World Cup fever hits AIIMS

More than a hundred doctors are participating in a cricket tournament organised on campus while also cheering for the Indian team

World Cup fever hits AIIMS

More than a hundred doctors are participating in a cricket tournament organised on campus while also cheering for the Indian team

The nation's premier medical institution has no cure for this ailment. Cricket fever has taken over Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Different game: Eight teams of doctors of the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences will battle it out in the on-campus Residents Cricket
League tournament. Pic/Mid Day

With the India-Pakistan contest on March 30 at Mohali expected to be a nail-biter, doctors at the institute have come together to celebrate the spirit of cricket on campus. Residents Cricket League (RCL), as they call the tournament, is being organised by the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) in which more that 105 doctors from the campus have participated. Apparently, this is for the first time that anything like this has happened at AIIMS. The match will take place at the premises of the boys' hostel.

"Keeping in mind the world cup fever, we this year thought of doing something interesting. Most of the doctors are cricket maniacs and with this they will be able to celebrate their love of the game," said Debjyoti Karmakar, President, RDA, AIIMS. The players have been provided with playing kit and especially designed t-shirts so that they can actually feel like they are playing for something. Eight teams, with ten players each are participating. There are two girls in each side.

"All the doctors are so busy with their daily routine that they hardly get time to sit and chat with their colleagues. With the tournament, they will get more time to know each other and enjoyment is a high priority," said Dr Bhaumik Shah, Junior Resident, Laboratory Medicine, AIIMS.

One of the interesting aspects of the event is that as the girls will also actively participate in the game. According to the rules, they will get two overs compulsorily, while batting as well as bowling. "We have made these rules specifically for the girls so that they can have a fair chance to play. Also, when a girl is bowling, the batsman will have to use his weaker hand," added Shah. All the t-shirts, playing kit and other accessories are being financed by RDA. Another important aspect is the floodlights being used by the institute.

"A few of them are already here at the campus. But around 44 more lights are being brought from outside at a cost of Rs 50,000 for seven to eight days. This expense is paid by the administration with the consent of the institute," said Dr Shah.

The matches are being played during the weekends. Two matches are played in one day starting at 7 pm and 10 pm. Each match is of 12 overs. Also, proper seating arrangements are there for the people who come to watch the games. Meanwhile, for the India-Pakistan world cup match, the association is planning to arrange a big screen at the ground with refreshments available for the doctors to heighten the level of enjoyment.
"We will try to arrange a big screen for all the doctors so that everyone can enjoy the highs and lows of the match together," said Dr Karmakar.