23 September,2011 09:59 AM IST | | Ashwin Ferro
This is a story that highlights the global fame an Indian cricketer and a Bollywood actor are akin to.
It so happened that during the IIFA (India International Filmu00a0 Awards) foundation celebrity cricket match at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium in Leeds, England in 2007, a Bollywood XI led by actor Sai Ali Khan, son of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, was pitted against a Yorkshire XI. As Saif took to the field he was thrilled to see veteran umpire Dickie Bird step out to officiate the match.
Saif immediately went up to Bird and said: "Sir, it's a pleasure to meet you. My father has always spoken very highly of you."
To this Bird replied: "I'm sorry but I don't know you." And Saif bowed before the senior umpire saying: "Mr Bird, I'm the son of the former India cricket captain, Nawab of Pataudi."u00a0
"Oh yes, I know your father. He was a fine player," exclaimed Bird as he immediately stepped forward and the duo embraced each other.
For the record, the actors won the match quite comfortably thanks to some fine leadership qualities and cricket skill exhibited by Saif -- something he would have learnt from his dad.
