Sri Lankan Cricketers Bowled over by Sambalpuri sarees

ENS , Bhubaneswar: 21 Dec 2009

Swashbuckling opener Tillakaratne Dilshan may have been every bowler’s nightmare but today he was bowled over by something which has been every Oriya woman’s love.

Same goes for Ajantha Mendis. The Sri Lanka Army officer has bamboozled the batsmen across the world with his mysterious carrom ball but for a change he was the victim today. Sambalpuri saree was the scalper in both the cases.

The cricket frenzy in this part of the country and the pressure of a crunch game notwithstanding, Sri Lanka cricketers today found time for Oriya sarees.

They ventured out of the team hotel and stepped into a famous saree store to do their shopping.

The salesmen and store managers at “Meher” were pleasantly surprised to see Dilshan along with three other cricketers walking into their outlet at about 4.30 p.m. They went about their shopping a cool manner asking the salesmen to show the best. “They loved the Sambalpuri and Bomkai sarees. Besides some of them also picked up chiffon, georgette and cotton sarees,” the store manager Gouranga Patra said.

The first batch of players stayed for about 45 minutes and purchased sarees estimated at Rs 60,000. As soon as Dilshan and co returned to the hotel, the second batch started. This time, it was a group of five including Mendis and Lasith Malinga. They headed for “Meher” where they purchased sarees worth Rs 60,000.

“Besides the cricketers buying sarees, the team manager also wanted to have silver jewellery,” said Kishore Patra.

By the time the Lankan cricketers were busy buying the sarees, news of them shopping spread and a large crowd gathered outside to have a glimpse. Since the cricketers have been confined to their hotel for security reasons, there is no chance locals could get a close view of them.

As soon as they came out of the shop, some of the fans tried to shake hands with and even managed pictures.