POTW : saadibaba

[MenInG]

16 off 4 balls and an appreciation by fans for his effort - Well done Darren Sammy and of course, well done [MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION]

There is a scene at the beginning of the 2007 epic masterpiece "There will be blood" in which the protagonist Daniel Plainview played by the brilliant Daniel Day Lewis is seen mining a precious ore vein from a pit mine hole. During the process of dynamiting the lode, he falls and breaks his leg. But that is the last thing that would deter him as he manages to save a silver sample, climbs out of the mine and drags himself to an assay office to receive a silver and gold certificate claim. The sublime satisfaction on Daniel's face while lying on floor of the assay office with a broken leg as his sample is being processed could only be described as a man in possession of immortality.

We've seen similar feats of courage and bravery in the game of cricket before. Salim Malik's 3 run (not out) in the 2nd innings of the 1st test against West indies in 1986 at Faisalabad comes to mind. Windies had dominated the cricketing world like no other for decades before. Their pace attack was considered the most lethal to have ever existed during any periods of time in the history of this game. Walsh had broken Malik's arm during the first innings. Behind on runs and badly needing a partnership in the second innings, Malik came out with his left arm in plaster at No. 10 and managed to defend the pace of Windies playing with only his right arm and stuck around while Wasim Akram added 32 more runs. The game was still in the balance but psychologically the Windies were shell shocked. So much so that they skittled out for 53 in their second innings, then their lowest score in Test cricket and handed the victory to Pakistan.

What happed during the final moments of PSL's 10th match of season 3 between Peshawar and Quetta, a routine affair with not much consequence, may not be as historical or epic as what I have described above but it sure went a long way in creating the legend of one Darren Sammy. His one legged 16 runs of 4 balls may very well be chronicled by historians as the most memorable innings by any batsmen in T20 league cricket.

Leave aside his achievements of captaining his national side to victory twice in World T20 championships. This 6 ft 3 in phenom from the island of St.Lucia is only few of the figures left in world cricket that aspire a feeling of old-school. Of cricket being more than just great entertainment and a massively profitable endeavor for cricketing boards. For it being more than just a means to fill TV time and pass out hollow corporate trophies to teams made up of a random rag tag group of mercenaries and has-beens.

If anyone can be described as the face of PSL, it will have to be Darren Sammy. His affable nature and love for the game and his team is unmatched by any, including all of our local players. That generous smile does well to hide the nerves of steel and calm composure. The pent up enthusiasm that often bursts out in spontaneous gyration betray a maddening passion for cricket with a leadership style that evokes a sense of nostalgia for the times of Imran and Sobers

Finally the image of a dancing Sammy wearing a Peshawari pagri used astutely by PakPassion on its web page is perhaps the most enduring images of PSL. It rightly depicts cricketers from all nations coming together to celebrate cricket and in doing so celebrate unity, purpose and ultimately world's most consequential and life affirming reality...Passion.

Thank you Darren Sammy!

 

[saadibaba]

Thanks a lot! Much appreciated.

 

[Slog]

Wow nice post! Enjoyable read!

Didnt expect saadibaba to be following PSL. I always gotthe sense that he has a laissez-faire attitude to cricket outside of world events, much less a T20 league such as PSL.

 

[hadi123]

Wow. Amazing post! Congratulations bro

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Awesome post and here I was about to complain in TP that likes of [MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION] [MENTION=22846]Nostalgic[/MENTION] do not post in Cricket no more


Damn. Amazing writing style.

 

[UN talkz]

What a great post that is!!!! [MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION] some credit must be given to me as well, i was the first to nominate your post for POTW.
On topic what a way of posting u have got man, read it three times; absolute masterpiece

 

[saadibaba]

Wow nice post! Enjoyable read!

Didnt expect saadibaba to be following PSL. I always gotthe sense that he has a laissez-faire attitude to cricket outside of world events, much less a T20 league such as PSL.

I wasn't a big fan of T20 cricket when it first started, especially the league tournaments but it seems to be growing on me. Now I feel that 20 over cricket is the future of this game. Its long enough to give it the characteristic unpredictability that the game of cricket is known for and also short enough that in todays busy world, fans can watch the whole game and still carry on with their lives.

 

[CricketCartoons]

There is something about saadibaba that warms ones heart. Makes one want to be like him.

 

[saadibaba]

Wow. Amazing post! Congratulations bro

Awesome post and here I was about to complain in TP that likes of [MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION] [MENTION=22846]Nostalgic[/MENTION] do not post in Cricket no more


Damn. Amazing writing style.

Thank you so much.

I hope to post more in cricket forum now as I am watching more cricket. No matter how interesting Time Pass section can be for some of us, Cricket remains our passion and the raison d'être for our presence on this great forum.

 

[saadibaba]

What a great post that is!!!! [MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION] some credit must be given to me as well, i was the first to nominate your post for POTW.
On topic what a way of posting u have got man, read it three times; absolute masterpiece

Bro, I am grateful for your support. Thanks a lot!

 

[saadibaba]

There is something about saadibaba that warms ones heart. Makes one want to be like him.

I am not sure if this can be said about everyone, you know I have my share of foes in the Time Pass section

 

[JaDed]

Congrats and well deserved,and as Slog said didn't expect you to be following PSL ,if it has you hooked surely it's doing well.

 

[cricketworm]

I have lots of respect for Saadibaba, lots of respect for Sammy, and what he has done for PSL, and lots of respect for Pakistan cricket.

Deserved fully.

 

[DeadBall]

If justice be served he can win both the General and TP POTWs. Has that even happened before? Would be an apt TWBB comparison though if that does happen.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Congratulations bhai , what a post and I agree with CC views regarding you

 

[saadibaba]

If justice be served he can win both the General and TP POTWs. Has that even happened before? Would be an apt TWBB comparison though if that does happen.

Thanks!

I'm curious which TWBB comparison are we talking about here. The one where Daniel Plainview is saying:

"I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!"

Or

"I told you I was going to eat you! I told you I was going to eat you up"

 

[saadibaba]

Congrats and well deserved,and as Slog said didn't expect you to be following PSL ,if it has you hooked surely it's doing well.

I have lots of respect for Saadibaba, lots of respect for Sammy, and what he has done for PSL, and lots of respect for Pakistan cricket.

Deserved fully.

Congratulations bhai , what a post and I agree with CC views regarding you

Thanks you fellows! Really appreciate your kind words.

 

[Nostalgic]

Congratulations! Very well deserved!

The icing on the cake is, it made me post on the Cricket section too...

 

[leatherface58]

Very well-deserved! [MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION] is a highly level-headed, intelligent poster with a very sophisticated taste in movies who still was respectful towards my liking of B-horror movies. He is mah homie!

 

[saadibaba]

Very well-deserved! [MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION] is a highly level-headed, intelligent poster with a very sophisticated taste in movies who still was respectful towards my liking of B-horror movies. He is mah homie!

Yo leatherface58! Wassup! Thanks for your kind words bro.

On a separate note. I have lately become more interested in horror movies. I have much to discuss but it would be more appropriate on the movie thread in Time Pass. Hope to see you around.

 

[Madplayer]

Thoroughly deserved. What a brilliant read it was! One of the best posts i have read in a long time.

 

[Greenstorm]

Top post. Hopefully, one day I will be able to write like this .

 

[DRsohail]

What a master piece by [MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION],I did copy pasted and sent it to my friends.

 

[waleed88]

Great post, Sammy is definitely one of the few things to look forward to in the PSL... as the number/quality of foreign players don't seem to be increasing anytime soon..

 

[DeadBall]

Thanks!

I'm curious which TWBB comparison are we talking about here. The one where Daniel Plainview is saying:

"I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!"

Or

"I told you I was going to eat you! I told you I was going to eat you up"

Well I had "I'm going to bury you underground, Eli" in mind

However the other two also portray total domination. The milkshake quote rings closer to home for me personally though, given the circumstances they were uttered in and the aftermath.

 

[Lefthanded]

[MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION] I really enjoyed your writing.

I think it's a great post. No disrespect intended as I want to know if you are actually serious about comparing Sammy coming out on an injured leg to hit 4 consecutive fours with Day-Lewis's incredible performance to play a character achieving immortality with a broken leg with 19th century medical assistance?

Malik's one-armed defence with old protective technology against the most terrifying pace quartet in cricket history with a domestic competition that frankly is an equivalent of a second division?

It's admirable what Sammy did, and he's the most likeable West Indian player. But I really want to know if if you weren't being tongue-in-cheek.

 

[Abid Z]

Very good read.

 

[saadibaba]

[MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION] I really enjoyed your writing.

I think it's a great post. No disrespect intended as I want to know if you are actually serious about comparing Sammy coming out on an injured leg to hit 4 consecutive fours with Day-Lewis's incredible performance to play a character achieving immortality with a broken leg with 19th century medical assistance?

Malik's one-armed defence with old protective technology against the most terrifying pace quartet in cricket history with a domestic competition that frankly is an equivalent of a second division?

It's admirable what Sammy did, and he's the most likeable West Indian player. But I really want to know if if you weren't being tongue-in-cheek.

Not being tongue-in-cheek at all but as I stated in my post after listing examples of bravery and courage from the movie "There will be blood" and Salim Malik's memorable innings was:

What happed during the final moments of PSL's 10th match of season 3 between Peshawar and Quetta, a routine affair with not much consequence, may not be as historical or epic as what I have described above but it sure went a long way in creating the legend of one Darren Sammy.

Sammy did not have to come out to bat. Most players and captains in this situation would have given two hoots about winning a routine league match. But he is a fighter who leads from the front, so he came out hobbling on one leg because he cared about his team winning the game. That's admirable. The guy is a living embodiment of leadership. I felt his efforts needed to be appreciated, hence the post. Thanks for your comments!

 

[saadibaba]

Thoroughly deserved. What a brilliant read it was! One of the best posts i have read in a long time.

Top post. Hopefully, one day I will be able to write like this .

What a master piece by [MENTION=2071]saadibaba[/MENTION],I did copy pasted and sent it to my friends.

Great post, Sammy is definitely one of the few things to look forward to in the PSL... as the number/quality of foreign players don't seem to be increasing anytime soon..

Very good read.

Thanks guys! really appreciate your kind words.

 

[Itachi]

Yo saadibaba, had you hadn't wrote that, I would have gotten potw!!!! Thanks for ruining it!!!!

Congratulations btw. Followed you since long time. Your posts are always nice to read.

Not that I agree but it's nice to read from a strong opposition who puts valid points too.

 

[saadibaba]

Very good read.

Well I had "I'm going to bury you underground, Eli" in mind

However the other two also portray total domination. The milkshake quote rings closer to home for me personally though, given the circumstances they were uttered in and the aftermath.

TWBB has so many memorable quotes. Its one of my favorite movies and Daniel Plainview, one of my favorite characters. Ultimately though, he is left alone, drunk and passed out in his private bowling alley. Not an ending I would wish on myself even though I am probably headed the same way, minus the private bowling alley.

 

[saadibaba]

Yo saadibaba, had you hadn't wrote that, I would have gotten potw!!!! Thanks for ruining it!!!!

Congratulations btw. Followed you since long time. Your posts are always nice to read.

Not that I agree but it's nice to read from a strong opposition who puts valid points too.

Thanks bud. Winning POTW is great but ultimately its what your peers think of you that matters. Appreciate your kind words.

 

[Lefthanded]

Not being tongue-in-cheek at all but as I stated in my post after listing examples of bravery and courage from the movie "There will be blood" and Salim Malik's memorable innings was:



Sammy did not have to come out to bat. Most players and captains in this situation would have given two hoots about winning a routine league match. But he is a fighter who leads from the front, so he came out hobbling on one leg because he cared about his team winning the game. That's admirable. The guy is a living embodiment of leadership. I felt his efforts needed to be appreciated, hence the post. Thanks for your comments!

Thank you so much for your clarifying and thoughtful post. Pleasure to interact.

 

[DHONI183]

A well written post full of feel and emotions! This is what Saadibaba brings to the table. The wisdom of an oldie should never be underestimated. Well deserved, congratulations man!

I wasn't a big fan of T20 cricket when it first started, especially the league tournaments but it seems to be growing on me. Now I feel that 20 over cricket is the future of this game. Its long enough to give it the characteristic unpredictability that the game of cricket is known for and also short enough that in todays busy world, fans can watch the whole game and still carry on with their lives.

Elders often hate the late night parties of youth, but once the grandson takes the grandfather with him to a party and introduces him to his female friends, the grandpa is afterwards often seen asking, "When is the next party, son?" That´s what has happened here. Regardless, welcome to the party!

 

[saadibaba]

A well written post full of feel and emotions! This is what Saadibaba brings to the table. The wisdom of an oldie should never be underestimated. Well deserved, congratulations man!



Elders often hate the late night parties of youth, but once the grandson takes the grandfather with him to a party and introduces him to his female friends, the grandpa is afterwards often seen asking, "When is the next party, son?" That´s what has happened here. Regardless, welcome to the party!

Thanks buddy! Glad you liked the post.

 

[giri26]

Congratulations!! Well Done