Meher Premier League
Box Cricket, Amravati.
Merwan excelled in long distance running, high jumping, field hockey and soccer, in which he also won many cups and medals. But his favorite game throughout his life was cricket. It was at St. Vincent's that Merwan joined the high school's cricket team and became an excellent wicket-keeper. He amazed the spectators by deftly catching the ball and sending the player out.
Once a cricket match was arranged between the strong team of the New English School and St. Vincent's. The New English School was considered the favorite since the team had won the trophy shield for many years in a row. The team members were usually seniors but Merwan, though younger, played first string for St. Vincent's.
The English School batted first and scored. Merwan then took the wickets of their three best players and they did not score further. At bat, St. Vincent's team was making a poor showing and their chances of winning looked dim. Then Merwan was up and remained batting until he hit the ball flying for the winning stroke. St. Vincent's school won the trophy shield. The home spectators were overjoyed, and the principal, teachers, students and parents flocked to congratulate Merwan on his splendid play.
When photographs were taken of the winning team with the shield, all the boys insisted that Merwan sit front and center.
(Source: Online Lord Meher, Page: 137)
St. Vincent's School cricket team, circa 1910, Merwan (Meher Baba) seated left on the ground
After lunch, Baba sat on the verandah surrounded by his lovers. The main hall was completely vacated, as Baba had agreed to distribute trophies that day to several cricket teams of the Poona District Cricket Association. The different teams collected in the hall about 1:45 P.M. Many local people were also invited. Baba sat on his usual divan, with the trophies and certificates on a table to his left. Several newspaper reporters and photographers were there to cover the event. Baba stated:
This is the first time I have taken part in such a function. There are two reasons for it. The first, that I was born in Poona, Maharashtra. The other is that from my childhood I have been very fond of cricket. Spiritually, I am the Universal Being. I always like to watch cricket matches, but people do not allow me to do so in peace.
Once, I was invited by the mayor of Ahmednagar to witness a good match. It was one of the Ranji Trophy matches. When I reached there, the mayor was waiting for me with a garland and behind him was his whole entourage, who had my darshan one after another. People began to crowd around me and finally I had to leave without having seen the match.
At 2:00 P.M., Sadashiv Palsule, the secretary of the Poona District Cricket Association, garlanded Baba, introduced him to the members of the executive committee and gave a short speech. He said the winners would not only be receiving trophies, but also the blessings of the Avatar, Meher Baba. After his speech, Baba distributed trophy cups, shields and merit certificates to the captains of the teams. Eruch read out Baba's message to the cricket players:
I am happy to present these trophies today. When I was a boy in school and college, I played cricket. Now I play my divine Universal Game which includes cricket, and so I am still fond of that game.
It is good to excel in whatever one takes up, so long as there is a feeling of humility with this excellence, for this leads to love of God, and to love God as He should be loved is the best excellence. I give you my blessing that one day each of you may have this love.
Baba then related an incident from his own youth:
Play cricket for the sake of playing the game. Don't think of victory or defeat, but, like a real sportsman, give pleasure to the spectators. If you play with all your heart to make the spectators happy, it is a great work done by you. But if you play with the thought of not getting out, you will make the spectators unhappy and you will have wasted their money. Do not make things boring for the spectators. After all, they come with the hope of seeing some bright and good cricket. I give my blessings so that you may play the game for itself.
Once when I was a student at St. Vincent's High School, we had a match with New High School. I was a good wicket-keeper as well as a good batsman. In that match, I was the opening batsman. I came back from the field not out while my whole team was out, but I had scored only 33 runs. When I came back to the pavilion, all the boys and spectators jeered and hooted at me. I did play steadily, but the spectators were unhappy. So play the game in such a way that the spectators feel happy.
A few bhajans were sung, followed by arti, after which the cricket players departed. Lovers and devotees again filled the hall and heard Deshpande sing until 4:30 P.M. Those who had not embraced Baba that day came to him for a parting embrace after the program was over.
The next day, the Times of India printed an article on their sports page with the headline: "Go In For Bright Cricket, Says Meher Baba." The Indian Express also carried a story of the unique event, and one newspaper reported: "Meher Baba has a big following of cricketers, prominent among whom are India's captain Nari Contractor, Polly Umrigar, Khandu Rangnekar and others."
(Source: Online Lord Meher, Page: 5008,5009)
Meher Box Cricket League Winner – AMBC Paratvada
Meher Box Cricket League Runner-Up – AMB Meherabad.
Meher Box Cricket League 3rd Place – AMBC Rohana.
