Timaru Herald - Beige Brigade's first foray into Pakistan

05 November 2003

By JILL WORRALL

They've got the shirts, they've got the banner, the only thing missing from New Zealand's first ever Beige Brigade cricket fan tour of Pakistan later this month is travel experience.

But that's not deterred the three former Aoraki Polytechnic students from going where few Kiwi cricket supporters have gone before.

Considering that even the Black Caps themselves tend to balk at tours of Pakistan, it could be even regarded as an intrepid decision. After all, two of the fan club have never even left New Zealand's shores.

But, according to tour leader and rookie overseas traveller Glen Richards, they are raring to go.

Glen, who studied in Timaru for four years, is being joined by Kelvin Lister and Greig Jackson. All work in Christchurch as software designers, but Kelvin is Timaru born and bred and Greig hails from Pleasant Point. He's the only one who's been out of the country ? and that was to Australia.

Although the lure of exotic countries (they are visiting India and Thailand as well) is strong, it's the cricket that's the main drawcard for the trio, who are all in their mid-20s.

"As the Beige Brigade puts it ? It's not about fashion, it's about passion," Glen says.

The Beige Brigade are a group of cricket fanatics whose uniform is the beige and tan colours that New Zealand cricket teams wore in the 1980s.

They can be spotted at most international cricket fixtures where the Black Caps are in action ? a homegrown answer to England's Balmy Army.

But, until now no Beige Brigadier, as they are known, has made it to Pakistan.

"The Pakistanis seem really stoked we're coming so we're sure we will have the chance to meet lots of the locals at the games.

"We've been offered tickets in both the VIP stands and in the public stands so we'll probably try both over the five one-dayers.

"What we like is that the Pakistanis are so passionate about cricket. That's the way New Zealanders should be about the game."

The boys could have started off somewhere less rigorous but Glen's had a long-standing interest in Pakistan.

"I've had friends working there for years and I've recently read a book about travel there and just decided I wanted to see it, but especially if I could combine it with cricket. Then suddenly the Kiwis were going back there and it was all on."

They've been reading up on the Beige Brigade code of conduct.

"We have to buy our shirts one size smaller than our usual size because that was the style of the 80s, and are required to contribute certain bits of banter during games. For example Beige Brigadiers have to refer to Shane Warne's weight if he is on the ground, likewise Inzamam al-Haq but everything has to be done in a gentlemanly fashion."

Their preparations have also included growing luxuriant beards, which should help them fit in to a society where moustaches and beards are de rigeur.

"Our grand finale is going to be to shave the beards off before the last match and leave just enough to be Craig McMillan look-alikes."

The Beige Brigade are hoping they might get to meet Inzamam (consequently they reckon they might skip any banter about him) and they are also keeping their fingers crossed they may also meet recently retired champion Pakistan allrounder Wazim Akram.

"We reckon New Zealand will win every game," Glen predicts, "Pakistan have a young team so are in a rebuilding phase. But there are some good players like Afridi. I'm really looking forward to seeing him in action as I'm really interested in legspin bowling, and he's a classy batsman."

Lifted from http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/timaruherald/0,2106,2715688a6434,00.html