Bangla Beats: On `Shastri-ya` Sangeet, father-in law`s tips

Mirpur: Ravi Shastri`s post-match presentations might have become a bit mundane but the former India all-rounder does have lovely sense of humour as one got a taste of it the other day.

Veteran Bangladeshi journalist Zahir-ul Haque came with her grand-daughter Najma to the hotel to present a musical instrument `Iktara` (or Aktara as it`s known in Bengali) to Ravi Shastri. Shastri came down to the lobby, gave Zahir bhai a big hug and started strumming the chords of Iktara. "Sound accha aa rahaa hain," he started checking it. Asked whether he has interest in folk music as in Baul music, Shahstri replied: "Certainly. Don?t forget my full name is Ravi Shankar. I have music in my name." Umar Akmal set to get tips to tackle `googly`: If your would-be father-in law used to be a world class leg-spinner during his playing days, then you would hardly need any tips from the outside world on how to tackle a googly. Once Pakistan`s World T20 engagements get over, Umar Akmal will get ready for his `second innings`. And the bride is none other than former Pakistan leg-spinner Abdul Qadir`s daughter Noor Amna. Umar and Noor have had their engagement ceremony earlier this year and once the tournament is over, they will have their nikaah. Qadir also has four sons --- Imran, Rehman, Sulaman and Usman ? all of whom have played first-class cricket. Doc, a fitness freak: Rohit Sharma and Yuvraj Singh were both seen spending atleast 45 minutes on the treadmill during the rest day after the Indian team`s victory against West Indies. But standing at the swimming pool of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, you could see the Indian cricketers work out at the adjacent gymnasium. But who grabbed the eyeballs? Team manager Dr. R N Baba. The `Doc` was seen working out on the parallel bars which requires some amount of strength in the wrists. A fitness freak, you would see him running alongside Trevor Penny or Joe Dawes trying to pick up the odd ball that had gone the distance. Record people to sing Bangladesh national anthem tomorrow: It is expected that close to one million people will be out there on the streets of Dhaka tomorrow on the occasion of their Independence Day to sing their national anthem "Amar Sonar Bangla, Ami Tomay Valobashi" (My Golden motherland, I love you). If a million people are there on the streets, then it could well go into the Guiness Book of World Record.