Today, Dhoni keeps tryst with father146;s destiny

Forty-seven years ago, Pan Singh left home in Lowdi village nursing a dream8212;to make it big one day. His journey may have ended at SAIL...

Forty-seven years ago, Pan Singh left home in Lowdi village nursing a dream8212;to make it big one day. His journey may have ended at SAIL8217;s Ranchi subsidiary two years ago, when he retired as a Class IV employee, but the dream shines brighter than ever. Just that it8217;s someone else who8217;s living it for him.

On Thursday, Singh8217;s youngest son Mahendra Singh Dhoni will make his international debut as India8217;s one-day wicket-keeper, against Bangladesh in Chittagong. For the father, it8217;s finally time to smile after all the hard work that went into polishing his son8217;s future.

8216;8216;As a petty employee, I was always short of money. But whenever he was in need of cricket material, I adjusted my domestic expenditure and bought things for him,8217;8217; says Pan Singh, a wide smile lighting up the two-room flat in Shyamali Colony.

A few years ago, 8216;Mahi8217;8212; as they call Dhoni here 8212; was just another bouncy colony kid, rushing off to play cricket after school, or manning the goalposts in local football tournaments. Today, he8217;s the local star.

Yet, Pan Singh8217;s mind travels back in time. To the days when Dhoni was taking his first big step in cricket, with no coach, two pairs each of trousers, shirts and shoes, and a half-decent cricket kit. To the nights in their crowded home, two parents and three children just about squeezing in. 8216;8216;I used to eat rice and aloo ki bhujia with milk to play cricket8217;8217;, Dhoni told this reporter before he left for Bangladesh.

But Pan Singh had a dream to be fulfilled. And that8217;s when he invites you to the other room where Sachin Tendulkar peers down from the wall. There8217;s also an almirah packed with trophies and medals. 8216;8216;Other than cups and plates, everything is Mahi8217;s. Even Shem, our dog, was trained by him,8217;8217; says Devaki Devi, Dhoni8217;s mother.

Life has been looking up for the family, says neighbour Praveen, ever since the Railways employed Dhoni as a Ticket Examiner in 2001 after he got into the Bihar Ranji team.

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8216;8216;Now that he8217;s got the chance to play for India, we are sure he will do his best to bring glory for the country. We are praying to God, but we know that cricket is a game of chance,8217;8217; says Pan Singh.

Indians plot to sweep ODI series as well

CHITTAGONG: 8216;8216;We want to replicate the performance of the Test series and look for a 3-0 result,8217;8217; coach John Wright said today, on the eve of the Chittagong one-dayer. Bangladesh, on the other hand, would be drawing hope from their spirited performance in the first innings of the second Test which saw young Mohammad Ashraful hit a dazzling 158 not out. The 20-year-old right-handed batsman became the top scorer for Bangladesh in Tests and the disdainful manner in which he batted against Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan should inspire more confidence in the hosts.