Posted on 3/4/2006, 6:34:13 PM by nickcarraway
US President George W Bush, an avid baseball fan, on Saturday tried his hand at a sport hugely popular in parts of the old British empire — cricket — and was pronounced "not bad" for a first-timer.
Bush bowled and batted several times on a practice cricket pitch set up on the grounds of the US embassy in the capital of cricket-mad Pakistan, as students from the Islamabad College for Boys and the private school Schola Nova, who included girls, looked on and encouraged him.
He got a quick lesson on how to hold the bat from Shaharyar Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
"He's telling me the difference between baseball and cricket," said Bush, a former owner of a Texas baseball team.
Then the president was coached while batting at the wicket by Salman Butt, a member of Pakistan's cricket team, with Inzamam-ul-Haq, the team captain, nearby to also lend his expertise.
Bush, in a blue shirt with sleeves rolled up, played with tennis balls, which are much softer than stone-hard cricket balls.
One student, Asif Raza, said he hoped Bush's foray onto a cricket pitch would promote the sport in America.
The President's first couple of hits went off to the side, but the Pakistani players were charitable.
"Not bad for a first time," one boy said.
But his last hit was better and the ball flew off into some trees. One ball hit him on the back.
He then tried his hand at bowling. "Very nice, very nice," one girl said.
Bush, in Pakistan on the last leg of a tour of South Asia, was modest about his first-time performance.
"Haven't quite got the skills yet," he said.
Pakistan's most famous-ever cricketer, former captain-turned-politician Imran Khan, spent his day confined to his home where authorities detained him to thwart his plan to lead a march to protest against Bush's visit.
I swear, I thought it said, "Bush takes a swing at CRITIC in Pak."
And I thought, "Hm... okay...."
Dan
...I mean, there are a few of them I would be tempted to take a swing at, myself....
00.00:16
That shot looks eminently PhotoShoppable.
LOL!
Like what or WHO would you put in place of the tennis ball?
The president is left handed; is hitting right handed.
I don't know if that was a real cricket ball cause if the President had been hit with it, he would know it. They are solid wood.
I don't think so. Are you sure?
I used to see the Paki immigrants, I guess Indians too playing this out in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. But we can't get soccer to catch on here, no matter what, so I've got my doubts about cricket too.
But, Bush makes a good effort, he's a good sport that he is.
cricket bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.