As more details begin to emerge about the world’s ‘most wanted’ terrorist leader’s life while hiding in the affluent and pleasant town of Abbottabad, sixty miles north of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, one of the most surprising is that for the last five years, Osama Bin Laden had been playing cricket for the town’s team.
At Abbottabad Cricket and Hockey Club’s picturesque ground, a mere stone’s throw from Bin Laden’s luxury fortress villa, Club captain Ali Al’Haq expressed shock at the news of his former team-mate’s real identity.
“Ozzie, as we knew him, was an integral part of the team” he says. “A more than competent cricketer, medium-pace left-arm, usually round the wicket. His batting was a bit ropey though,” he chuckles, “Usually playing at 9 to 11 in the order.”
‘Beard-stroker’
According to Mr. Al’Haq, Bin Laden was usually consulted by him in the field. “He was pretty good at tactics. I’ll always remember him standing at silly mid-off, stroking his beard and assessing the opposition. A good strategist and thinker.”
Bin Laden’s assimilation into the town’s life is even more remarkable when Al’Haq recounts the time his team, including Bin Laden, played a touring veteran MCC select eleven.
‘Seventy-two maidens…’
“Ozzie had fire in his belly that day. He took five wickets, including Gooch, Vaughan and Freddy Flintoff and put in seventy-two maidens.” recalls Mr Al’Haq. “He upped his pace and chucked down a few bombs alright. Yorkers mostly, but in an unusual way, swinging through the air before crashing into the stumps and sending them tumbling. He called them ‘New Yorkers.’
Despite Bin Laden’s performance that day, the sleepy town’s team eventually lost, says Al’Haq.
‘Bad loser’
“Ozzie took it badly. He wasn’t a good loser and refused to shake hands at the end of the match, or join our opponents in a drinking game with Freddy, Gatters and Tuffers at the clubhouse after.”
“I’m gobsmacked that Ozzie was really Bin Laden. It’s really not cricket, what?”
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