Fanboy chases cricket dream, travels 115 km to meet Sourav
Times of India | 10 July 2024
Kolkata: A 12-year-old fan boy travelled around 115 km — from Bankura to Behala — on Monday to try and meet his idol Sourav Ganguly on the latter’s birthday, almost 16 years after Dada retired from international cricket.
The Class VII student from Kotulpur in Bankura, who wants be a professional cricketer, hoped he would persuade Ganguly to speak to his father and convince him to arrange for his cricket coaching in Kolkata.
On the day of Rath, he received pocket money to visit a local fair. Instead of spending the money, the boy used it to purchase a bus ticket to the railway station and then bought a ticket to Howrah. He then boarded another bus from the station to reach Behala Chowrasta.
By the time he reached Behala, it was late in the evening. He learned that Ganguly was away in London. Dejected and hungry, he appeared lost when traffic sergeant Krishna Das spotted him and took him to the barracks. There he learned about what had happened. The OC, Amalendu Chakraborty, arranged for his dinner and managed to get his father’s phone number.
“The family had lodged a missing case with Bankura police. They were relieved that their son was traced. A relative from Baguiati even came down to meet him,” said a cop.
“His father later explained that his son is under medicine relating to psychological issues. The boy told us that he wanted to talk to Ganguly for becoming a great cricketer like Dada. He said he was already 12 years old and wanted a chance to play cricket in a ground here but his parents are opposed to his ideas,” said an officer.
The police said that they had decided to approach Ganguly’s residence and personal assistant hoping he would allow a “few precious moments” later so that the boy’s wish can be fulfilled.