The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Amla aims to make it big in India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 17, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Amla aims to make it big in India

JAIPUR, NOV. 15. Hashim Amla, the first Indian-origin cricketer to play for South Africa, loves to cherish this year's Eid. For, he bowled 11 overs of off-spin in a first-class cricket match.

``This was for the first time I have bowled so many overs in a first-class match. Also it is for the second time on the row I have been at cricket field during the Eid,'' said the 21-year-old Amla.

Amla is expected to give support with his occasional slow bowling as the South Africans are having only one specialist spinner for the Indian tour.

Amla went to the local mosque to offer his prayers and was mobbed by the locals.

He stopped Ramadan fasting when he joined the preparatory camp in Pretoria about two weeks ago. Being a devout Muslim, he finds time to pray during the lunch and tea intervals.

For a person whose grandparents hailed from Surat, India has been a home away from home. Although he is settled in Durban, which has a strong Indian community, Amla has been overwhelmed by the passion people here have for the game.

``The passion for the game is amazing here. And the other thing which attracted me is the Indian culture,'' said Amla.

Has the Indian experience been any different from what he had expected? ``It is what I had expected. My friends, who came here earlier, told me what to expect. It has been only three-four days. I am sure, at the end of the tour, there will be lot of memories to cherish.

``Meeting a lot of good people who are passionate about the game, as well as the excellent hospitality.''

Amla is one of the five non-white members of the team. Since making his debut in 1999-2000, he has hit seven centuries, including four last season, for a career aggregate of 2369 runs in 34 matches at an average of 50.40.— PTI

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