CHAMPIONS’TROPHY—2025 SARASIJ MAJUMDER Lahore: Thick, black and toxic smog engulfed the skies of Pakistan as unprecedented pollution levels continued to make the lives of citizens difficult. The smog is now visible from space, satellite imagery from NASA's  worldview showed . At many places in Lahore, and Multan, AQI   crossed over 2,000, twice during this week. Schools are declared closed from   last JUMMA DAY, to SUN DAY. Senior minister in the Punjab government Maryam Aurangzeb spoke to the media on this problem in Lahore on Friday (15 November 2024). Punjab government has imposed a health emergency in heavily smog-affected cities like Lahore, and Multan. “ Fake fitness certificates, outdated laws, staff shortage impede Punjab’s fight against smog ”--- (DAWN) Look at the IMAGE above. Is there any sense to plan “CHAMPIONS’TROPHY” to be played there in this ‘SMOG   FULL GAS CHAMBER’ ??? It will not improve in next NOVEMBER—rather it ...

  RAHUL DRAVID-- "THE WALL" AND OTHER BATSMANS WHO DODGED DUCK SARASIJ MAJUMDER   If you played Cricket, you must know   the sinking feeling of a batsman dismissed for a duck - a scoreless outing. But imagine an entire international career defying this dreaded fate! Today, we talk about the Indian batsman who never succumbed to a golden duck, yet playing all the three FORMATS! Cricket boasts numerous special records celebrated globally, from most centuries to hat-tricks. Yet, there's one record that often escapes the limelight – the feat of never being out on zero throughout one's international career. This achievement is rare, and among the elite cricketers who have accomplished it, there are Six Batsman in all. Two of them are Indians. To clarify this unique record, it's essential to establish a parameter, such as a minimum number of innings played. Zero couldn’t touch them.   The Wall off course   Stood Tallest. And then, there are a few  oth...

  MCLEAN PARK, NAPIER, NEWZELAND MARCH 25, 2009 SECOND TEST MATCH—INDIA Vs. NEWZWLAND GAUTAM GAMBHIR’S HEROIC PERFORMANCE SARASIJ MAJUMDER New Zealand 619-9d v India 305 & 476-4d: Match Drawn, McLean Park, Napier, March 25, 2009 | Cricket Results | Wisden. The above is how WISDEN described it. It failed to arrest the spirit of the match. Though CRICKET is a TEAM GAME, occasionally, a player leaves a telling mark on some match—that that match can be named on his name. Gambhir’s stoic stand in the Napier Test against New Zealand, 2009 showed highly admirable Batsmanship skill, courage, and discipline to bring back the TEST from the JAWS of DEFEAT. I saw the batting completely, in TV, and only the pen of immortal Nevil Cardus could have described properly such impeccable batsmanship of GATI. His marathon effort to save the Test match   shall be listed as one of India's finest individual performances overseas. When the  team was ...

  IMMORTAL TEST WINS BY INDIA—No. 5 CHENNAI TEST, 2001, AGAINST AUSTRALIA SARASIJ MAJUMDER SOMETIMES, “0” IN 14 BALLS IS ALSO VALUABLE. An unforgettable memory for every Cricket connoisseur of India. The entire cricketing world   appreciated the Indian win over   team Australia that hadn't had a taste of defeat in years in famous test in Kolkata, Eden Gardens. After being forced to follow-on, Team India broke Aussies' world record winning streak in the most phenomenal way one ever could imagine. Series just got evenly poised with 1–1 and no one could wait for the final show. In matter of a week, the entire environment had been changed. Everyone connected to this sport, every media house was in full praise of this new looking Indian team. At the same time, no one denied the fact that Australian team had full capability to bounce back, seal the series and put the Indian's enthusiasm to rest. But INDIAN CRICKET TEAM SCRIPTED A DIFFERENT STORY, though the...

  2011 WORLD CUP IN INDIA WRITTEN FOR POSTERITY SARASIJ MAJUMDER 2011 One Day Cricket World cup played in INDIA, and won by INDIA—is somehow STAMPED as Dhoni’s World Cup. If the world cup of 2011 come to your mind—Dhoni hoisting the winning 6 gets frozen in the mind. Sure, Dhoni, who was not batting well in the event, promoted himself in the CHASE, and   played a beautifully controlled aggressive innings , and scripted the win by HOISTING THE BALL SAILED OVER MIDWICKET boundary for a six. But, we must not forget that it was a fully team game, and all members played key roles, like in 1983. Sachin Tendulkar: 482 runs. Also, the second highest run scorer in the tournament. Gautam Gambhir: 392 runs. Also anchored the innings in Final. Sudden rush of blood—and he missed the Century by a few runs on the final day, and MoM award.. Virender Sehwag: 380 runs with a brilliant strike rate of 122.5. Highest individual score(175) in the tournament. Yuv...

  CRICKETER REMAINED IN SHADOW SARASIJ MAJUMDER Dravid was in the fight with Sachin for popularity. Chander Paul was in the fight with Lara for popularity. Smith was in the fight with Kallis for popularity. Jack Kalis remained in the Background of   Sachin, and LARA. But Mark Waugh was lost in the shadows of Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, and Michael Bevan’s popularity, in spite of LEGENDERY PERFORMANCE. Steve Waugh was Australian cricket’s poster-boy back then. The media loved him, and he too had a unique charm attached to him. He was a fan favourite too. He was just five years into his international cricket and the craze he had among the Aussies was admirable. In 1990, he was hit by bad form and was dropped. The nation was surprised, their favourite, ‘Tugga’ was dropped. And who would replace him? Mark Waugh, his twin brother. The media called him ‘Junior’ and the ‘other Waugh’ Mark had a lot to prove, h...

  THE BEST TAIL ENDER TURBANATOR BHAZI SARASIJ MAJUMDER Can you decide, who is the best TAILENDER of India, Nay OF World, in CRICKET?? Let us review records:- 1. India vs Australia, 3rd test, Chennai, 2001. India had won Kolkata test. History was made. Mighty Australian's Unbeaten run of 16 Tests had been stopped. Though the final nail in the coffin was yet to be driven. They moved to Chennai for the series decider. It was such an important match for Indian Cricket point of view. Nobody had imagined even in their wildest dream that India could pull off a series victory against an unbeatable team. It couldn't have been closer. After five days of enthralling Cricket, on final day of Chennai test, India was standing on the verge of a miracle as 4 was needed with only two wickets remaining. Aussies were making it immensely difficult for India as they had taken last 6 wickets for only 50 runs. Remaining 4 runs seemed like 400 and In-walked our number 10 batsman. Un...

  IT IS NOT TIME TO REPENT. AFTER ONE DAY WORLD CUP FINAL 2023 SARASIJ MAJUMDER The ODI WC Final loss vs Australia is the latest chapter in what has turned out to be a long run of heartbreaks for Team India in ICC event knockout matches. The last time India won an ICC Final tournament was in 2013, under Mr. Dhoni of India. It was  Champion’s Trophy. Since then, India lost 9 ICC knock out tournament on trot, in Semi-final, or Final. Last is on LAST SUNDAY--19-11-23. The Heroics of Virat, Rahul, Shami, Bhumra , Rohit--- all became a big ZERO, when it mattered most. SEE THE TABLE BELOW:-- The trend clearly suggests that while India have played good in the initial stages—gets bogged down when the CHIPS ARE DRAWN, and Boys in the TEAM were segregated from Men. Australia, on the other hand, lost their opening two games at the start of the World Cup and then won seven in a TROT to enter the semifinals. And then won the most important TWO KNOCKOUT matches. In one matc...

  INDO—PAK CRICKET SARASIJ MAJUMDER Pakistan  has played its last game in this World Cup, and took a flight back home after eating some GOOD INDIAN BIRYANI. We have given them a warm send-off. Now is the time to retrospect. In no way does playing cricket will lead to a change in the hearts and minds of the Pakistanis --people, bureaucrats, Politicians, and ARMY in particular. And this will not   promote friendlier relations between the two countries. In fact, it makes things worse because Indians get exposed to the hateful reality of Pakistani mind, and Pakistan gets heart-burn from losing matches to India. Let us understand, why whole of Pakistan BRAYING for INDO -PAK cricket match:-- 1.0 The reason is Commercial, and pure Commercial. PCB loses money. Player loses money, from FEES, and Commercial endorsement. They are excluded from IPL which is their players’ big financial loss. Hence, they want to play with INDIA.--not for love of Cricket, or India; but f...