Cricket continues to grow in the ‘fast’ lane

Karachi comes alive at night during Ramazan as pros, amateurs rub shoulders

KARACHI: Never does Karachi live up more to its city of lights moniker than during the holy month of Ramazan, when the nights are lit up with the sounds and sights of cricket — and Karachi becomes the city that never sleeps.

Professional or amateur, newbie or seasoned, street or stadium; regardless, it seems the entire city busies itself in playing cricket during the time between taraveeh and sehri.

Here, on the dusty crowded streets of Karachi, can cricket’s most popular format find its root. The early 1970s saw the advent of the 20-over format in the city — perfect to eat up the nights.

Ramazan cricket has come a long way since then, with several high-profile tournaments boasting international superstars and household names such as Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Malik and Umar Gul.



Former first-class cricketer Shoaib Habib remembers a time when Ramazan cricket used to lack the professionalism it boasts today in stadiums. “The umpires would come in casual dressing nor were the players as professional,” he said. “Sometimes, the matches were delayed as the teams did not even report on time.”

The roots of tournaments in Ramazan can be traced back to four friends and first-class cricketers, when Tasleem Arif, Fahimuddin Alvi, Khursheed Akhtar and Laiqat Ali started the Super Cup in 1977.

The Super Cup — also called the Nazimabad Super Cup — is held each year during Ramazan at Nazimabad’s famous Eidgah Ground and Liaquatabad’s Student Ground.

But it wasn’t until the 1980s that it truly took off; growing bigger and bigger as it started attracting sponsors.

“The standard of umpiring in Ramazan cricket picked up with the Super Cup, where Test umpires such as Riazuddin, Afzal Ahmed Rizvi, Shakeel Khan and Saleem Badar used to officiate games,” added Habib.



Participation of professional cricketers began with two of the oldest Ramazan cricket tournaments — the Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Cricket Tournament, which held its 31st edition this year and the Aga Khan Gymkhana Ramazan Cricket Tournament, which held its 29th edition. However, both of these take place during the day rather than the conventional night-time cricket during Ramazan.

The Dr Muhammad Ali Shah Ramazan Cricket tournament at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, the Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cricket tournament at Lawai Stadium and the Corporate T20 Cup at the Moin Khan Academy all take place in floodlit stadiums.

No water allowed

With the matches taking place in Ramazan, the players are not allowed to drink water during the day matches — testing their resolve to the limits.

“The players are strictly not allowed to drink water so the players use cold wet towels to cool themselves down,” said Karachi Gymkhana tournament director Riazuddin.

Mixed regional players

With the tournaments being held only in Karachi, players from all across the country travel to take part and as many as 56 players from other regions travelled to Karachi this year.

“One of the perks of these tournaments that the players get to play with players from other regions,” said former international spinner Saeed Ajmal. “This allows the players to interact with each other and helps them prepare for international cricket.”



No-PCB interaction

Former Test opener Yasir Hameed feels the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should send their representatives to watch these matches, especially with international cricketers on display.

“This is why fewer players participate in these tournaments since they have no chance of being selected for any of the teams as the PCB sends no representative for these matches,” he said. “Most of the players come here as they get some money out of it and it helps them stay fit.”

Inclusion of other formats

Hameed and Ajmal — both playing for the Muhammad Sami led-Dollar East team that lost in the final against debutant side Atiq Estate led by Fawad Alam in the Aga Khan Gymkhana Ramazan Cricket tournament — were in favour of introducing such 50-over tournaments as well.

“The PCB should take interest in these tournaments and these tournaments should not be held in Ramazan only but also throughout the year and in 50-over format too as sponsors take a keen interest in these tournaments,” said Ajmal.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2016.

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