Tour Diaries starts now, as KHALID MOHIDIN takes you with him on his first-ever Cricket World Cup journey.
The World Cup is here… and with the same apprehension that I felt waiting for the season finale of the multiple award-winning television series Game of Thrones, I am being consumed with the anticipation of jetting off to my first-ever ICC event as a cricket journalist.
The magnitude of the event has me tangled up in confusion, as my ‘journalistic code’ dictates that I be impartial, but how can anyone dampen the fanboy within who has long yearned to experience the magnitude of the biggest cricket showpiece in the world.
Ten teams battle it out to lift the trophy on 14 July, to be hailed the kings of the world and protectors of the ‘cricketing realm’.
Hopefully, this analogy hasn’t kiboshed the Proteas with the same response as in the case of the critically acclaimed GOT season finale, which had over a million fans sign a petition to have it remade. For the sake of ‘#ProteaFire’, fans will pray that Du Plessis isn’t slain – ‘Spoiler Alert’ – in the fashion of Daenerys, who suffered the same fate as her Targaryen predecessors.
Come to think of it, the final season is exactly how the Proteas would want the tournament to unfold.
The scenario: tragedy befalls the two main characters –Daenerys and Jon Snow (England and India) – while the other fan favourite – Tyrion (Australia) – aids the underestimated ‘Bran the Broken’(South Africa) to a clear path to the throne.
Death befalls the two characters who have a history of royalty and causing upsets (Pakistan and Sri Lanka), while the two colossal knights (West Indies and New Zealand), take casualties before they lock horns in a gruesome battle.
Like Sansa, a crown should be awarded for participation and displaying prowess, despite tragic shortcomings (Afghanistan), while Arya (Bangladesh) after a couple of incredible ‘wow moments’ sails into the sunset, knowing she has played a key role in the entertainment value of the show.
Returning to reality, I can’t help but fantasise about what it would be like to see the Proteas lift the World Cup Trophy for the first time. Could it happen?
There are multiple ways this tournament can unfold, but the anticipation and excitement have me all revved up for what is expected to be ‘the most competitive tournament in history’.
For South Africans there is no other trophy we may realistically desire more, as we embark on our toughest battle yet, hoping to witness Faf take a seat on the Iron Throne.
Photo: FontMeme
