The day Indian image was tarnished

Premasara EPASINGHE

I arrived in Katmandu, Nepal from karachchi on March 11, 1996, and took a connecting flight to Kolkata, the largest city of India, on the river Hooghly, in the western-most mouth of the river Ganges, some 130 km / 80 m north of the Bay of Bengal.

It is the capital of West Bengal. Kota was the seat of Government of British India, during 1773 to 1912.

The purpose of my visit to this historical city Kolkata, was to commentate on the much awaited Wills World Cup 1996, the semi-final between India and Sri Lanka.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Kolkata was the excitement of the people and the record number of security personnel deployed in the city of Kolkata, as well as Hotel Taj Bengal, where the players, officials and commentators were staying. There was a massive security cordon. Commandos and para military troopers guarded all of us day and night. It was a real experience.

Eden Garden

The semi-final was scheduled to be played on March 13, 1996 in the picturesque Eden Garden stadium, Kolkata. It is the biggest ground in India. The name has a biblical history. In the Old Testament, Book of Genesis and in Koran, the Garden in which Adam and Eva lived after their creation and from which they were expelled for disobedience was known as Eden Gardens. The stadium at Kolkota was named as Eden Gardens. This gigantic stadium can accommodate more than 100,000 spectators and it is one of the biggest grounds in India.

Black hole tragedy

As a student of history in the University, Kolkata reminds me of the Black Hole Tragedy, where the Nawab of Bengal confined 146 prisoners on the night of June 20, 1756 in one small room of whom, only 23 allegedly survived. Later, research reduced the death toll to 43, assigning negligence rather than intention.

Hic-up in the ‘Engine Room’

In the historical city Kolkata, Eden Garden, winning the toss, India invited Sri Lanka to take the first lease of the wicket. Sri Lanka batted first, collected 251/8 in their allotted 50 overs.

To begin with, Sri Lanka’s Engine Room did not run smoothly. They lost three wicket for 35 runs. Mohammed Azaruddin’s decision seemed to have paid good dividends. First two wickets, Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluvitarana fell for one run. The entire Eden Garden stadium erupted. The Indians fluttered their national flag everywhere. Indian supporters were overjoyed. They began dancing and singing in the stands. They were really in cloud-nine.

Kalu, sliced his first delivery off Srinath, high and deep to backward point, where Sanjaya Manjekar covered good ground and held a stunning catch. All hell broke loose in Eden Garden and crowds were jubilant.

Dangerous Sanath Jayasuriya ‘most wanted man’ for India, perished in the next ball when Prasad took a catch off Srinath’s bowling. Within the first four balls, India virtually won the contest. Third wicket fell at 35. Asanka Gurusinha, facing 16 balls, scored one run and became the third victim of Srinath. The drama unfolded later.

Aravinda’s gem of an innings

Aravinda de Silva, never surrendered. This master batsman, batting artist, played his strokes along the ground, bisected the fielders. Timing was perfect. He stroked the ball off-side, on-side, forward, square and behind, like a compass.

In 47 deliveries, with star-studded 14 hits to the ropes, Aravinda scored a scintillating 66 runs. He made 31 off 12 balls. When Aravinda reached his half a century, his tally of fifties reached 36. This was his third fifty in the 1996, World Cup. It was a gem of an innings which I will remember forever. Aravinda de Silva prepared the ground for others, for a respectable total.

Team effort

Middle order clicked. Roshan Mahanama retired hurt after scoring 58 (101 balls, 6 boundaries), skipper Ranatunga 35 (42 balls - 4 x 4), Hashan Tillekeratne 32 (43 balls - 2 x 4), Chaminda Vaas 23 (16 balls - 3 x 4) made useful contributions. Indian paceman Javagal Srinath, returned the best figures - 7-1-34-3.

Total 251/8 for 8 in 50 overs.

Sri Lanka’s total did not look like a match winning one, when India were 98 for 2 wickets in their essay. It was Sanath, who gave the initial break through by deceiving Sachin Tendulkar. He came forward, the ball tickled off the bat and ‘little Kalu’ behind the stumps did the rest.

Turning point

For skipper Azuruddin, Eden Garden was his pet hunting ground. In his debut Test, he scored a century against England in 1984/85 series. But, alas! Azuruddin, overstretching gifted an easy return catch to the off spinner Kumar Dharmasena.

The lanky, gutty, unassuming Dharmasena, turned the game in Sri Lanka’s favour. The 110,000 Eden Garden spectators who were roaring like lions, now became innocent lambs.

The collapse was unbelievable. Imagine seven wickets tumbled for just 22 runs. The scoreboard read 34 overs - 120 for 8 wickets. Azar and company dashed the hopes of millions of Indians. Feeling ran high. Nothing anti-Sri Lanka. There developed a kind of a rage against the Indian team. Bottles were thrown.

A plastic empty bottle nearly struck the reserve Upul Chandana who was manning the square leg area. Pandemonium prevailed. Match referee Clive Lloyd ordered the Sri Lankan players off the field. He stated, “I have no choice. I abandon the game and award the victory to Sri Lanka, on default.”

As a commentator, I described the incident over the air-waves. I thought for myself, my family, would be greatly worried about my safety. I was in good company with Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Holding and Tony Greig.

In some isolated places, in the public stands, fires alighted.

The unruly crowd cheered the Sri Lankan team all the way. They booed the Indians. Placards appeared all over the stands, insulting Mohammed Azaruddein. Agitated sections of the spectators close to our commentary point, shouted: ‘Indian team good at chasing girls - but, not runs’.

Bad luck - tough day - Tony Greig

I attended the press conference, immediately after the conclusion of the match. At the presentation ceremony, Tony Greig inviting Azuruddin, and he stated in his inimitable style stated, ‘Bad luck tough day’.

Azaruddin was completely devastated. Indian press was very vociferous and severe on poor Azar. He was terribly executed. His voice was not clear. With a whispering noise in English he mentioned, “Batman, bowlers and fielders let us down.” Then he muttered something in his own language, which I could not understand. I politely asked an Indian journalist who was seated next to me, what he was uttering. The reporter was so furious and angry he remarked “This idiot is speaking nonsence.”

I was just thinking that in 1984, when Azaruddin scored his debut century in this very ground, Eden Gardens, he was a ‘hero’.

Today, he is a ‘villain’ or ‘traitor’. What a funny game - cricket. It is like our life. When one is doing well, everyone is behind you. When you fail there is no one.

The 6th World Cup created history. In the annals of World Cup, which commenced in 1975, this is the first occasion a team was awarded a match by default. In about 45 minutes, part of the crowd disappeared. Banners began to appear.

‘We are sorry. Congratulations Sri Lanka’.