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Azhar fan club takes off in Pub City

Madhuri V Krishnan

Teeming tourists, some with mehendi-clad hands, others with backpacks, absent-mindedly peer at shop windows offering unbelievable discounts on Nike shoes, Weekender and Ruggers attire.

In the sultry Bangalore summer, though, there are few takers.

At one end of the hoarding-cluttered Commercial Street lies Fashion Street -- a name reminiscent of that famed stretch of pavement between Bombay's Flora Fountain and Metro cinema, the Mumbaikar's leading source of affordable fashion wear.

The one in Bangalore, though, is more of a shop than a street, and is run by former Bombayite Irfan Sait. "I wanted to re-create a bit of Bombay in Bangalore, and that's why the name," says Irfan.

More to the point, no less than Indian cricket capain Mohammad Azharuddin arrived here on March 30, to inaugurate the 'Azhar Fan Club of Bangalore.'

The Azhar Fan Club, says Irfan, its general secretary and also coordinator of Cricket With Kirmani, works as an intermediary between Azhar fans and the man himself.

It kicked off when Irfan convinced the cricketer that there was a need to be accessible to those who love his cricket and, more importantly, to help 'raise funds for social upliftment of the poor and downtrodden of society.'

Irfan, who has for over two decades managed cricketers playing in Bangalore, became friends with Azhar in the early 90s. Irfan was, incidentally, responsible for starting one of the oldest cricket clubs in Bangalore when, in 1945, he began the Swastik Union Cricket Club. The club, since then, has thrown up 'A' division players regularly since its inception.

The media-shy Azhar, says Irfan -- who keeps in touch with the Indian captain despite the latter's hectic schedule -- has always been interested in social causes. "Many people, teenagers especially, would crowd my shop asking me about Azhar, asking for his version of any story that came up. For instance, he told me he had never signed 'Mohammad' on a shoe as an autograph, it was a lie -- and this I conveyed to his fans."

Oh, by way of aside -- despite the media speculation, the news is that Sangeeta Azharuddin nee Bijlani is not pregnant -- this, says Irfan, is straight from the man's mouth.

Back to the club, which since its inception has received 300 odd letters seeking membership. The current strength of accepted members, says Irfan, is 150. And patrons include former Miss India Nafisa Joseph, Deutsche Bank managing director U R Rao and such.

Interestingly, while Nafisa herself was out of town, her mom seemed less than happy at the connection. "Nafisa doesn't love cricket, nor is she an Azhar fan, her name has been used by Irfan Sait before complete clarification on what the club's activities, motives, goals etc are, it is all so hazy," says Mrs Joseph.

"Yes, we are not yet properly organised as we are unsure of what the club's activities will be, or the fee structure, place of operation etc.," admits Irfan. "But we will work out all these details and flesh out some ideas when we meet Azhar on May 20, when India will be playing the Kenyans in Bangalore."

Speaking of ideas, one suggestion mooted by Commissioner of Police L Revanna Siddaiah to the club was to get Azhar and Sangeeta to visit tension-ridden spots like Azad Nagar, and Old Mysore Road, where Hindu-Muslim clashes take place frequently, and state the case for communal harmony which, says the top police official, the famous couple perfectly epitomise.