Here in Dhaka we did not have rain Tuesday but needed rest for a while - a little respite from the heat, humidity and the glare of the floodlights.
But those of us who work in this profession can hardly afford a holiday particularly when such an important event takes place before our eyes. We produce a new product everyday, 350 days a year. Many of the public servants get paid for 7 days doing 5 days' work in a week. Some of us are not that fortunate. We don't mind the grind because we enjoy creative pursuits.
Today is another big day. Two of the most powerful teams, Australia and India will lock horns for a place in the semis. The two former world champions meet on a neutral ground in a test of strength. Australia will try to efface had memories of their last tour of India. But the scales, if results are any indication, till in favour of the kangaroos. These two have played 53 matches of which Indians won 21 and Australia 29, the rest 3 had no results. Australia's experiment with a specialised squad for one-day matches will deprive the crowd of watching their Test skipper Mark Taylor who led his team to a historic series win in Pakistan after 39 years and also the world record-holder wicketkeeper Ian Healy. One-day specialists Michael Bevan and Brad Youns along with wicketkeeper Gilchrist are already in town.
Neither team is stranger to the knowledgeable home crowd. India have been visiting us since 1954 when the first team came under the leadership of one of India's least all-rounders Vinoo Mankad. They played their first 3-day match at Chittagong against a mixed bag of East Pakistan Sports Federation XI. The first 'Test,' however started on January 1 at the under-construction Dhaka Stadium, the present venue on a matting wicket. The 4-day Test was a dull draw.
The Australians, however, came four years later in 1959 under Richie Benaud. The great Ray Lindwall a dreaded fast bowler at the fag end of his career and Neil Harvey the elegant left-hander were important members of the team apart from wicketkeeper Wally Grout and all-rounder Alan Davidson, a prototype of Wasim Akram. Again on a matting wicket but the Australians won by 8 wickets.
During the last 10 years the Indians had very successful campaigns in Dhaka first winning the Asia Cup in 1988 and then the Independence Cup last January. Some of the Indians play in the local club cricket and they are very popular with the crowd.
The Kangaroo tail will be up after their successful tour of Pakistan. The Indians, on the other hand, will try to put behind their sad experience at Zimbabwe and concentrate very hard on this match. They will have a strong crowd support as sub-continental cricketing power but the Australians will not be without friends either looking forward to a fascinating day's cricket.