Congratulations to the team and Green Stars on a tremendous debut season.
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Season Report by Aun-Mohammed
The Prophet ﷺ said: “A person is on the religion of his companions. Therefore let every one of you carefully consider the company he keeps.” [Tirmidhi]
The tremendous, world-beating West Indian side of the 80s; Imran’s 1992 Cornered Tigers; the ruthless, all-conquering Australian side of the 00s – add to this all-star list the fledgling 8-aside team representing the Palmers Green Muslim Community and Education Centre in the Islington Division of the regional Last Man Stands T20 amateur championship 2013. Hmm doesn’t sound quite as romantic but still, MCEC CC certainly deserve to be held in similar esteem. They went about their first season with the predator instincts of Imran’s Tigers but the humility of a garden sparrow. They romped to championship success in their debut season of the LMS Tournament, putting MCEC firmly on the map. This season may have come to an end but their experience no doubt has had a lasting effect on each and every member of the team.
MCEC CC vs Allez Les Bleus
In conditions more akin to traditional British summer weather – dreary, damp and overcast – MCEC CC stormed to victory against Allez Les Bleus in a rain-interrupted quarter final encounter. Nabil, picking up from his heroics in the previous game, nearly smashed his way to another 50 before being scandalously given out leg before. He walked off the field nursing a sore backside, thus indicating the impact was perhaps too high and too wide to be adjudged lbw. With his wristy stroke-play and exquisite timing, Mohsin charged to 50 with a strike rate of nearly 200. Taha and Aun chipped in to set the opposition 170 to win. Fancying his chances with the ball too, Mohsin claimed figures of 2-9 as MCEC CC restricted Allez Les Bleus to just 104, winning comprehensively.
MCEC CC vs The Weasels
With Husnain exchanging his LMS jersey and cricket bat for a thawb and a tasbeeh (by enrolling into itikaaf at this point), the selectors did not hesitate to pick veterans Kamran Ahmed and Imran Ahmad in the semis. MCEC CC toppled The Weasels for a paltry 59, with Faiz claiming 4 wickets to further increase his reputation. With an unbroken opening stand from Talha and Nabil, the former scoring a rapid 54*, MCEC CC gobbled up their target to guarantee both an early team dinner at their favourite local restaurant, and, more importantly, a spot in the final. (Although it is not entirely certain which they savoured more; these boys love their grilled chicken!) Attention was then turned to the final, scheduled for just two days later against their old foes; Corpus Old Boys.
MCEC CC vs Corpus Old Boys
Corpus and MCEC CC had met on two previous occasions, with each side winning once. The result on this fateful day was to be most emphatic. MCEC CC amassed a mammoth 216 in their 20, with blistering 50s from Talha and Faiz. Such consistent all-round performances from Faiz had attracted comparisons to the great Abdul Razzaq. Talha’s insatiable appetite for runs could not have come at a better time for MCEC CC. Nabil’s calming presence had rid Talha of his mercurial tendencies and turned him into an absolute run-machine. He had sent the very last ball of the innings for a six so big it was worth 12, and in fact, it was (see section 1(k) of the LMS rulebook for further information on the ‘Home Run Rule’). A monstrous strike! LMS officials have issued a note of caution to the residents of Islington as the ball is still yet to land – beware sunbathers. With a new cherry at his disposal, Talha opened up the bowling with his brother Taha to get MCEC off to another great start. Hassan got the ball to talk at some pace; the Corpus batsmen were left baffled as to which way the ball would swing next. Only mustering 106 in 15 overs before being bowled out, MCEC CC were crowned League Champions in their debut season!
A few weeks later and the team were struggling to re-adjust to ordinary life. Whilst they were too embarrassed to discuss it amongst one another, they all suffered from a not unserious condition. The symptoms were there for all to see: spontaneous air shots in the living room; mimicking Wasim Akram’s action with an orange at work; the Afridi pose in the garden when it was thought no one was looking (except for the neighbours, left nonplussed). The captain, Taha Ansari, he knew. A qualified doctor (sorry ladies, he’s taken!), he had recognised the symptoms right away but he too suffered from the same disorder: LMS-Withdrawal-Syndrome (LMSWS).
“It’s the feeling you get out there”, explained one LMSWS sufferer of the MCEC CC team, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The feeling is like no other. You get this amazing buzz playing out there. It’s incredible. It’s so difficult to put in words.”
There were many moments that may have caused such delirium this season: Nabil’s Miandad-esque finish to that epic chase (MCEC CC have never lost a match when Nabil Jamil has been playing!); Talha’s Shoaib run-up; Mohsin’s batting average (as healthy as his biceps); Taha leading the team on and off the field; Aun inadvertently imitating Inzamam whilst running between the wickets, breathlessly refusing 3s; Faiz’s onslaught with bat and ball in all of the key games; Hassan’s off-cutters; Husnain’s astros; Kamran’s last over scamperings; his brother Adnan’s epic knock in the group stages (41 of 29); Toqeer’s sheer swagger, Touseef’s outstanding character, both in and out of cricket; Ahmed’s googlies; Zain’s photography and Imran’s many haircuts – what a season. None of the above would be possible, however, without the unwavering support and continuous duaas from Mr Shahid Ansari.
The most cherishable of all moments though, are the times when the team assemble for salaah at the Masjid. MCEC have an almost gravitational pull on the team, drawing them in at every opportunity. After each game or practice session, the team – with grass-stained trousers, perhaps irking the caretaker a little – visit their most favourite place. Their captain leads them in salaah as they stand before The Almighty, grateful for the success He has granted them and the friends He has enabled them to share it with. As they arrived, victorious, a few minutes late for maghrib on finals day, they set up a jamaat. The walls of this beautiful Masjid echoed with the mellifluous recitation of their captain. Heads firmly pressed in prostration to their Lord, Most High; some things are more satisfying than winning trophies.
