For Prashant Banjare, his recent visit to the UAE is one that he will never forget.
His itinerary for the seven-day trip was to watch the on-going Masters Champions League (MCL). But it wasn’t just the matches he wanted to watch.
Top of his list was to meet his idol – Brian Lara. With the 46-year-old competing in the Twenty20 competition for Leo Lions, it represented another chance for Banjare to get close to the superstar.
Clint..Joseph..Smithy well done team we killed it again! 2nd then back to back victories in the blink bmobile golf. pic.twitter.com/8bCcFICzjw
— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) January 26, 2016
His previous attempts in 2006 and 2007 when the West Indies toured India ended in frustration.
“I have been following him since I was a young boy,” said Banjare, 36, who travelled from Rajnandgaon in Central India.
“I didn’t watch anybody apart from Lara and I recorded all his major innings on VCR.
“My passion for Lara began in 1998 when West Indies toured South Africa. He received a lot of negative remarks about leading a dispute over pay prior to that tour but he really was a great player.
“The passion grew and I travelled to Jaipur for the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy to where West Indies were playing, but security was really tight and couldn’t get close to any of the players. And it was the same for the 2007 tour against India.”
Things didn’t get much brighter for Banjare, with Lara ending his illustrious international career having represented his country 430 times in all formats after the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Nine years have passed since that moment but Lara was still Banjare’s hero, even if he hadn’t met him.
“Yes I was a bit disappointed when he did retire but I never gave up hope.”
The MCL announcement provided a lifeline for Banjare and after hearing Lara would be competing in the MCL, he booked his flights to Dubai, where his brother Shailendra lives.
After watching Lara play in the tournament, his dream finally came true on Wednesday when he got a picture with the West Indian at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai.
“I was waiting for one hour and thankfully I saw him and shouted out his name and came over and spoke how big a fan I am of him, and he signed my framed pictures,” said Banjare.
“I was really lost for words because he’s such a humble guy and got a picture with him that I will frame. I really can’t express those feelings and couldn’t sleep at night that evening. I can’t wait to tell my friends. It’s definitely a day I will remember,” added Banjare, who flew back to India on Tuesday.
