Indo Pak Cricket ~ marriages and more !

Last month, Mohsin Khan resigned as head of Pakistan cricket committee.  Pak press reported that Mohsin Khan had been making several public statements on television, at times putting the PCB in awkward positions. The PCB, within a few weeks of his appointment, found themselves having second thoughts after comments of him speaking unflatteringly of head coach Mickey Arthur emerged. He had also openly questioned the appointment of Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain across formats, leading to the PCB putting a gag order on his public comments.During this span, he headed three meetings but failed to develop a consensus on any outstanding cricketing issue. With Pakistan performing below expectations in the World Cup, the PCB had assigned the committee to oversee the performance of the national coaching staff and the team, expected to lead to an extensive revamp in the coaching set up.

Remember Mohsin Khan touring India, opening the batting for Pakis. In 1983 Series at Jalandhar, India, more prominently AnshumanGaekwad grinded his way to a double ton .. and Mohsin Khan would have felt frustrated for he had been dismissed for a first ball duck off Kapil Dev.

In our school days, ‘Neeya’ starring Sripriya was a hit – later read that it was DevathalaraDeevinchandi in Telegu with Jayamalini, Naagini in Kannada with Geetha – all remakes of Nagin, Hindi which itself was inspired by François Truffaut's French film The Bride Wore Black which was based on Cornell Woolrich's novel of the same name.  Nagin released in 1976 was a thriller produced and directed by Rajkumar Kohli under the Shankar Movies banner. Its cast included Sunil Dutt, Reena Roy, Jeetendra,  KabirBedi in the lead roles to  music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. Reena Roy received widespread attention and popularity ~ she was to marry Mohsin Khan and quit cinema.

Mohsin Hasan Khan played 48 Tests and 75 ODIs from 1977 to 1986  becoming a coach and selector.  Reena Roy was born Saira Ali, the third daughter of Sadiq Ali, a small-time actor – years later, their marriage broke down !

Away in Pakistan,  Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting on gas tariff for tandoors and prices of roti and naan, expressing displeasure over the increase in their rates. He directed reverting the prices of roti and naan to the previous level.Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Prime Minister took strict notice of the increase in the price of bread and directed raising the issue in the ECC meeting. He said the government was taking special measures to reverse the price of bread, keeping in view the factors responsible for the increase.Awan told journalists after the cabinet meeting that the federal cabinet had deliberations on how to improve the lives of common people, including providing free legal aid to the underprivileged prisoners languishing in jails. She said the prime minister directed the ministries to give proposals for facilitating the common people.

Awan said the cabinet expressed commitment to continue efforts to widen the tax net while appreciating the measures taken by the Federal Board of Revenue in this regard and increasing the number of tax filers.About JUI-F chief MaulanaFazlurRehman’s threat to the government, she alleged he was fulfilling his personal agenda in the garb of religion. She said seminary reforms were introduced to impart modern education along with religious education to seminary students. She claimed that with the passage of time, MaulanaFazl would lose support.

Pakistan star bowler Hasan Ali is reportedly tying the knot with an Indian girl, media reports state.  Pak media reported that according to  close family sources of the cricketer, Hasan's 'Nikah' ceremony  is expected to be held on August 20 at a Dubai hotel while his rukhsati will take place sometime in 2020. "Pakistani pacer Hasan Ali is set to tie the knot with an Indian girl ShamiaArzoo on August 20. Shamia belongs to Haryana and is currently working with an airline," a journalist  tweeted.According to sources, the Pakistani pacer fell in love with India's ShamiaArzoo during the ICC World Cup 2019. It is reported that Arzoo is an engineer by profession working currently in Dubai.

With his matrimonial union, Hasan Ali will become the fourth Pakistani cricketer to marry an Indian girl. Prior to this, Shoaib Malik married Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza  batsmen Zaheer Abbas and Mohsin Khan also tied the knot with women belonging to India.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

31.7.2019.

SYMA dream close to realisation .. .. .. moving to a bigger premises

4.8.2019 is going to be a gold letter day in the annals of SYMA history.  We have been aspiring, dreaming for this ~ ‘dreaming big or a big dream’.    Invitation is posted at the end of this post.

SYMA has an unsaturated desire for serving the Society. SYMA [Srinivas Youngmen’s Association]  has been in the field of Social service since 1977 starting with street cleaning campaigns and keeping environment, more specifically, the temple tank and its surroundings clean.   We at SYMA, feel strongly the primary responsibility of improving the Society and helping the underprivileged.  We are registered with the Registrar of Societies. With care and concern for the society, we have been actively involved in social service doing multifarious activities which include – coordination with civic authorities in keeping the environ clean, conducting health campaigns – promoting health care and hygiene; organizing Eye Camps, Blood Camps and other camps. In our earnest effort to improve the competitive spirit and to instill confidence in school children, We have been conducting Child Fest every year in which more than 3000 students from around 100 city schools participate. 

With a focus on sustainable service, we have two bigger continuing projects :

1) Medical Centre and Laboratory run for the poor wherein free consultation and medicines are provided – popularly known as ரெண்டு ரூவா மருத்துவமனை [Rs. 2 hospital !] This functions between 5 – 7 pm on all days except Sundays and National holidays. Consultation is free and medicines too – provided through regular medical shops with whom we have working arrangement. Around 40 – 50 people utilize this daily. We also have a Medical lab wherein blood and other tests are done at very nominal costs. The running of Medical Centre and Lab costs around Rs.45000/- per month. 

2) SYMA Growth – a purposeful special tuition centre for coaching poor students of 10th and 12th standards.  Into its 12^th year now, this was inaugurated in  2008 and producing good results year after year, changing the lives of poor children.   This year we have X Std English medium; X Tamil medium; + 2 Science Group and +2 Commerce Group. Every year, we educate around 110 students selected from weaker sections of the society and that way perhaps we have touched the lives of more than 1000 poor students.  

Both this projects are  fully  sponsored by Manpower Group this year (2019-20), to whom, we express our deep gratitude.  M/s Karix Mobiles have sponsored the Educational Aid programme and there are many philanthropists and corporate behind our success.

We have been dreaming of expanding ~ and the foremost impediment in realizing our endeavour was perhaps lack of space.  SYMA has been functioning in a 270 SFT approx premises at 29 TP Koil Street, (pictured here)   Opp to Bharathiyar  Illam.  With the munificent support of Vasavi Builders, we are moving to a sprawling premises at 37 Car Street, Triplicane, Chennai 600 005.  

Our Medical Centre and Lab would immediately be moved to this new premises.  We also plan to have : Physiotherapy centre; Dental Clinic, Specialists consultation on specified dates and .. .. nursing care centre too.  We look forward to the fullest cooperation, suggestions and help in execution from all our members, volunteers and well-wishers. 

The grand opening of the new premises is slated to be on Sunday 4^th Aug 2019 – the much awaited inauguration will be done by

His Holiness Sri Sri Vadhikesari Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar, Thirukachi

The guests of honour are :

·        Dr K Sridhar, Founder Trustee – SKKSM Trust; Director & Senior Consultant – Plastic Surgery,  SIMS Hospital

·        Sri M Balasubramanyam, Director, Mangal Tirth Estate Ltd

·        Sri M Murali, MD, Sri Krishna Sweets

The inauguration will be followed by free mega comprehensive health camp and free master health check-up – in association with Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Sankara Medical Trust & Medall Diagnostics.

SYMA thanks all its patrons, well-wishers, volunteers and members for ensuring the growth of our service activities.  WE  heartily invite you all for the function ~ please come, bless the Organisation invoking the divine grace of Emperuman to grow and be of continued service to the society. 

With regards – Office Bearers of SYMA

TA Sampathkumar                                                            R Seshadri & S. Sampathkumar

        President                                            31^st July 2019.                         Secretaries.

decorum of stay ~ lifting of goods from hotel !!

In 2015 furious after South Africa piled on the agony by scoring 438 runs at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium against India, team director Ravi Shastri abused the curator of the pitch Sudhir Naik,  for producing a wicket that offered hardly any assistance to the Indian spinners, primarily.  In a similar instance, in a ODI,   Sudhir Naik, the curator at Wankhede Stadium, Sudhir Naik lodged a complaint against Ravi Shastri but later  agreed to withdraw his complaint against India team director Ravi Shastri and bowling coach B Arun over their alleged outbursts – it was reported that Mumbai Cricket Association vice-president Dilip Vengsarkar had met with Naik and Shastri and advised both parties to "bury the matter" that had come about as a result of a "misunderstanding."

Sudhir Naik had represented India [3 tests & 2 ODIs] (in 3 Tests 6 innings he scored a 74 and 44) – debuted at Birmingham in that disastrous tour of 1974 and played his last test at Calcutta against WI in Dec 1974.    He did well in Ranji scoring 2687 @ 40.10 with a double ton against Baroda.  His name was mired after he reportedly caught shop-lifting two pair of socks at M&S on the Oxford Street.  He had led  Bombay to an unexpected Ranji Trophy triumph in 1970-71, a side depleted by star players away in India’s WI tour. 

This is no post on Cricket – we do stay in hotels on official tours  and personal trips – you see – stationery (paper, covers),  pens, pencils, soaps, shampoos, shower caps, spoons, shaving set, tooth brush, paste  and more – some have the habit of stuffing some goodies into their personal suitcases – might be tempting but we do not know what's off-limits – some well informed hospitality sources say that among things that are okay to take with you are- couple of chocolates, sugar packets,  shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, and other bathroom amenities, bathroom slippers, stationery, logo pens, notepaper, postcards, and envelopes that are left for your use and can be packed away for later – but not cutleries, cups, pillow covers, towels or anything of such nature ! [it is better not to take any of them ! – consume or use whatever is required during stay but not take them away]

Leading travel platform, ixigo’s info-commercial video on ‘Stuff you can take from hotels’  went  viral over the weekend in light of the recent incident surrounding hotel etiquette. The video which was conceptualised and produced in-house, showcases a useful guide for hotel guests on what they can and cannot take from a hotel room in a humorous format. According to the company, ixigo’s in-house research team discovered that a lot of travellers are in a grey area when it comes to what's okay and what's off-limits to take home from your hotel room. ixigo’s research with tarvellers and hotel partners alike showed that guests often take towels, irons, hairdryers, cable boxes, clock radios, blankets, paintings, ashtrays, TV remote controls and even pillows—all of which are not meant to be removed from the rooms.

Moving away, a web search on this led to a report in Outlook India on an embarrassing incident in Jan 2018  involving a State entourage.  The report reads that the  security staff at the luxury hotel in London was in a dilemma. CCTV cameras were live streaming what appeared to be guests – who were attending an official dinner at the conference hall – flicking silverware from the large table around which they sat and stealthily stuffing them into bags and purses placed on their laps.They debated whether they should raise an alarm but they didn’t want to embarrass the dignitary in whose honour the dinner had been thrown. Not only was she a VVIP guest at the hotel but she was the chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal who was in London on an official tour. The other visitors seated around the large table included a host of prominent citizens both from India and the UK and included politicians, industrialists and journalists.

As for the Indian scribes they were all senior editors, handpicked by their organizations to accompany the CM on this very important tour. That they would be polishing off the cutlery along with the delicacies served was quite unthinkable, given that they were supposed to be the famed “conscience keepers” and the “fourth pillar” of the thriving democracy that India is. But the CCTV footage was rolling and it was clearly happening.Allegedly the first to pick a set of dessert spoons off the table and into his pocket was a senior journalist, a reporter with a respected Bengali newspaper. Confirming this to Outlook, another senior journalist, the editor of another news publication, who was part of the delegation, said that this particular reporter was a regular on Banerjee’s foreign tours.

According to some reports, several other scribes, who had noticed him, didn’t want to miss out on the loot and followed suit perhaps erroneously thinking that they would get away with it. That the hidden CCTV cameras were capturing their every move didn’t occur to them.  “Or they possibly thought that the cameras wouldn’t be working anyway as is often the case in Bengal,” quipped another member of the Bengali team of journalists, clearly taking a dig at Bengal’s notorious infrastructural shortcomings.

After much pondering the security staff decided to quietly inform the journalists that they had been watching them and knew what they were doing and requested them to put the stolen items back on the table. Most of them felt ashamed and returned the silver.  Only one gentleman however apparently refused to admit that he had stolen anything and even dared the staff to search his pockets. But what he didn’t realize however, according to some reports, was that the CCTV cameras captured him putting all his loot into the bag of another fellow journalist from Bengal hoping that he, instead of himself, would be blamed.

That was the point when the hotel had had enough and told him that he would be reported to the police unless he cooperated. Eventually he confessed and was let off after paying a fine of 50 pounds.  Though the newspaper house for which he works declined to comment on the incident other than to say, as did one of its senior editors when contacted by Outlook, “Yes, it’s true,” the news apparently spread like wildfire within the Indian community in London.

According an account by a Bengali journalist, this particular man has a “habit of regularly pilfering cutlery and other goods from hotels during foreign tours though this is the first time he got caught.” He goes to the extent of claiming that this man “is a cheapskate who stays in economy hotels to save money but reaches the star hotel of the CM so that he could partake of the free and lavish breakfast served there.” Clearly though, he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth in the world of journalism, but had a knack for knowing how to get it.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

31^st July 2019.

Terbutaline ~ cough syrup and Prithvi Shaw ban !!

Unlikely that one would have heard of George Rieveschl or of his research on Diphenhydramine.  How often do you take cough syrups ? – and would you buy one over the counter without a Doctor’s prescription ??

At Rajkot on Jan 1-5, 2017 – Tamil Nadu played Mumbai in a Ranji semi-finals and lost.  The player of the match was debutant Prithvi Shaw who scored a century in 2^nd innings.  In Oct 2018 at the same venue,  Rajkot, against not-so mighty West Indies teen-age sensation, Prithvi Shaw marked his Test debut with a commanding 99-ball hundred - the third fastest (in terms of balls) on debut. Shaw also became the youngest Indian - and fourth overall - to hit a century on debut. He smashed more records against  a depleted West Indies attack at the SCA ground in Rajkot, where he had cracked a ton in his maiden first-class game in January 2017.

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine mainly used to treat allergies. It is also used for insomnia, symptoms of the common cold, tremor in parkinsonism, and nausea. Its common side effects include sleepiness, poor coordination, and an upset stomach. Diphenhydramine was first made by George Rieveschl and came into commercial use in 1946. It is available as a generic medication.

Terbutaline is now in news and could be hotly searched one on the web.  Sold under the brand name Bricanyl among others, is a β2 adrenergic receptor agonist, used as a "reliever" inhaler in the management of asthma symptoms and as a tocolytic (anti-contraction medication).  India Test opener Prithvi Shaw has been suspended until November 15, 2019 for a doping violation. A BCCI release said Shaw had "inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, which can be commonly found in cough syrups."

Cough syrups !  ~ perhaps the most well known to us is ‘Benadryl’ which causes drowsiness.  It is  used to relieve the symptoms of dry raspy coughs due to a cold. The cough syrup  contains medicines called diphenhydramine and ammonium chloride. Diphenhydramine belongs to a group of medicines called 'antihistamines'. Diphenhydramine helps to reduce common cold symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes. Diphenhydramine also helps suppress dry, raspy coughs by its action in the brain. Ammonium chloride is an expectorant.  The product composition besides : •  Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride I.P. 14.08 mg&  Ammonium Chloride I.P. 138 mg - •  Ethanol (95%) I.P. 0.2625 ml.  Benadryl was patented inn 1966.

In 2016, Diva Maria Sharapova shocked the tennis world when she announced she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open. At almost the same time Maria tested positive, another Russian athlete tested positive for meldonium. This substance was found in the system of figure skater Ekaterina Bobrova who now, together with her partner Dmitri Soloviev, had to miss  the world skating championships.  Additionally, in February 2016 Russian cyclist Eduard Vorganov, was caught taking meldonium while competing on the Katyusha cycling team.Doping in Sports in nothing new ~ perhaps in earlier era, tests were not as severe ad perhaps some got away with it.. .. .. ..the sporting World that had always admired Lance Armstrong for his resilience, was shocked to hear the doping allegations.  When Seoul Olympics was on air live in 1988, the heart throb was Ben Johnson, born in Jamaica but running for Canada – one of the firsts to break the 10 sec barrier.  

Not picked in the Test squad for the upcoming West Indies tour because of a hip injury, Shaw will also not be allowed to participate in the home Tests against South Africa in October as well as the first Test against Bangladesh, which begins on November 14.Shaw had provided a urine sample as part of the BCCI's anti-doping testing programme on the day of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Punjab on February 22 in Indore. His sample was subsequently tested and found to contain Terbutaline. "Terbutaline, a specified substance, is prohibited both In & Out of Competition in the WADA Prohibited List of Substances," the BCCI release said.

Shaw was then charged on July 16 under the BCCI Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) Article 2.1 and provisionally suspended pending determination of the charge. He admitted to the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) but asserted it was "inadvertent, being caused by his ingestion of the over the counter cough syrup he had taken for his cough."The BCCI was "satisfied" with the explanation that Shaw had taken "Terbutaline inadvertently to treat an Respiratory Tract Infection and not as a performance-enhancing drug." The board considered all of the evidence and took "expert external advice" before accepting Shaw's explanation and agreed that a "period of ineligibility of eight months should apply, together with disqualification of certain results".

"Because Mr. Shaw promptly admitted his ADRV upon being confronted with it by the BCCI, there is discretion under BCCI ADR Article 10.10.2 to back-date the start of the period of Ineligibility to the date of sample collection (22nd February 2019). However, the BCCI ADR Article 10.10.2 also requires Mr. Shaw to actually serve one half of the period of ineligibility. Therefore, further to BCCI ADR Article 10.10.2, the eight-month period of Ineligibility will be deemed to have started to run on 16th March 2019, so that it will end at midnight on 15th November 2019," the BCCI statement said.  However, Shaw "may" return to train with his state team and/or to use the facilities of any club or other member organisation of the BCCI after midnight on 15th Sept 2019. 

Along with Shaw, Vidarbha's Akshay Dullarwar and Rajasthan's Divya Gajraj were also suspended for doping violations. The two had "inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance" for a treatment of an infection and an eye injury respectively.

So ugly head of doping again !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

31^st July 2019.