://krbuzz.blogspot.com/   has crossed the 200,000 mark in readership. I want to thank each one of you for your consistent support that has resulted in my blog achieving this landmark. This achievement will also serve as a big boost to keep me going and inspire me to work harder to keep delivering good content.   A special thanks to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Asian Cricket Council, Emirates Cricket Board, Sharjah Cricket Council, Dubai Cricket Council, Ajman Cricket Council and leagues like the Sri Lanka Premier League, ILT20, Legends League Cricket, Abu Dhabi T10, Zim Afro T10 and US Masters T10 for assigning me to report their events, and G Force Cricket Academy to cover their tour matches.   A big thank you to some of the newspapers and websites that assigned me to write for them and permitted me to use those articles in my blog too. Lastly, I am thrilled that I will be reporting from diffe...

Into the world of cricket books at Shyam Bhatia museum and reliving some interesting moments of the past with Sunil Gavaskar

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By K.R. Nayar Recently, I had the opportunity to collaborate on a project with Shyam Bhatia, a passionate cricket enthusiast who owns a cricket museum in Dubai. This museum is a treasure trove of cricket history, and every visit has enriched my knowledge of the game. The museum's walls, adorned with the game's history, never fail to unveil something new to me.   Shyam Bhatia at the museum library's old magazines section    The Bhatia museum also boasts of a library filled with books and magazines dedicated to cricket. These books are a collector's dream, featuring autobiographies of nearly every cricketer, most of them autographed by the players themselves.   In the library, you can immerse yourself in reading about various aspects of the game and its notable incidents. The museum's collection includes original newspaper cuttings dating back to the 1950s, and 70 year old magazines, all neatly bound and filed. Books in the Shyam Bhatia's cricket museum ...

Mohammed Siraj’s deadly spell did not happen out of the blue

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By K.R. Nayar Mohammed Siraj set numerous records during his spell of 6 for 21 in the final of the Asia Cup that gave India a thumping ten-wicket win. The list of records he established is extensive, starting with his remarkable achievement of taking five wickets in just 16 balls, making it the fastest in One Day International history, among many others.   Mohammed Siraj while destroying Sri Lanka's batting. Photo: ACC  It may seem like it was just his day, but such outstanding performances don't occur by accident; they are the result of years of hard work and unwavering determination. Keep in mind that he bowled out Sri Lanka, a team that was once a World Cup winner and a Test-playing nation, for a mere 50 runs.   This write-up isn't about how he got the ball to swing and dismissed Sri Lanka for such a low score, especially in a final match. His spell was so impactful that it led to the final match lasting only 126 balls, making it the third shortest completed ...

End of Mumbai’s double decker and my days of double the decker of happiness and thril

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By K.R. Nayar Mumbai’s legendary double-decker BEST buses have now been taken off the streets. It’s a nostalgic feeling when I think of these buses that used to majestically stop for me to board from my bus-stop in Colaba where I lived during my early days in Mumbai when I was trying to find my feet in journalism. My first job was with the Links News Agency situated near Kemps Corner, and most of my commute then would be on these double-deckers that were common on this route.    Mumbai's double-decker will now remain a nostalgic memory Having come from Kerala where I was a somebody, to Mumbai where I felt like a nobody, this daily travel on a double- decker was always a joy. From the moment it stopped at the bus stop to let me in, it gave me a sense of importance. I often opted for the upper deck, and that would give me a sense of peace. Watching the hustle-bustle on the streets from the top, I was calmed by the cool breeze that brushed past me as the bus moved along. I ...

India-Pakistan cricket fans stumped, forced to wait till the World Cup match in Ahmedabad

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By K.R. Nayar While reporting the Sri Lanka Premier League recently, very often I wrote about Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka’s feats. Before the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Super Four match, there were talks that if Mendis and Asalanka carried their form into this match, then an India-Pakistan final may not happen. As luck would have it, both of them clicked and Pakistan lost by two wickets. So for those who rooted for an India-Pakistan final, the message is: “Now please wait till the World Cup to watch an India-Pakistan match that will be held in Ahmedabad on October 14th”.   Charith Asalanka hits the winning run and celebrates. Photos ACC  Many fans were getting ready to make it a special Sunday on September 17th hoping to watch an India-Pakistan final. Some had cancelled all their weekend plans while a few had decided to get-together and watch the match and cheer for their teams. This result is an answer to all those who believe that cricket is exciting to watch...

What’s behind India’s thumping win over Pakistan?

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By K.R. Nayar After numerous hurdles, finally the much-awaited the India-Pakistan match was played. While India needed clearance from their government on where they could play, the other obstacle was clearance from the weather. Weather, however, proved stronger than political decisions. Rain played spoilsport continuously, and the clash between these two teams did not take place.    The batters KL Rahul and Virat Kohli that shattered records. Photo: ACC But once everything fell into place, the question then was not whether they would produce good cricket but who would win. For fans of both countries, only one thing matters, and that is their country should win. Be it a 50-over match, a T20 contest, or a Test match, it has been the same over the years. Hence, tickets are sold out like hotcakes, hotel rooms are booked way in advance, and it is said some fans have checked into hospitals in order for them to stay and watch the clash between these two teams in the World Cup d...