Author: Boria Majumdar

Boria Majumdar in Dubai Abhishek Sharma is the player of the tournament and has literally taken the Asia Cup by storm, and made statement after statement. That he is playing fearless cricket is known. That he is a wonderfully skilful and talented player is also known. But what the innings against Bangladesh brought to light was his mental fortitude and his decisiveness. That there is a method to his madness, and that each step is well measured and well crafted. Bangladesh started well and Abhishek did not attempt a first-ball six like he did against Shaheen Shah Afridi. In the…

Boria Majumdar in Dubai I was coming out for the post-match show when WhatsApp messages just started to go off on my phone. I did not take notice, for I was focussed on the show. But that was when two of our viewers pointed it out. One said: “Boria da, just check Mohsin Naqvi’s tweet. It is disgraceful.” I opened his official X (formerly Twitter) handle and, for a few seconds, was shocked. Was I seeing right? Was the account hacked, or was it an AI-generated image? I even asked Ashok and Gargi to check, for I honestly believed…

Boria Majumdar in Dubai If there is one team that can match Indian fans in intensity, it is Bangladesh. Their media is an extension of the team and they are here in numbers to support Litton Das and his boys. With a batting line-up that chased down 170 against Sri Lanka, they know they have a chance. They also know India will come hard and in Dubai there is a really nice build-up to the game. After all the politics over India-Pakistan, the focus is back to cricket and on Wednesday evening, the sport will take centre stage in hot…

Boria Majumdar in Dubai Botswana, a country with a population less than my neighbourhood in Kolkata, won the gold medal – yes, gold medal – in the 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. It is an astounding feat when you think of the resources, and the population of the country. The quartet – Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi – are, justly, national heroes. In their honour, the country has declared a national holiday today, with the President calling for celebrations. This is what sport can do. Put you on the global…

Boria Majumdar Everyone I know has now seen the visuals of a 16-year-old Pakistani footballer celebrating his penalty goal against India with the tea celebration, mocking Captain Abhinandan Varthaman. He thereafter went on to do the same aeroplane celebration as Haris Rauf. And yes, he is 16 going on 17. The moment you see it, you know the rot has set in deep. It is indoctrination of the worst sort and these young men and women are growing up without even knowing what is good for him or her. The sporting edifice is rotten and you shudder to think what…

Boria Majumdar in Dubai In his autobiography, Wasim, released in 1998, Wasim Akram dedicated an entire chapter – ‘Coping with the mental pressure’ – to Huma, his wife, describing their sessions of therapy. “She has been a rock to me in so many ways, not least in getting me mentally strong for challenges on the field,” he wrote in the introduction to the book. “You can’t perform on talent alone at the highest level, and Huma has helped channel me into the right psychological areas that allow me to do justice to my abilities.” Apart from Akram, Huma – who…

Boria Majumdar in Dubai The gulf is just too wide. On a day when Jasprit Bumrah had his third-worst bowling effort of all time, India won with much to spare. Even if India don’t play at their best, they will still beat Pakistan. Suryakumar Yadav was right when he said, “It is only a rivalry when in 15 games it is 8-7 or something. But when it is 10-1 or 10-0 it is no longer a rivalry.” Pakistan aren’t good enough to challenge India and that’s the harsh truth for every fan of Pakistan cricket. That’s what brings me to…

Boria Majumdar in Dubai It was 8 pm, and all of a sudden there was a flutter among the Pakistani media present at the ICC Academy. Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, or may I say the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chair, had walked in with a few security people and was headed straight for the Pakistan practice arena. As PCB chief, he can surely make an appearance and inspire his team. It isn’t unnatural by any means and yet it is. Pakistan haven’t done their almost mandatory press conference for the last two games. They had almost…

This Asia Cup has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. With another India-Pakistan match coming up 30 hours later, the drama hasn’t yet ended. But in the middle of this, Dunith Wellalage has come as a symbol of hope and a kind of optimism as to what sport is all about. The young man lost his father, Suranga Wellalage, 54, to a heart attack when he was playing against Afghanistan. He was communicated the news by his coach Sanath Jayasuriya. He went back to Sri Lanka for a day to attend the last rites and is now…

Boria Majumdar in Dubai I am writing this copy with India on 100-3 at the end of 10 overs against Oman. Frankly, the entire press box while watching the match isn’t really focused on it. Yes, Sanju Samson is a draw and his innings was greeted with some applause in the press box. But the real topic of discussion is the game on Sunday and if Pakistan can be competitive. The fact that Suryakumar Yadav did not come out to bat even at No. 8 was evidence that India were doing all to give each of their batters some game…