No takers for cricket literature

Despite holding a number of precious books on cricket history, the HD Kanga library fails to attract too many readers

Librarian Vijay Waghmare's phone rings loudly at the Dr HD Kanga library located at Mumbai Cricket Association’s (MCA) ground floor at the old office premises, shattering the routine silence of the place. The young man doesn't hesitate to take the call, and spends the next few minutes winding up his conversation loudly. Working as a librarian, one could have expected Waghmare urging the library environment to be on silent mode but such has been the apathy towards MCA's five-decade-old library that visitors rarely turn up, much like the sparse crowds for Ranji Trophy matches these days at Wankhede Stadium.

The richly stocked library which was introduced in 1946 to impart the best knowledge to cricketers and general public is now hoping for the younger breed of players to check in. There are many books which are unread for so many months and it doesn't take too long for Waghmare, who is also an umpire, to start goading you to join the library, since barely anyone turns up. The library is looked after by MCA, who appoints a committee to look after its old heritage and ensure the work runs smoothly.

Full report here Indian Express

Fake IPL Player finally uncovered!

Delhi boy Anupam Mukherjee is behind cricket’s biggest hoax. The best-kept secret in cricketing history is finally out. The anonymous blogger Fake IPL Player (FIP), who made life difficult for cricketers and Bollywood stars of the Indian Premier League in 2009, has come out of hiding. Contrary to
speculation, he is neither a cricketer nor a sports journalist - Delhi boy Anupam Mukherjee is a freelance advertiser based in Bangalore. In his first interview to a TV channel, Mukherjee said, “I only pulled off the hoax because I played with believable stereotypes.”

“He kept his ears on the ground. He watched all the news, has some journalist friends and a very clever understanding of what was going on,” explains VK Karthika, publisher, HarperCollins India, which published his book, The Gamechangers, earlier this year.

She explains that his decision to reveal his identity is because he was tired of living a double life. FIP wrote about locker-room fights in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ camp, actor Preity Zinta’s break up with co-team owner Ness Wadia and also took pot shots at players. Is he worried about a backlash? “No, everyone who knows takes it with a sense of ‘wow’ that he pulled it off,” says Karthika.

Full report here Hindustan Times

$2k Prize For Best Cricket Poem

In 2010, entries will be accepted from any citizen residing in an ICC country i.e. - Australia, England & Wales, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe who write their poem in the 12 months leading up to the closing date - September 1, 2010.

This annual poetry competition offers AU$2,000 to the winning poet with international exposure for the top twenty poems.

The organisers invite poets from test playing nations to submit a poem celebrating aspects of life in and around the game and sport of cricket, in settings of park cricket, backyard cricket, street cricket, beach cricket, social-cricket or local club cricket.

The genre may be narrative, dramatic, satirical, lyrical, elegy or verse fable.

The written & spoken word reflects the emotions, beliefs and prejudices that influence our thoughts, behaviour and personality. Poets will be asked to use a national pastime and global sport - cricket, as the vehicle to unsettle preconceptions, generate new ideas and consider our contemporary culture.

The Cricket Poetry Award will be run in conjunction with the Cricket Art Prize, and the winner will be announced at the Cricket Art Prize opening at the Members Pavilion of the SCG - 7th Oct 2010.

Full report here Voxy.co.nz