Without television, we relied on the radio to get live commentaries of cricket matches. Cricket enthusiasts would be glued to their radios to get the ball by ball coverage of the match, especially if it was a test match. For those who couldn’t follow the match at home, shops and cafes readily obliged by tuning in their radios to the station broadcasting the commentary.
Cricket was a favorite sport in our family as it was for many Hyderabadis young and old. Years later when I was living in Dubai, cricket matches held in Sharjah, UAE, brought the same excitement and joy to my family as they did when I was in Hyderabad.
A batsman in action.
As young kids, my siblings and I played cricket with our cousins and family friends, sometimes indoors, and broke many wall decorations in the process! I still have some wall plates with the broken pieces glued together.
In Hyderabad cricket matches were played in the Fateh Maidan Stadium which has an interesting history. In 1687 during the eight-month siege of Golconda, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb used these vast grounds as a campsite for his soldiers. Following Emperor Aurangzeb’s victory, the grounds were named Fateh Maidan meaning “victory field.” It had a magnificent pavilion where many historical events took place. Fateh Maidan was also used as Polo Grounds at one time. In 1967 the stadium was renamed Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium after the former Prime Minister of India.
In those days cricket matches were held over a period of three to five days. It meant taking time off from work or school. Cricket fans would watch the game live at least for one or two days if not for all.
There was one cricket match that I went to with my family which I remember vividly. As we drove towards Fateh Maidan Stadium there were cars, buses, motorcycles, pedestrians all heading in the same direction. Arriving at the stadium I could see several “shamianas,” (large tents). My father explained to me that some of the shamianas were for serving food and drinks to the spectators.
As we entered the stadium and walked towards our reserved seats I looked around. There were ladies dressed fashionably in beautiful sarees and elegant shalwar khameez suits. Men were equally well dressed. I loved the inimitable Hyderabadi etiquette of greeting from afar with an “adaab,” which is a salutation. The atmosphere was pleasant and courteous.
I saw the green open field in front of us and watched as the umpires walked onto the middle of the field. There was silence in the stadium, voices around us turned into hushed whispers. Then the captains of the two opposing teams in their white outfits joined the umpires. The umpire flipped a coin. The captain who won the toss got the privilege of deciding whether he wanted his team to bat or field. The match was about to begin.
Cricket bat, helmet, and gloves.
To me, the whole event seemed a mix of sport and a social gathering. The crowds enjoyed the match thoroughly as it played out in front of us. In a little while the game was paused, it was time for a tea break. Tea trolleys were wheeled onto the field. The players gathered around the trolleys for refreshments or just relaxed on the field. The spectators went to the food tents for a cup of chai or cool drinks and sandwiches. My parents met their friends for a quick chat; everyone seemed so relaxed.
We went back to our seats before the play resumed. I was too young to follow the game fully but I enjoyed watching the scene around me as the game progressed. There were polite claps or subdued expressions of dismay. Soon it was time for lunch. As the players walked off the field, we went to have our lunch too in the shamianas. There were so many items on the menu, Hyderabadi dishes, western style food, and vegetarian dishes. Waiters moving around with their trays of drinks. I met some of my friends from school. As we sat together for lunch we wondered if any of our teachers were there.
The game ended around 4:00 p.m. I don’t remember which teams played or who won but the day is engraved clearly in my memory.
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