Amla bowled over by Indian experience

For Hashim Amla, this year's Eid celebrations were a bit different from the ones he had before. He bowled 11 overs of off-spin on the cricket pitch.

"It was the first time I have bowled so many overs in a first-class match," said the 21-year-old South African of Indian origin.

"It is bit hot, I suppose, being on the field. But it is okay; it is the second time on the row I have been at cricket during Eid," said Amla, who is expected to lend support with his occasional slow bowling as the South Africans are with only one specialist spinner on the tour of India.

Amla went to the local mosque to offer prayers and was promptly mobbed by the locals, what with his lengthy beard showing up his face in the crowd.

He stopped Ramadhan fasting when he joined the preparatory camp in Pretoria about two weeks ago. A devout Muslim, he anyway prays during the lunch and tea intervals.

For a person whose grandparents hailed from Surat, India is a home away from home. Although he is settled in Durban, which has a strong Indian community, Amla has been overwhelmed by the passion people in India have for the game.

"The passion the people have for the game is amazing. We don't get as much crowd back home. And the other thing is the Indian culture. Durban has an Indian community but it is much more pronounced here [in India]," said the first Indian-origin cricketer to play for South Africa.

Has the Indian experience been any different from what he had expected?

"It is what I had expected. I have family and friends who have come to India before and have told me what to expect when here.

"You only get mentally prepared but when you actually come here and feel the experience, you enjoy it more.

"It has been only three-four days. I am sure at the end of the tour there will be lot of memories to take back.

"Meeting a lot of good people, passionate people about the game, as well as the excellent hospitality at the hotel and the ground. I have thoroughly enjoyed and I am sure there is lot more to come on the tour."

Nevertheless, Amla is clear about where his loyalties lie.

"[I am] definitely South African," Amla said.

Amla is one of the five non-white members of the team but has performance in the domestic cricket to back his claims.

Since making his debut in 1999-2000, he hit seven centuries, including four last season, for a career aggregate of 2369 runs in 34 matches for an average of 50.40.

In the three-day match against the Board President's XI in Jaipur, he was at the crease for just half an hour on the first day before the innings was declared.

"I am definitely a team man. Whatever the captain decides, we will give 100 per cent. And there is always the second innings, I am not displeased," he said.

How prepared is his team was for the India tour?

"Only time will tell. We have prepared ourselves as much as possible. Naturally everyone knows the conditions are quite different from back home in South Africa.

"We are looking forward to the challenge and, hopefully, we can get one up on the Indian team."