Well, let’s do one thing? Instead of playing randomly like this, shall we have an organized cricket club and we will play matches through it?
Thus born our yet another childhood adventure. This is the story of Modern Cricket Club (MCC) an informal startup, more than 28 years ago in a traditional neighborhood in Bengaluru…!!
For an average Indian kids, especially growing in
90’s, cricket was not only a sport but also a passionate dream, and relatable to
many activities we were doing. Especially if you had facility of playing in a
nearby ground or had space within house compound, it used to be a bonus.
During my primary school days, due to my
passion for cricket, I was enrolled to a prestigious cricket club where many national
and international players had got groomed and used to coach. Though it was far
away from residence, parents had put lot of efforts and money, encouraging to
learn to become a cricketer.
That experience, musing material for an another blog, for some other time.
Those were the days when kids still played on
street and we had big number of friends spending time.
Having the privilege of staying in a house with
good space within compound to paly short pitch or in the same lane which
had big ground to play the actual ones,
it was always bustling with friends
Since had the benefits of owning the complete
cricket set including multiple bats and guards, with experience of attending
the coaching, one fine day while doing homework and followed in dinner time got
an idea of starting our own club using those materials.
When spoke to family, though they encouraged,
asked to write down the conditions of the club and then they will decide of letting
me do anything formally.
Same night prepared an application form, with few conditions.
- Membership fees - Rs. 2
- No refund of the membership fees if anyone cancels their application.
- Time - Sunday 11 am to 4 pm and Saturday 3 pm to 5pm
Next day morning presented this to my uncle, with
a smile, he said leave it on table, I will get it done.
Evening, back from office, had a surprise,
he had got the application form, printed from a shop and handed over few
copies. That was a green signal.
Next few days did a campaign of my new startup,
MCC, in school, neighborhood and got 12 members in a month and further growth
as well.
In the club we had a register to maintain the forms, timetable and eventually bought some books on cricket rules which was circulated to the members.
While playing on weekends, using the money
collected, we used to buy tennis balls and occasionally pay for chocolates and ice-creams,
a self-sufficiently running club through the membership money.
There were also occasions, some used to quit and
new people wanted to join and since we had shortage of forms, there are
cases of overwriting the new names as well!!
Though it was a short-lived club for 2-3 years,
after which the paths changed, the longing
and joy of doing something decades ago brings back the nostalgic feelings.
With the ongoing Cricket World Cup bringing back
these memories, this reminiscence is dedicated to all those who were part of the
journey of 90’s…. directly or indirectly.
PS: Fortunately, have kept few forms safe!!
