How Sachin entertains himself

Before he left for the Pakistan tour Sachin Tendulkar told Mid-Day's Clayton Murzello that the trip could turn out to be boring with the security blanket thrown around the players.

Also Read Tendulkar is the best ever: Hanif Mohd Bowled over by Karachi crowds Tips from a betting 'guru'

But just as he finds a way to counter every new strategy hurled at him on the field, Sachin has devised his own way to kill time.

According to hotel staff, Tendulkar has asked for two golf clubs and a couple of balls to practice his golf in the hotel hallway outside his room.

Kapil Dev had better watch out!

We also heard he is busy watching some action films. Guns of Navarone, Saving Private Ryan, Rocky IV and Escape to Victory are some of the DVDs he has brought along.

Shoaib & Co, better watch out too!

                                                                      ***

And while we are still at the hotel, let me tell you about the special Dal counter the Marriot Hotel's chefs have installed for the Indian team.

Since most of the Indians -- according to the Pakistanis -- are vegetarian, the hotel staff has created a special vegetarian (read Dal) menu for Sourav and his boys.

There is Dal Masuri, Dal Moong, Dal Mash, Chana Masala and Alu Sabzi but few members have tasted it so far.

Since the players use room service, they have had no chance to relish the food served in the hotel restaurant.

With physical trainer Greg King and physio Andrew Leipus keeping a close eye on the players' eating habits, most of the guys spend their time in the pool in the afternoon and in the gymnasium at dusk.

                                                                          ***

When the team arrived at the Marriot on Saturday night after winning the first one-day international at Karachi, the hotel management decided to change the welcome tune.

Two bagpipers -- borrowed from the local police academy --replaced the dhols as the players made their way to their rooms.

                                                                             ***

And before signing off some 'Did you knows'

Did you know 1,897 Parsis live in Karachi?

Did you know they have a telephone directory of their own and two beautiful Agiaries (fire temples) in the city?

Did you know that Rusi Dinshaw was the only Parsi on the Pakistan team that toured India for the first time in 1952? He did not play a single Test?