It was a cold, wet, windy day.. temps were in the 50's (is this march or june?). The ball was hit high in the air towards deep long off.. it was now a battle between the fielder and the wind gods. There was a good bit of dancing, both by the cricket ball (caught in the wind) and the fielder trying to catch the ball (the fielder can now audition for "dancing with the stars", except he aint no star). Guess who won.. the wind, ofcourse, and the prize for losing was a broken right thumb. That unfortunate soul trying to catch the ball was me and what hurt more were a bunch of sixes by the same batsmen after that letoff.
That was the only chance that Irfan Syed, from Muslim Gymkhana, playing against the Tigers, offered in what could be described as an exhibition of superb, clinical hitting. He remained unbeaten on 113, scoring 10 mighty sixes and 5 fours. There was not a single cross batted shot. He is tall and uses his height very well to reach out to good length deliveries and smack them high over long on and long off. In the past, Kamran has been our chief tormentor and when he was nailed in front by Ravi, we thought half the battle was won. We were so wrong !! With Irfan, anything that is overpitched can be declared an automatic six. The good length balls were safely negotiated, the bad and not so bad balls were all punished.
The only positive note for us was Vinod's bowling. On a day when everybody went over 8 runs per over, he finished with figures of 6-1-14-0.
After defeating the Wildcats and destroying the Tigers, Muslim Gymkhana is high on confidence and a team to beat. They have Milwaukee United, Pak Gymkhana and StLouis coming up... it will be interesting to see how they move on from here.
42 comments:
With all due respect, the Tigers bowling attack is very weak. A century is still an amazing feat, but the one that Shahid, Hasan and Vikram hit last year were against better bowling attacks. I would like to see Satha play a div-1 game.
Vikki
I am sure Satha can destroy any bowling attack as he has represented Canadian National team. Maybe now the age may have caught up with him, but I still think hitting a 175 against any team is big. I don't agree to the point that century should be counted against good teams only. A ton is a ton and to be perfectly honest, Tigers have a decent bowling attack (making it to q-finals last year with the same team and almost beat Challengers). As far as last year finals, if you look at it from the same perspective, there were quite a few chances given by the players before they went on to score a ton. Does that mean these centuries should not be counted?
Adnan
I agree with you Adnan.. getting a century against kind of attack is an achievement and yes, we do have a pretty decent attack.
There were a few sixes from Imran that crossed 100-110 yards, the guy has power and timing and ofcouse beautiful hand-eye coordination.
The Tigers are going through a slightly rough patch, but am sure will roar soon :-).
From what I have heard, Satha is one of the smoothest strikers in this league. I have met the guy once, courtesy the midwest database-Sadiq.
Its interesting to see how some of the division-1 teams have reshuffled. Muslim Gymkhana has a few players from Pak Gymkhana. The Meadows are distributed amongst Chargers and a couple of other teams.
The Khera brothers are not to be found? Any news about them?
Since I played 2nd division for last 2 years, I have played (and suffered) against Satha, and am now also facing the superstars of 1st Division. One of the disadvantages of the two-tier league is that some of the best players in the league do not come up against each other.
Looking at the bigger picture, it would be a big regret if some top bowler in Midwest area like Mehul Shani never faces a top batsman of the same area (like Satha) despite both playing in the same league for 5 years. It is like Akram never facing Tendulkar!
In some other leagues that I have played in, they have an "all-star" weekend in which the best players of the league are chosen and pitted against each other. It is the showcase event of the league, the highest level of cricket available in the league. It is a grand event with VIP guests and all.
Perhaps our league can plan something like that for one of the long weekends. I know scheduling is tight as it is, but surely we can fit a showcase event in. We even have night facilities which the other league did not have.
On a personal note, it would be innovative and fun if the game was a 2- or 3-day game. We have lots of exciting 20/30/40/45-over cricket in the area, but "Test" cricket in the USA??!!
-Samarth.
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Its interesting to see how some of the division-1 teams have reshuffled. Muslim Gymkhana has a few players from Pak Gymkhana. The Meadows are distributed amongst Chargers and a couple of other teams.
The Khera brothers are not to be found? Any news about them?
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Actually, I think Muslim Gym picked up only one player from Pak Gym - the new captain, Farhat. There is also 1 new bowler I think - supposed a very good one named Mohammad Saud (I think he may be a left-arm spinner). All the other players for Muslim Gym are those who have been with them in the past, including last year (Muslim Gym had good batting last year too, twice chasing down 240+ scores early in the season - they started quickly but then faded, IIRC. The Three Brothers, Kamran, Imran and Rizwan, have all been with them for a couple of years - but all usually only play about half a season each, which makes a big difference to their team. This year Kamran led their first win with a 50+ score, and Imran obviously led with a 100+ score this week. Whoever plays Muslim next week ought to pay special attention to Rizwan :-)
Two Pak Gym players also went to the Flames - Nasir, and Sufiyan (who was a former Pak Gym bowler IIRC?)
With Meadows folding, their players had to go *somewhere*. I think only 2 have gone to the Chargers? Four others, all former-Bears, have returned to their spiritual home. The Khera brothers are still free-agents - Iam sure some teams must be attempting to recruit them already :-)
Overall, I think, there may well have been less reshuffling this season than in some seasons in the past. Which is probably a good thing - thats the best way to build up rivalries, I think.
Sadiq
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Perhaps our league can plan something like that for one of the long weekends. I know scheduling is tight as it is, but surely we can fit a showcase event in. We even have night facilities which the other league did not have.
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I agree with this - it would take a lot of effort to organize, but it would be a terrific weekend I think. The schedule isnt *that* tight - after all, no cricket in our league is ever scheduled for any long weekend. OK, the 4th of July weekend has other things planned - the league sends its best players for the LA Open, usually. But even so, the Labor Day weekend is always free - and a one or two day event at Hanover Park should be very possible to fit in, one feels. Maybe even at night, if that is preferable.
In the past the question has been raised that a DivI vs DivII allstars may be a mismatch - this is something I dont agree with either, there are several very good individual players in Div2. Heck, a 2-3 years ago with Afroze, Jahangir, Roop, Satha, Girish Kamthe, Ashwin, Samarth, TarunReddy etc, Div2 allstars might even have been the better side :-) Or, at least, very very competitive indeed!
The other option might be to go back to the "World Cup" format that was used a few years ago - with maybe a couple of teams each representing India and Pakistan (and 1 each representing West Indies, Australasia etc)? As long as all the best players in the league can get a showcase on one weekend, it would be a wonderful thing IMHO.
Sadiq
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The other option might be to go back to the "World Cup" format that was used a few years ago - with maybe a couple of teams each representing India and Pakistan (and 1 each representing West Indies, Australasia etc)?
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Bad form to respond to ones own post, of course... but just thought of something else :-)
If none of the formats appear right, how about a "states" format? That is, a couple of teams from "Chicagoland". One from Wisconsin. And maybe 1 or 2 from "Downstate". I believe this would also give us some very well-balanced sides.
Either way, I think we really *need* an All-Star contest of sorts - its the only way the best players of the league will be known league-wide, for one. Two or three years ago, for example, TarunReddy was batting (and killing attacks) for Springfield in Division Two... and *nobody* knew him, he was never picked for *any* All-Star league team. After a year he moved to California... and within one season he was in the "California State" side, and also the "North-West" regional side that played the US Championships! Some think he may be a prospect to play for the USA, now.
The leagues in California and elsewhere do a much better job than we do of picking up new really good players when they emerge (witness Shahid Munir, an amazingly talented player - it still took a couple of years before he was picked to represent our league at any level, he was even left out of the "Pro Cricket" squad that our league selected only 2 summers ago!)
This is something we can catch up on, I believe, and an all-star showcase of sorts could go a long way towards advancing that aim.
Sadiq
I think this All-Star discussion should be posted separately and not be under the blog it is currently under (Master Blaster Imran Syed). With all due respects to Imran Syed, I believe that there would be more people reading about this and posting their suggestions if it was under a different title!
When it comes to exciting cricket, it is always wonderful to see such talent representing MWCC. Not to mention the number of sponsors that could be on board. We can build on that and even go as far as providing an opportunity to our talent to represent this conference at a higher level (such as the USACA national tournament held over the long weekend last month, Central East got hammered) or maybe a regional tournament (will be held this weekend in Minneapolis). It is sad and very disturbing to see that MWCC which is the largest league and has a best talent pool in the region, continues to shun USACA sponsored events and have no vision in providing opportunities to our talent. What is even more frustrating is that no one else in this conference seems to have a problem with not being represented at national level and seemed to be very content with where they are. I agree with you Sadiq that we have knowingly or unknowingly negelcted to nurture our talent. Top players such as Satish, Vikram, Mehul, Shahid, Bhavesh, Daxx and now Imran Syed, exploded on the scene during early years and continue to display higher standard of Cricket day in day out, only to see national or regional spots go to Glendale Heights or other inferior leagues. I think it is time to stop using us a sacrificial lamb to satisfy personal hate.
Let's bring the arrows :-)
Adnan
I think its a great idea to have an all-star game in September. Jaggi and rest of management please let us know what you think. I think Tariq should also be contributing here.
Gautam
After being in the league for over 5 years i have seen many batsmen playing at there best, from shahid munir's ( pak gymkhana) numberous exploding innings to vikram (wildcats ) last years finals ripping apart leagues fastest bowling attack of pak gymkhana. After watching Imran Syed (Muslim Gymkhana) Flawess inning i have forgeten all innnins played by other leauges best bestmen. His batting style showed absolute class and enormous power!!!! With or againts the wind the ball didnt land yards close to the boundry. This inning will last for many years to come and will be a class act to follow.
After being in the league for over 5 years i have seen many batsmen playing at there best, from shahid munir's ( pak gymkhana) numberous exploding innings to vikram (wildcats ) last years finals ripping apart leagues fastest bowling attack of pak gymkhana. After watching Imran Syed (Muslim Gymkhana) Flawess inning i have forgeten all innnins played by other leauges best bestmen. His batting style showed absolute class and enormous power!!!! With or againts the wind the ball didnt land yards close to the boundry. This inning will last for many years to come and will be a class act to follow
FARHAT SHEIKH
I think all the players in MCC should get a chance to share their views on Allstar game. We should have a poll system with few choices so everyone can share their opinion.(choices like div I vs div II, combined all stars etc..)
while fielding on ground # 4 mid on i felt that something almost sturck me after turning around i saw it was ball struck my a tall batsman from ground # 2 after thowring the ball back i started to pay attention to see who the batsmen was and thought it was kamran syed of muslim, however i was wrong it turned out to be his older brother Imran who threw the ball out into our ground 3 times in the same over. What an amazing inning just dont that to us :)
we should have weekly poll on the website just to add more fun. It could be anything, like weekly/monthly best pick bowler,batsman,game,umpire,article,who's ur favourite batsman,bowler etc etc etc....
I agree, we should have some All-Star game of some sorts. I will propose it to the management and keep you all posted.
I was watching Imran Bhai playing this innings from the dugout, and boy was that a treator what. If there were any innings I would have payed to watch, this would be it. Tigers' bowlers didn't have a chance.
Saad
rishte ki picture lag rai hai...
congrats on your maiden century!
congrats to imran or acctually to whole muslim gym they out played tigers the moment muslim started the batting. Imran what happen i was watching the game from other ground and saw u with a slow start and i think your partner who came in t bat at one down brought you out of the shell but the start you all got you really capatalized it but any how the most it counts is the win congrats to all muslim Gym players speacially to the man of the honour i think is farhat sheikh who made this side totally different from the last year and i think i would say it will be the demolation side in the league right now. pak gym khana watch out its only the matter of time when you all get blastted and get ripped a part with these new uprising shadowfaxes
its abt time muslim guys show the whole league what you all r capable off
CONGRATS TO MUSLIM
use of some creative grammar and diction right there! lol....
>>use of some creative grammar and diction right there! lol....
Definitely!
>>Pak gym khana watch out its only the matter of time when you all get blastted and get ripped a part with these new uprising shadowfaxes
Forgot to sign your name? Chicken.
-Raheel.
yah thats the best thing pak gym fast bowler can do take some spell and garmmar mistakes out cuz he cant get the stumps out of the ground.
need help contact me name is Sal
i play in ur league too if u need assistance leme know
thanx any ways for the correction and do ur best in it !!!!!!LOL
Sal, please see the points table, I'm sure you can navigate the midwest website, let me know who's #1 ranked after about 6-7 weeks, then go to top batsmen and top bowlers tables and see how many players from Pak Gym are there and compare that with Muslim. Let me know the results of your research and put your money where your mouth is.
-Raheel.
And FYI, I did not point out the spelling / grammatical mistakes (although there are quite a few!), someone else did - I just reaffirmed it.
-R
i was just making the point tat being number two means nothin but only being the number one loooooosssserrrrrrrrr
which pak gym is always if u wana pick up the points table and all the stats so plz open ur eyes up and see wat pak gym did last year u will know where u all stand as
nothing but just the numberone loooooser
What was Muslim Gym's ranking? Why focus on what we're doing, why not look in the mirror and see what you've done? This year, last year, the year before? I remember I even beat you guys playing for IIT!
-R
I can't seem to find the scorecard for Muslim vs Milw United either, please upload that, I'd like to see the result of that one ;).
-R
Pak plays Muslim this Sunday.. now this should be interesting.
Sunny
Sunny it's a lose-lose situation for us like when Australia plays Bangladesh, if Aus win - big deal they beat the minnows, if they lose to Ban, then it's like whoa they lost to the minnows! Let's see.
Sunny it's a lose-lose situation for us like when Australia plays Bangladesh, if Aus win - big deal they beat the minnows, if they lose to Ban, then it's like whoa they lost to the minnows! Let's see.
-Raheel.
While it is true that inter-team rivalries are very much part of any team game, I request you all to not use this forum for any team bashing.
Let us please use this forum constructively to share our thoughts about the game.
Despite having the most talented team in the whole league, Pak Gym has been able to win only one championship title for past 10 years or so. They have a tendency to choke under pressure in crunch situations in the playoffs. With the exceptionally talented players they have, they should have been able to win at least 5 championships over the past decade.
Guys,
Can we have some good points brought up here. Why are you guys arguing about stupid things? You guys are playing each other next week.
"sal" Muslim gym is good, but when you talk about pak gym. chokin' what has muslim gym. done for me lately.
As far as "Raheel" is concerned, you are a good fit in the puzzle and that's it. "Nasir" was and is still a way better bowler than you from that IIT team.
Pak Gymkhana is perhaps the best team in our league but certainly the most hated. They are not just talented crickers but also trash talkers. As for Raheel being a good bowler, I'll give him that, but there are certainly better bowlers than him in the league. One doesn't have to look that far but at his own team.
Umar Ansari
"Sunny it's a lose-lose situation for us like when Australia plays Bangladesh, if Aus win - big deal they beat the minnows, if they lose to Ban, then it's like whoa they lost to the minnows! Let's see.
-Raheel."
Seems like someone is getting ahead of himself, I wouldn't be too sure if I were playing Muslim after beating the wildcats and the whooping they put up on the Tigers.
"While it is true that inter-team rivalries are very much part of any team game, I request you all to not use this forum for any team bashing.
Let us please use this forum constructively to share our thoughts about the game."
Jaggi, i'm new to the MCC and I have to say, I am really enjoying reading all this :)
I know its getting a bit personal between these two teams but thats what rivals do. Remember how the Aussies and South AFricans taunt each other before and after the game. It makes the game a lot more enjoyable to watch. And as long as these guys dont start using abusive language I think you should let it go.....
One more thing to everyone in this post. Plz include your name at the bottom of the post after you've dissed someone. It seems cowardly otherwise.
Enjoy
Ali
I have never claimed that I am the best bowler in either my team or the league and neither have I compared myself with anyone. You guys are doing it - please read all my posts and point out where I've done anything like it. Cricket is a team game and the team with the best players does not always win.
I was only offended when our team was targetted by "Sal" and even then I did not resort to calling anyone "number 1 loser" or something like that. I just pointed out that Muslim Gym should look in the mirror before trash talking about us. We did finish a lot higher than them last season and are topping the tables this season so far - those are facts. And as Ali said above, sign your names under the articles, otherwise it is cowardly!
Enjoy,
-Raheel.
Is Sal a player from Muslim Gym? if so, who is he? I don't see one Muslim Gym guy bashing Pak gym in this post. Pak Gym is the best team in our league and sunday will not be a walk in the park for us.
-Saad
Yes, Saad I myself don't know who he is - never heard of him before although he was ready to give me some bowling lessons - kind man indeed! I'm on good speaking terms with Muslim players like Mo, Kamran etc and whatever differences Farhat bhai has with other Pak Gym players I still have respect for him and talk with him occasionally. "Sal", show your real face, who are you? What's your real name?
-R
I thought this section was for Imran Syed. Its turned into a hate-mail, anger-fest show down of repressed feelings and animosity.
Sal....who ever you are, may be you will do yourself favor by not revealing your identity at this time. Cuz after what you have said i can only imagine the number of bouncers bowled at you. Or do you still courage...
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