Author: Shamik Chakrabarty

Shamik Chakrabarty in Kanpur Before the start of the second Test between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, some Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) officials were lamenting that the state association didn’t get to host international matches frequently. As play was called off on Day 3 due to a wet outfield, they sounded apprehensive about Green Park’s international future. Only 35 overs of play have been possible over three days in this Test. On Sunday, there was no rain and by early afternoon, the sun started to peep out. But several soggy patches on the outfield made it unplayable. The simple…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Kanpur Around 8.15 am on Sunday, as the groundsmen started to remove the covers, the Green Park outfield looked soggy. The rain had long since stopped, but a delayed start of the third day’s play of the second Test between India and Bangladesh looked inevitable. At 9.30 am, the scheduled start of play, the centre square was still under wraps. By 10 am, all the covers were removed and the umpires made an inspection. There were a few soggy patches near the bowler’s run-up and mid-on and mid-off area at the Media Box End and the next…

Bangladeshi fan Tiger Robi, who allegedly made up stories of being manhandled at Green Park on Friday, is set to be deported from India. According to sources, he also faces a five-year stadium ban in India. According to local police sources, the Bangladeshi fan has already been sent to Delhi from Kanpur, from where he would be sent to Dhaka on Sunday. Sources said, Robi came to India on a medical visa and he was supposed to go to Kolkata for treatment. Instead, he followed the Bangladesh cricket team to Chennai and then to Kanpur for the ongoing two-Test series…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Kanpur Back in 2011-12, a Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Odisha became high-profile. It was not because of Ajit Agarkar storming off after falling out with then Mumbai coach Sulakshan Kulkarni, but because it was Zaheer Khan’s comeback game after an injury lay-off. India’s tour of Australia was around the corner, and Zaheer was considered central to India’s chances of performing well. As it turned out, India suffered a humiliating 4-0 whitewash in Australia under MS Dhoni. Zaheer had a decent outing – 15 wickets from four Tests at an average of 31.80 – but he…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Kanpur The first day of the second Test between India and Bangladesh here in Kanpur was a damp squib. Overnight rain forced a delayed start by an hour and then, around three o’clock in the afternoon, the heavens opened again. The day’s play was called off. Only 35 overs were bowled, and Bangladesh moved to 107/3 after being sent in. Just 35 overs could be judged as a small sample size to lay into India’s team selection. The hosts retained the winning combination from Chennai, and didn’t include an extra spinner. Did they miss a trick by…

Around lunch on Day 1 of the first Test between India and Bangladesh here in Kanpur, a video clip on social media raised many an eyebrow. It captured a Bangladeshi fan accusing a section of the local crowd at Green Park of “assaulting” him. He also alleged that his national flag was snatched from him. RevSportz dug deep and got some details. The Bangladeshi fan calls himself Tiger Robi and turns up in the stands as a tiger mascot for Bangladesh matches. Police sources here confirmed that he was taken to the hospital after he complained about being “beaten”. “We…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Kanpur The Kanpur Test against India, starting Friday, could be Shakib Al Hasan’s last in the longer format. Not that this is how Bangladesh’s greatest-ever cricketer wants to call time on his Test career. But the current situation in Bangladesh might force his hand. “I am available for the series (against South Africa),” Shakib said at the pre-match presser. “Since there is a situation existing in the country, naturally not everything is dependent on me. I have discussed this with the BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) and have told them about my plans, especially in Test cricket. What…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Kanpur Around 12 noon on Thursday, it started to drizzle in Kanpur. The groundsmen were quick to react, and the entire playing arena went under wraps. The heat was almost unbearable for the last few days. The weather changed today. There’s a forecast of rain for the next two days and the Test match could be affected. Conditions will play a part in both teams picking their respective playing XIs. On the face of it, the black-soil pitch at Green Park calls for playing an extra spinner. From India’s point of view, one of Kuldeep Yadav or…

By Shamik Chakrabarty in Kanpur A line from Bob Dylan’s Forever Young comes to mind: “May you build a ladder to the stars and climb on every rung”… Or it could be Henry David Thoreau: “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.” Growing up in Dehri village in Sasaram, Akash Deep belonged to a different world. The nearest hospital was about 150 kilometres away in Patna. His family never encouraged him to play cricket. In fact, for a school teacher’s son, playing cricket wasn’t acceptable at all.…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Kanpur The auto driver ferrying this correspondent from the airport to the hotel wore a smile and spoke about buying a Rs 600 ticket for the second India-Bangladesh Test. He lamented that lower categories (Rs 200, 300 and 400 per day) were sold out. He still paid the extra bucks, for he loves Test cricket and Kanpur is hosting one after a gap of three years. At the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) office, state association secretary Arvind Kumar Shrivastava, too, was talking about the elongated hiatus. “We weren’t given any international cricket for three years and…