The Cricket Interview/Syed Saba Karim
'Karachi was my best performance'
In your debut season, which is the performance you rate as your best?
Karachi was my best performance -- because I contributed towards a victory. When I went in, India was in a difficult situation, five down for 190-odd. And from there we won, chasing 266. It gave me a lot of satisfaction that I was one of the players responsible for India's victory.
Waqar Younis bowling at the end -- three yorkers, which you missed. And off one ball, you almost fell down, before being bowled next ball. What were your feelings in that second last over of the match?
I was very confident that we would make it, but my mistake there I think was that I should have tried to rotate the strike. Instead I wasted those three deliveries. But then, you always learn from your mistakes. Waqar bowled three very good deliveries, reverse swinging yorkers...
How did it feel when you got out at that stage?
Miserable. I felt miserable. I have never felt so bad in my life. It was one of my biggest regrets in life, I felt I had mucked up the game for my country. But when Rajesh Chauhan hit a six, that was a great feeling.
Your partnership with Robin Singh was very crucial. What was going through your mind then? What were you and Robin discussing between overs?
When I went in to bat, we needed 70-odd runs in ten overs. Robin and I decided at that stage that we will make the match as close as possible, we decided we wouldn't play any big shots initially, we would concentrate on ones and twos, try and bring the target very close. That is how we played, and in the last five overs I think we needed around 45 runs. Then we had two good overs, we got some 25 runs in those two overs, and then it all became possible. I know Robin very well, I've played with him for many years in domestic cricket. So we had an understanding of each other.
And then there was the hammering in Lahore. How did that feel?
Disappointed of course. We always wanted to win the series in Pakistan, but that did not happen. I think in Lahore, we lost too many wickets initially for only 80-odd runs, and after that we just could not get back in to the game. I think on that wicket, 215 was not a big enough score.
So which would you rate as your worst performance thus far?
The games in which I did not contribute with the bat. The first game in Pakistan, where I was out without scoring. I was batting at number seven and after I got out, all the remaining wickets fell like a pack of cards. And that felt bad.
It was during the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka that the Rashid Latif interview alleging bribing in Indian cricket came up. How did it affect the team?
No comments on all these things, please.
Okay, back to Toronto -- what difference has winning there made to the side?
Before, we were going through a stage where we were often close to winning, but just not pulling it off. Toronto gave us confidence, made us realise that if every player plays his role properly, we can win.
Do you think that this "winning habit" theory is valid?
Yes, it is. If you start winning, you get the confidence. Because even if you get into a position where you seem down and out, your confidence comes to the rescue and you pull through. That kind of feeling only comes when you win from various situations, like we did in Toronto.
Speaking of confidence, Sri Lanka are due here in November. Do you think India will suffer the hangover of the hammering we took in Lanka earlier this year?
No, I don't think so. It is a different series altogether. It is on our home ground, we know the wickets very well, we know how to prepare ourselves for the games. I feel we will be more confident.
As a 'keeper, you watch bowlers closely. So tell us about Anil Kumble -- what are his strengths and weaknesses?
I feel he is a top class bowler. His accuracy is immaculate. He works on the patience of batsmen. And he has the aptitude to get extra bounce out of the wicket. As far as his weaknesses go, I'd prefer not to comment.
A lot is being written about India's hectic schedule -- so how strenous is it really?
For my part, I enjoy playing cricket. I've got no complaints, I am very comfortable with our schedule.
No, I mean in terms of the extra effort required...
You have to be fit, physically and mentally, all through the year. At times you play five matches in seven days, like in Toronto, so you need to be able to motivate yourself all the time. And for this, it is very important that your fitness as well as mental level should be very high.
Just how big is the gulf between domestic and international cricket? And what needs to be done to bridge it?
It's not for me to comment on all this, really. And I would not like to get into any kind of controversies. My job is to play cricket, not to get into all this sort of thing. But I do believe that it is temperament which matters. I would say that if a player is temperamentally very strong, he will do well at the international level as well.
As a 'keeper, you have watched the likes of Jayasuriya bat at close quarters. How do you think he can be contained? What suggestions do you give the captain?
(laughing), if Jayasuriya hears this, he will not be very happy. It all depends on the wicket, really, and the bowler operating at the time, it is not easy to relate all that now.
What about your batting? Do you see yourself doing what Romesh Kaluwitharana does for Sri Lanka? What position would you like to bat in?
I don't have any particular slot I fancy, anywhere the team needs me is fine with me. Basically, I have batted most of the time at number seven. But in Toronto, I opened a couple of times. But yes, number seven is more comfortable for me though if the team needs me to bat higher, then I am ready for it as well. You see, it is very competitive these days. You have to play at whatever number they tell you to, you have to be mentally equipped to play, be it number one or number ten, be it me or anyone else.
These days, the first 15 overs are treated like the slog overs. How can this strategy be countered?
(Laughs) That is what is bringing in the crowds, yaar! You have to come up with new strategies, and you need a new one for every game, depending on the conditions, it is not like you can have one formula for all games.
Back to the past -- how much support did you get from your father?
Very much. In fact, why the past, even now he is very encouraging. He is still in Patna, he has got a medical business. My mother was a teacher in Patna, she too was encouraging, always. I've never had any problems with my parents, except during my marriage.
Why did you have problems then?
Not problems, more like initial hiccups when I married Rashmi Roy, who is not of my religion. But later on, everything got sorted out, there are no problems now.
So you are not religious like, say, Azhar who is reported to pray five times a day?
Oh, I am very religious. Though I do not pray five times a day, I do say my prayers regularly, I never take liquor, and always try to follow Islam.
So what does religion mean to you?
I describe religion as the way I see life, it is what gives me my confidence and strength.
How about Rashmi?
My wife has a doctorate from Delhi university. As far as religion is concerned, we don't have any problems now, I don't see us having any problems in the future. We have a son, Fidel Saba.
After Fidel Castro?
No, Fidel has a lovely meaning, it is from a Spanish word, it means 'sincere and honest', it means a man who has faith.
What role has your wife played in your career?
She has been a great inspiration for me, she was the one who made me focus on doing well in every game I played, in the domestic tournaments. Her goal was to see that I get back into the Indian team -- it is because of her encouragement that I am back in the side, and I am grateful to her. She has been excellent, sacrificed so much for me. She runs the house, looks after our son even though I am not there so much of the time... Sometimes I feel like a guest in my house, I don't know where things are, sometimes... she takes care of everything.
Besides your parents and Rashmi, who else has had a role in shaping your career?
We had this coach in Patna, Prasad Adhikari. He was the one who initially shaped and moulded me.
And wicketkeeping? How did you chose that?
Actually, it just happened, I think in my school days in Jamshedpur. My coach Sudhir Das, he was the former East Zone captain, he saw me, how I take catches, told me to become a 'keeper and that is what I did.
Was cricket your preferred game always? Your state Bihar, and now Bengal, both are more into football... ever wanted to play football, yourself?
No, that thought never came into my mind. Actually, cricket is catching on in the East Zone, people are doing very well, the game is doing well. They see players from that region get into the national side, so there is more interest, more keenness.
So who's your godfather? I mean, every Indian player is supposed to have one...
No one, yaar. I don't relate to these kind of things, actually, for me it just doesn't hold water. Your career depends on your performance.
In your book, who is the best 'keeper in the world?
Ian Healy. He is the best in the world right now, he is very, very consistent.
Best batsman?
So many very good ones around -- Mark Waugh, Sachin, Brian Lara, Saeed Anwar... so many of them... It is hard to be specific.
Besides cricket, what interests or hobbies do you have?
Reading. I love reading, literature mainly. Authors like Albert Camus, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. But books are expensive abroad, much cheaper here. So I buy books here, and read them on tour.
What would you like to be remembered for?
Hey, I am too young to answer such questions. But I would like people to remember me as someone who led an honest life, someone who tried his best always...
What are your plans for the future?
I am employed by Tata Steel, they have done a lot for me. After I am finished with cricket, I would like to get more involved in the company, get into the mainstream of Tata Steel.
Career records:
ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
(till 02/10/1997)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting 22 16 2 214 55 15.28 65.24 - 1 17 2
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