We’ve all gone cricket crazy!

Writing this column has been a delightful experience as it helped renew old friendships and make new ones in the process.

As I spoke to a cross section of cricket fans in Bahrain about the 2007 Cricket World Cup, which began in the West Indies last night (Tuesday, March 13), what struck me most was that cricket is no longer just a pastime, but a passion among young and old alike. For most it was like war minus the shooting.
Yet the tone and texture of the conversations seemed different compared to talking to a die-hard soccer addict, an avid golf follower or a staunch tennis fan. Cricket somehow seemed to elicit a special feeling, and create an invisible bonding.
But let’s leave that for another time and hear what some of the cricket lovers in Bahrain have to say about the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Ajay Kaul
(Manager, Parts, Ahmed Zayani and Sons)
I will be backing India of course. The side looks balanced, aggressive and in form.
But Australia will be the obvious favourites for the way they play their cricket and their fighting spirit. The cricket fever is already in the air and everyone seems to be talking only about the World Cup.
It’s going to be tough watching the match late into the night and then being in top form for early morning work. I will balance cricket and work so that neither of the two will suffer.
Dammika Kulatunge
(Manager, Bahrain, SriLankan Airways)
I will be backing Sri Lanka. My next favourites are India. Both have the right mix. India in particular are threatening to dominate. Australians go as favourites every time but this time I think they are not. They have key injury problems and recent setbacks too have not helped.
I plan to watch the match at the Warblers or the Regency. Late nights are no problem. I’m used to it as I work late into the night. I just have to do a little bit of planning.

George Matham
(Photographer, Angles Photography)
I am keen to watch a good game of cricket though India is my favourite team. I like the flamboyance of the Indian team, particularly that of Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh. They can get you hooked with their batting.
India looks very balanced and I think it is just a matter of coming to form. Right now Virendra Sehwag and Irfan Pathan are struggling. But I think they will be fit by the time India gets to play the crucial matches.
The best place to watch cricket is in a pub with friends. I’m not sure if any of the pubs are showing these matches. If they do I will be the first to head in that direction, with friends of course.

Iftikhar Hussain Khan
(Chief Accountant, GPZ)
I will be backing all the four Asian teams, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. India and Australia look in top form. India has got the best batting line-up and Australia is the top all-round team. Pakistan are the underdogs. If they click, they will do well. Otherwise they will go bust.
I’m determined to watch all the matches though it will go well into the night. I may have to sacrifice a little bit of sleep. But it’s ok. I will watch some parts at the Pakistan Club and then catch the late action at home.

Krazy Kevin
(DJ and compere for all special occasions)
England of course will be my team though my better half is Australian. But my wife knows nothing about sport, so it is OK. England will be boosted by the return of Kevin Pietersen. Another good thing is that Andrew Flintoff won’t be the captain. He was rubbish during the Ashes, just like Ian Botham was during his tenure as captain.
But now with Michael Vaughan back as captain, Flintoff can concentrate on his all-round game. New Zealand will be the dark horses.
I like India too because they are so passionate. I recently did a radio show on this World Cup and the response was fantastic. The Asians love their cricket so much. It was so amazing.
I will catch as much action as possible and late nights is no problem with me. I love it.

Mohammed Salim Ibrahim
(Operations Manager, Middle East, Coca Cola)
India is my team but Australia will start as favourites. The Aussies may have suffered a few setbacks recently, but they are so good that they will be back rolling again in no time. I like the Aussie spirit, their fighting qualities and their capacity to play the big matches with confidence.
India has the right mix of players, but all of them are not in top form. Once India begins to play true to its potential, I think they can beat any team on a given day.
I plan to watch the matches on the big screen. I start work at 9am but I am fit enough to recoup after a late night. It won’t be a problem at all.

Mohammed Hossain
(Private businessman)
South Africans are my favourites after my own country Bangladesh. I like the South Africans because they play their cricket fair and clean. They have some great batsmen and bowlers and as a fielding side they are the best. They are the favourites to beat Australia.
Bangladesh are doing pretty well at the moment. The victory against New Zealand has boosted our morale. But still, we have a long way to go in terms of winning the World Cup. But I’m sure we will create an upset or two, just like we did in the last World Cup.
I will be on holiday in Dhaka during the Super Eights, semi-finals and final. So I hope to watch all the matches at home with family and friends. It will be cricket and only cricket all night. I will catch up with sleep during the day.

Ram Mohan Kutty
(Airlines Marketing Manager, Kanoo Travels, a qualified cricket coach)
It will be an interesting World Cup and all teams will be lifting their games a couple of notches with so much in stake. Another interesting factor is that most of the teams are peaking at the right time. Hence it can be anybody’s game among the top eight sides.
My favourite obviously is India whose form is quite encouraging. But they should sustain it for longer periods.
With the pitch expected to be slow, the batsmen will have to take calculated risk and be aggressive on and off.
I may not be able to watch all the matches due to work commitments, but hope to catch the crucial ones. The rest I will follow in the newspapers. A group of my friends are planning to take turn and play hosts for a match each.

Ramachandran Narayanan
(Partner in Corporate Finance, KPMG)
India and Australia will be my teams. India is a wonderful team, at least on paper. But it all depends on how the team performs on the field. Our main worry is that we don’t have a strike bowler who can destroy the opposition. We also don’t have an all-rounder to give the team that extra edge. But I still believe India can do well.
Australians are the favourites, obviously, because individually and collectively they are the best. I think beating them in crunch matches will be difficult.
I will watch the match as long as I’m comfortable. But I will be following everything about the World Cup in the newspapers.

What the fans say...Vijay Mruthyunjaya