Altaf, a ten year old cricket fan, was instructed by his mother not to play with the new red kookaburra ball, without wearing a helmet and an abdominal guard. But taking advantage of his mother’s absence, he plays with the ball, which unfortunately falls into the opposite house, housing the Al Quaida Chief, Osama bin Laden.
Altaf Hussain, from the time he turned ten, pestered his mother to give the new Kookaburra cricket ball, which was presented to him by his uncle, Syed Khan.
“Altaf,” said his mother Fatima, “I don’t mind giving you the new red Cricket ball, but without proper protection, like helmet and abdominal guard, I won’t allow you to play.”
“But ammijan,” pleaded Altaf, “You said I can play when I turn ten.”
“No, nothing doing,” replied Fatima, “I said you can play after you turn ten, but only when you wear protective gear. Is it clear, Altaf? ”
“But no one uses any protective gear around here.”
But Fatima was adamant, “No protection, no Kookaburra. If you want to play use the ordinary tennis ball.”
Crest fallen Altaf whispered, “But I cannot hit it very hard.”
Fatima sighed. Yes it’s true. From the time the eighteen feet high wall was built around the house opposite to theirs, anyone hitting a ball into that compound with an ordinary tennis ball can call it quits, because once the ball falls into that compound, no amount of knocking, shouting or pleading will make the residents throw the ball back. Only a hard Kookaburra cricket ball has less chances of getting hit as hard as to fall into that compound.
Altaf, from the time he was six, played cricket learning the intricate art of bowling and batting from that tender age. He has that talent of bowling accurately and batting with patience that earned him the title of “Abbottabad all rounder”.
His uncle Syed, himself a great spin bowler, knew that Altaf would one day become a great player as he had seen him bowl accurately, and bat like a professional. Altaf’s ambition was to hit sixes like Shahid Afridi and bowl like Shoiab Akthar, both Pakistani Cricketing Stars, and Syed nods in agreement.
“Cricket ball is a hard, solid ball,” explained Syed, “made out of cork and leather. The ball can be made to move in the air, and off the ground, to bowl and dismiss batsmen.”
“And likewise,” continued Syed, “by manipulating the ball into a position or by directing it, runs can be made effectively. You can have my bat, so that you guys can play without interruption.”
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