This is a photograph I cherish most. It brings back memories of happy, carefree days spent on the cricket fields of Nagpur, playing for the Nagpur Parsee Team. Those Sundays were special. Through the week I would eagerly look forward to finding out whether I had been selected for the next game. Each week the bearer of this exciting news was, if I recall correctly, Ishan, the man in charge of our kit. Tall and lean he would arrive on his bicycle dressed in a white dhoti and a long black coat. On the handle bar of the bicycle hung a soiled cloth bag which carried the all-important "Fixtures Book” which gave details of the next game, venue and reporting time. Most important was the excitement of seeing my name on the team list. One signed against one’s name and looked forward to yet another Sunday spent on a sun baked cricket ground in the scorching Nagpur heat. That was paradise!
In this photograph, seated in the middle is Jiji Irani, our team manager, a wonderful, gentle, soft-spoken person whose kindness inspired us all. Winning or losing did not matter. To Irani the spirit of the game was all important. In fact I cannot remember a single game we won or lost. All I can remember with pride is the camaraderie and respect the team shared. It was pure unadulterated fun!
Standing, l-r: Umpire Jamshed Irani (Jiji’s son), Adi Dastur, Mahiar Jamaji,
Rashid Minocher, Badli Wadia and others; sitting, l-r: Captain Rusi Dastoor,
Minoo Batlivala, team manager Jiji Irani, name unknown and Fali Zal
The highlight of the season was the annual Married vs Bachelors match organized by Irani. Lunch was provided by the wives: dhansak with large juicy kebabs and kachumber. We gorged on this mouthwatering fare. The afternoon session was a disaster. The dhansak took its toll on the Bachelors who could hardly stand in the field and so the Married invariably won the day! ADI DASTUR
Nairobi, Kenya