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Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

Time off Chaminda Vaas

Some ‘extra talent’ that translates into over 700 wickets in tests and one-dayers, including two hat tricks. Some boy this, Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas.

“South Indian food is very similar to Sri Lankan food, spicy and all that. I used to eat mostly rice and curry in my younger days but travelling has gotten me used to everything. Steaks are my favourite,” says Vaas. “I must try biryani sometime.”

“But I do keep a watch on my diet and fitness. Forty minutes of cycling and 20 minutes of jogging every day are a routine.”

“Being a cricketer or a film star in India is rather difficult. The other day I couldn’t do any shopping at all at the mall I went to,” he said, referring to the adulation that fans in India lavish on their favourite cricketers. “And you can’t be rude or ask them to go away.”

Back home in Sri Lanka, Chaminda Vaas enjoys the privilege of a well-demarcated private life; his children don’t even tell anyone that their father is a cricketer.

“In fact Nethara (six and a half) and Ashwin (three and a half ) prefer not to use their last names at all,” he adds. His youngest son doesn’t care, though. He is only 10 days old!

His dream holiday spot? “Home,” comes the instant reply. “Watching television, playing with the children. Listening to sentimental music helps me concentrate. My favourite singers are Rukanta Gunatilake and Kasun Kalahara”.

Outside of cricket, his favourite sportsmen are Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. “Not because they win but because they display no emotion when at play.”

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