Dhoni: Father?s son

Ranchi, Nov. 16: If India?s latest pin-up boy Mahendra Singh Dhoni?s father, Paan Singh, was felicitated today by the Ranchi District Cricket Association (RDCA), it?s not because his son loves the game and has brought laurels to the team.

It?s because Paan Singh showed his love for the game long before India discovered Dhoni?s talent for stopping balls.

Having never run after posts in associations, the senior Singh did what he could simply because he loved the game.

And it would have been understandable had he turned up late for the ceremony. After all, India was batting, and Dhoni was slotted at number seven. Difficult for any cricket fan, and that too the father of the star wicket keeper to steer away from the television set. But Paan Singh arrived at the archery ground in Morabadi in time. To receive the award which the organisers feel he richly deserved.

?It was a recognition of the fact, which very few know, that Paan Singh had played a very important role in preparation of the first-ever turf wicket at Mecon stadium in Ranchi. He was in charge of supplying water to the Shyamali colony, as well as the Mecon ground,? recalled a senior player-cum-administrator D. Sahay.

Those days there was a rationing of water, but Paan Singh ensured that the newly laid turf and the ground did not suffer from lack of water. No wonder, recalled other seniors, the Mecon ground was so green and lush that an impressed Arun Lal, former Test batsman and captain of West Bengal, made special mention of the ground and the turf and paid a cash reward to Jena, the curator, after Bihar-Bengal Ranji match.

Thus, Paan Singh was already making his mark in the world of cricket when Dhoni was barely four or five. Paan Singh may have had dreams about his younger son but may not have realised they would come alive in such a big way.

Besides Paan Singh, two other senior gentlemen R.N. Gaur and R.N. Agrawal were also felicitated for their selfless service to cricket in the district.

?I still remember Agrawal Saheb chasing the state transport bus on his lambretta scooter to hand over money for the district team that was travelling for an inter district cricket match,? recalled Sunil Singh, secretary, RDCA.

Present on the occasion were the RDCA as well as Jharkhand State Cricket Association president Amitabh Choudhary, RDCA working president Debal Sahay, vice presidents Amar Kumar Singh, Prashant Dhari Singh and Neelkamal.

, along with other office bearers of the district cricket association.