Determined Lot

Saraswati Mandir Night College team members are a bunch of boys, who attend classes at night and work full-time during day time, even participate in the tourney at the cost of loss of pay

Suhrid Barua, Pune Mirror, February 13, 2009

Saraswati Mandir Night College team is like any other team among the twenty sides participating in the ongoing second Damodar Karandak cricket tournament. But their presence in the tourney oozes a 'team with a difference' kind of feeling.Saraswati Mandir Night College team are a bunch of boys, who take college classes at night and work full-time during day time in various sectors. The passion of this squad can be gauged by the fact they are competing in this tourney after obtaining leave from their employers for those days they are playing a match."All our team members work full-time in different industries. I work as an accountant in Sha Jatmal Sopaji in Bhawanipeth," reveals Saraswati Mandir Night College captain Praveen Khillare, who captured two crucial wickets, including the prized one of Kunal Bhilare, MIT Junior College captain even as his side scripted a thrilling 16-run romp at LIS Law College ground.
The swarthy-looking Khillare says it is their sheer passion for cricket that propelled their participation in the tournament. "We've no coach," insists Khillare."We don't have a cricket kit. It was a big relief when our college provided it for this tournament. Also, we've no ground to practice, we practice sometimes at SP College and Nehru Stadium but all these things doesn't act as a dampener for us," he says matter-of-factly.
The massive intent of just 'playing' in the tournament is further exemplified by the fact that the Saraswati Mandir Night College team-members even shelled out a part of the entry fee from their own pockets to take part in the tournament."Every team has to pay an entry fee of Rs 2,000 for this tournament. Our college played Rs 1,000 while all our team-members chipped in with the rest amount to ensure our participation in the tournament," Khillare says, wearing pride in his sleeves.
So, what about the loss of pay for the leaves taken by his team-members on match days? "Our salaries are very modest. Still, we don't think so much about loss of pay. The important thing is that our employers have granted us leave to participate in this tournament, which gives us a thrilling experience. Whether we win or lose in this tournament is a different matter altogether," he says.