Moin Akhtar was not purely a comedian and neither was he purely an actor. He was, lets just say, a man with an extraordinary range of gifts suited perfectly to the broadcast medium. He could anchor a show and steal it in a guest cameo; he could lead, he could support; he could make you laugh, cry, or think, and sometimes he made you do all three at once.One of his trademarks in the 1980s was a routine about a Bangladeshi who goes to watch a Test. The humour is spun from the central premise that cricket as sport and spectating experience is entirely alien to him.After the third day, exasperated, the man explains to his friend what he watched. First, he says, two paadris, or priests (the whites, geddit?), came out onto the ground and flipped a coin. They must be about to gamble, he reasoned. Then, one of them goes into a building and walks out with 11 ghoondas, or thugs. In defiance, the other paadri calls out two of his own ghoondas and they are wielding sticks. One of the ghoondas is given a bright, shiny red stone. He spits on it, but then, realising the entire stadium is watching, quickly starts rubbing it clean against his trousers.He then runs in and throws it at one of the men with sticks, who hits it away. These paagal ka bachas, or loons, the watcher says incredulously, run after the stone except the two with the sticks, who run past each other and back.Trust me, its funnier hearing Akhtar tell it, and in the way it plays upon the physical act of cricket as one of rioting or political demonstration, it makes an anthropological observation. Cricket can be visually unfathomable to many not familiar with it, but it is telling that he used a Bangladeshi as the central protagonist - it revealed a widespread assumption in Pakistan that cricket was alien to Bangladesh. That should come as no surprise for it was the residue of an attitude that coursed through the western half of the country when Pakistan and Bangladesh were one. Not a single player born in what was then East Pakistan ever represented Pakistan in Test cricket. The usual excuses were that there was no talent pool and that the region had no real association with the game: an outright falsehood in both cases.The truth is there was plenty bubbling along in the region until 1971, just that nobody in West Pakistan cared to know, or do much, about it. That was standard operating procedure in all spheres of life, economic, cultural or political. There was certainly plenty of fervour for the game, proof of which lies in the heaving stadiums for Pakistans earliest Tests in Dhaka, for side games in Chittagong and in smaller but well-established leagues.A softer manifestation of that attitude - the patronising, the dismissiveness - transmitted itself to the rest of the world and has lingered since Bangladesh became a Test-playing nation. For too long, after every loss (and there were many), Bangladesh have been derided and mocked for not being good enough, for only being there because they were a useful vote at the ICC. Teams have avoided going there and have been equally reluctant to invite them.These are the churlish reactions of a small-minded sport too full of itself and not concerned enough about its growth. There has never been any doubt that cricket is a better place with Bangladesh in it; instead there has only been doubt about international crickets commitment to helping Bangladesh develop.Despite the prevailing apathy, Bangladesh have created moments of magic, and most recently they lit up 2015 when it looked, finally, as if they had arrived. They got to the quarter-finals of the World Cup and then beat Pakistan, India and South Africa in ODI series at home as if they had been doing it all along. They found fast-fast bowlers and a genius slower-fast bowler; their batsmen began to play smart and prospered; crucially, two planks aligned in the shape of a world-class allrounder and a charismatic captain.For this months cover story, Sidharth Monga travelled to Bangladesh and together with Mohammad Isam not only traces this rise but sketches a rare and vital history of Bangladesh as a cricket-playing country. They are cognisant of challenges - of continuing apathy, for instance, as Bangladesh have not played a Test since July 2015, or an ODI since November last. Militant violence threatens to reshape future opportunities too. Nevertheless it is a stirring tale, to be read by anyone who has ever doubted that nations love for the sport or its aptitude for it.There is a lot else to sink your teeth into. Gideon Haigh weighs in with a masterful essay on Victor Trumper and that photograph; Tim Wigmore catches up with Marcus Trescothick, a decade on from the last international he played for England; there is an encounter with one of the oldest grounds in the subcontinent, and a compelling study on whether batsmen are batting the wrong way round. Intrigued? Read on. Mike Hughes Jersey .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. Daniel Carlson Jersey . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. 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OXFORD, Miss. -- Alabama coach Nick Saban doesnt know how many of these roller coaster rides he can take.He watched his top-ranked squad fall behind by three touchdowns and then come roaring back. And when his Tide looked to be in control and leading No. 19 Mississippi by 18 points in the fourth quarter, `Bama nearly blew it.By the end of Alabamas 48-43 victory over Ole Miss in a Southeastern Conference showdown on Saturday, a weary, bleary-eyed Saban looked exhausted when the clock finally hit all zeroes.It was an unbelievable game for fans to watch, the 64-year-old Saban said with a wry smile. It was really a difficult game for an old coach to have to suffer through. But we made it. We made it and Im really proud of our players.Alabama freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for 158 yards and ran for 146 more, but it was unlikely defensive touchdowns from Jonathan Allen and DaRon Payne -- along with a special teams score from Eddie Jackson -- that proved to be the biggest plays of the game.Ole Miss (1-2, 0-1 SEC) looked like it might be on its way to a third straight win over the Tide late in the second quarter. Instead, it was the Rebels second collapse in three games .We scored enough points to beat an Alabama team, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. But we did not stop the run and we did not take care of the ball.Mississippi took a 24-3 lead with 2:47 remaining in the first half after defensive end Marquis Haynes big hit on Hurts, forcing a fumble that fellow defensive lineman John Youngblood scooped up and ran 44 yards for a touchdown.But Alabama (3-0, 1-0 SEC) responded.The Tide needed just three plays and 37 seconds to pull within 24-10 after Calvin Ridley ran for a 6-yard score. Ole Miss was forced to punt on the next drive and Jackson returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown, evading several tacklers before bolting down the right sideline for the touchdown.In just 65 seconds, Alabama had turned a 21-point deficit into a manageable 24-17 game at halftime.Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly threw for a career-high 421 yards and three touchdowns, but it was two costly turnovers in the second half thaat handed the game to Alabama.ddddddddddddKelly fumbled deep in Ole Miss territory and Payne recovered before scoring a 3-yard touchdown to tie the game at 24. In the fourth quarter, the Rebels QB was under pressure and threw a ball right to Alabamas 291-pound Allen, who ran the ball back for a 75-yard touchdown and a 48-30 Crimson Tide lead.Allen said it was his first touchdown since middle school.It was a great play and it couldnt have come at a better time for this team to get this win tonight, Allen said.Ole Miss scored two late touchdowns but Alabama was able to run out the clock for the win.We thought this was going to be a 60-minute game, Saban said. We knew we probably would have to wear them down and beat them in the second half.THE TAKEAWAYAlabama: Coach Nick Saban and Alabama finally beat Ole Miss after two straight losses against the Rebels. Alabama was tested, but is once again the team to beat in the SEC Western Division.Mississippi: Its another frustrating collapse for the Rebels, who also led 28-6 against Florida State in the season opener before losing 45-34 to the Seminoles.HISTORIC COMEBACKAlabamas rally from 21 points down tied the largest in school history. Alabamas other 21-point comeback also came against Ole Miss, when the Tide recovered for a 62-27 win in 1989.STEWART HURTSaban said that receiver ArDarius Stewart missed most of the game because of a sprained knee, though the coach added, We dont think its severe.POLL IMPLICATIONSAlabama: The Tide will almost certainly remain at No. 1 after a difficult, but resilient win on the road against a ranked opponent.Mississippi: With a 1-2 record, the Rebels will probably fall out of the Top 25 despite losing to two ranked opponents.UP NEXTAlabama: The Crimson Tide host Kent State next Saturday.Mississippi: The Rebels have another important SEC game, hosting Georgia next Saturday.---Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP and on AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org . Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys China Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2019 ' ' '