WHEN I was a younger man, I used to get very excited to see photographs of the interiors of cricket establishments. Not that action photographs of Test matches game me less of a thrill, but off-field images had a certain magic attached to them.
As journalists, we are a fortunate lot. We get to see what the public cannot come near to.
Keeping the fans’ interests or probable interest should I say, in mind, I set out to do a story on the Board of Control for Cricket in India office which will host the Annual General Meeting of the Board over the weekend.
I must admit that I was impressed by the activity the staff was involved in. Journalists view things differently. Not always they are right. Often, they don’t have a clue. Visiting the Board office made me realise what a huge task it is to run cricket in India.
I first visited the old office at the Brabourne Stadium’s North Stand in 1985 to deliver a packet for the sport books firm I had just joined. I marveled at the group photographs which were on those old walls. I also knew there was a stadium behind the premises. There was no way I could see it. I just imagined it was full of grass and so heavy with history.
The people at the Board were total strangers to me but they let me look around and understood my curiosity. I left the premises satisfied that I visited a place which was visited by the greatest of names in Indian cricket.
The new office at Wankhede is one heavenly structure. But I miss the old office.
Visiting the old Board office meant a mandatory stop at K Rustoms below for sweet curd in a chai ka glass and lime juice. And if there was any tummy space left, a coffee-flavoured ice crea, Probably that’s what I miss most of the old office.
