Much before the advent of IPL, the tournament which had the glamour was at Sharjah.It was just during the exam times in school, these matches would be telecasted and there was always attention towards the match and the book in hand. Those matches would be started around 2.30 p.m and it was exciting matches late night.
April was a fixed season for the royal family of Sharjah to host matches with four-nation or tri-nation tournaments in the city. The most frequently visiting nations would be Pakistan, India, Australia, WestIndies, SriLanka, Zimbabwe, New Zealand. With a crowd mostly of Asians who worked in the city, it was kind of celebration and entertainment to them to watch their favourite nations playing the tournament.
The most favourite of the rivalry would be India versus Pakistan. These matches attracted the maximum crowd and lot of glamour. Always remember the commentator Henry Blofield would comment on the earnings of the starlets in the VVIP stands. Who will forget the only footage which is being shown where the most wanted criminal of India Dawood Ibrahim speaking on phone. As much as entertainment, it was also an abode of betting where there were frequent accusations of players throwing the matches for the lure of dollars.
But this venue had few brilliant memories which still remains etched in mind:
1. The most famous were the last-ball six hit by Javed Miandad. This six might have hounded Chetan Sharma for years to come.
2. The famous win for India against Pakistan in a low scoring match in Rothmans Cup 1985.
3.The hat-trick took by Aaquib Javed which literally collapsed the Indian innings.
4. The most memorable event was Sachin Tendulkar innings against Australia. It was a do or die match for India to reach the final on Net Run Rate( NRR) and the master blaster after a break in the match due to sandstorm, played one innings which no Indian will ever forget. He smashed literally everyone Shane Warne, Kasprowicz, Steve Waugh, Fleming. The way he single-handedly played a gem of innings showed his class all over in his batting. The memorable moment of the match was the six he hit straight over the head of Steve Waugh and the expression on the Waugh's face looking at the umpire Steve Bucknor.
Although it was one of the most sought of the tournament for the India - Pakistan arch rivalry games but the emergence of match-fixing episodes and underworld operations in the game, India stopped playing. Even in 2014, IPL few matches were played in Sharjah, but it didn't create the excitement of the golden years.
Just expressed my thoughts on the most awaited tournament in summer was the Sharjah, now its place has taken by IPL. If anyone has to share their memorable moments about Sharjah feel free to share.
