Shami's jersey sold out swiftly ahead of Eden Gardens match

ADJOINING THE SPRAWLING maidan and the Eden Gardens is what the locals call - the largest sports goods market in Asia.

- SANDIP G

Whether it's a brag or the truth, the half a kilometer-stretch is the first stop of every aspiring sportsman of the city.

Badminton racquets dangle from creaking ceilings, cricket bats of all sizes, shapes, wood and football boots are a nudge away from falling off the glassed showcases. There are also imitation-gold plated trophies shinning garishly under the glare of tube-lights.

"The journey of every sportsman starts here, and not the maidan," says Rahman Ali, who owns Palace Sports."Established 1965," he asserts. Ali's grandfather, like most shop-owners had migrated from East Pakistan after the partition.

"Back in the 70s, Abbas Ali Baig tore his shoes one day and bought a pair from us. My grandfather didn't take any money from him. Dhoni too bought a pair of gloves from here once. And of course, we have spotted Shami bhai a lot of times here (before Mohammad Shami got into the Indian team).

Now, of course, he can't. He would be using foreign goods!" Shami's jerseys, though, are out of stock. Ali reasons: "Usually, we stock more jerseys of Rohit and Virat. But we didn't know our bowlers would become such a hit. But no worries, the load will arrive tomorrow, in time for the match," he says.