MAJU SAMUEL | Afternoon Despatch & Courier Saturday, April 16, 2005 13:37:27 IST

Screening of the India-Pakistan Kanpur ODI was organized yesterday at the CCI
 

"This is brutal," said Ashok Mankad, the former Indian middle-order batsman while watching one of those nine lofted sixes Pakistan's Shahid Afridi had blasted. "This is his day, you can't blame our bowlers," opined son of cricket legend Vinoo Mankad. Ashok Mankad was one among the five former cricket personalities - others being Bobby Simpson, Polly Umrigar, Yajurvindra Singh and Piloo Reporter - who attended a television screening of the fifth One-day international cricket between India and Pakistan oraganised by Cricket for India, the online cricket coaching website and Atlantic Crossing at the Cricket Club of India (CCI)."249 is a decent total and India can win this match," said Bobby Simpson, the former Australian skipper and Indian team consultant confidently after the Indian innings.

"The Green Park pitch is also far better from the one in Ahmedabad," explained Simpson, who is in the city to coach CCI players at the Brabourne stadium. But Piloo Reporter was not as optimistic as Simpson. "The score is not enough for our bowlers to defend the game. But I am looking forward to see Anil Kumble in action. He will be the decisive factor, " said the former umpire who officiated two World Cups. Later we saw Reporter shaking his head in disbelief when Afridi welcomed Kumble with two consecutive sixes.

While watching Mohd. Kaif smashing one of those boundaries enroute his rearguard 78, we asked Simpson if he felt the Uttar Pradesh batsman didn't get his due during team selections. "If he is among runs in domestic cricket that is a different thing. If you perform well in the team, nobody will be dropped," the former ICC referee said. When the Pakistan innings started with a bang with opener Shahid Afridi smashing some breathtaking strokes, all those 30-odd spectators glued to the 51-inch screen inside the Anandji Dossa Cricket Reference Library room became silent. "Afridi is spoiling a good afternoon," said Ashok Mankad to Ritika Hiranandani, director of www.cricketforindia.com . About her website, Ritika said that it is getting more than 14,000 hits per day. "Ours is the only website in India which gives anyone get their queries answered on-line by international cricket personalities and cricket coaching accessible to all."

Back to the match, the belligerence of Afridi's knock made Simpson leave the room when the Pakistan was on a song. We asked him if he felt Sourav Ganguly should be included in the next match? "No. He should not be included in the team. His presence would not have made any difference today," said the former Aussie skipper firmly.