Features: Cricket and Fear Factor

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April 5, 2010 (Sampurn Wire):Fear is an unpleasant feeling of perceived risk or danger, real or not. No individual on this planet can claim to be totally fearless. After all, there’s a chicken in all of us. Fire, water, heights, creepy creatures are among some of our common fears. The key to getting rid of such fears is to conquer fear itself. That’s the motto of the show Fear Factor –Khatron Ke Khiladi.

In the two seasons gone by, we’ve seen 26 glamour dolls tried conquering their fears. Only a few succeed but all of them returned as tough individuals.

This summer, the glamour dolls have made way for sporting warriors from the cricketing field. Sportsmen are usually tough cookies and game for any fight or adversity. However, deep in their hearts they too have some phobia or the other.

Ever wondered what is/are the thing(s) that our cricketers fear. Honestly speaking, we know nothing but there’s no harm in assuming. A fearful Mayur Lookhar decides to put on his thinking cap and brings out the probable fears of our cricketers who are tipped to be on the show.

April fool went by few days ago, thus we urge the cricketers to take things in the right sprit and fear nothing about this feature.

Shane Warne

Sex therapists often sigh that the successful people are those who have a good sex life. Shane Warne, arguably the greatest leg spinner of all time, is a champion in sex.

Lewd text message to nurses, sex on car bonnet, twosome, threesome, and Warne’s sexcapades has not only ruined his marital life but it also cost him the team’s captaincy. So deep was his problem that a sex therapist reportedly equated Warne to insects. Remember, insects are masters in reproduction?

He may be forty and little overweight but Warney surely can do all stunts. But as always, it’s one temptation that he can’t resist i.e. women. And, this is one fear that grapples the Wizard of Oz.

Firstly, he’ll be facing up to Bollywood beauty Priyanka Chopra, who has replaced Akshay Kumar as host. If that isn’t enough, Warne will find it difficult to control himself seeing the haute belly dancers from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Trust no ‘punter’ to bet on Warne restraining himself. Finally, it’s the mobile phone that should be kept miles away from the legend.

Andrew Symonds

Big burly Andrew Symonds knows no fear but yet he’ll be wary about the presence of old nemesis Harbhajan Singh. Bhajji is no match for Symmo at performing stuns or brawl, but it’s Bhajji’s ‘maa ki’ jibes that still rankles the Australian. The monkeygate still hounds Symonds as he feels cheated by his country’s cricket board for letting Harbhajan go scot-free. If the duo make it on Fear Factor, it will be smart on the channel’s part to see that the two volatile personalities are kept at some distance from each other.

It’s not just Bhajji but booze is another thing that threatens to jeopardize his chances. A ‘spirited’ Symmo is like a raging tiger looking to pounce on an easy prey. So, it’s Bhajji and booze’ the biggest fear for Symmo.

Harbhajan Singh

‘Teri maa ki… Oye! main yeh ki kaya, rabba menu maaf kare’. Harbhajan puttar we know you’re the lion of Punjab but no need to roar every time. The only fear for you (and Symmo) is how you will keep that feisty tongue of yours in check. Don’t forget, you’ll be in the company of Priyanka Chopra plus Fear Factor is a family show.

While Harbhajan is no threat to Symonds, the Sardar from Jalandhar certainly needs to wary of the 1.87 m tall, bulky frame of Andrew Symonds. . Remember, if ‘monkeygate’ is repeated, this time there’s no escaping the wrath of the big bad Ozzie. Bhajji, there won’t be BCCI or Sachin (Tendulkar) paaji to save you’re a** in Buenos Aires.

Adam Gilchrist

When your name reads as Adam, you got no one to fear but God. Former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist is a true sport, one who is game for any challenge. However, Gilchrist though has one query.

“Can I walk out from the show? My wife is all alone in Australia; I fear some ‘slater’ might lay foot into my territory.’

Brett Lee

Arr… arrr …arrrrrrrrrggghh….. Ooh, aah ouch… phusss! The Brett Lee express has been derailed by injuries and thus his principle fear is to avoid another injury during Fear Factor. Any twist here and there, that will certainly bring curtains to his career. Well, in hindsight that might just work in Lee’s favour as the speedster has long expressed a desire to work in Bollywood. However, he’ll be hoping that he isn’t asked to sing in Hindi during the show. Viewers too will be dreading at that prospect.

Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir has overcome many odds to become the cricketer that he’s today. Above all, he’s conquered the demons in his mind. So, no stunt or task is beyond this Delhi Daredevil captain’s reach. . The only thing out of his reach and sight is the towering figure of Priyanka Chopra.

Standing at barely 5 ft tall, Gambhir will find it quite a task looking up to the 1.71m tall Priyanka Chopra who of course will further gain an inch or two courtesy high heel footwear. Poor Gauti will look like the baby of the pack.

Yuvraj Singh

His life is so messed up at the moment that Yuvraj Singh literally fears anything that’s coming his way. Bad form, poor fitness, late night parties, Yuvraj Singh has always been the perennial bad boy of Indian cricket and thereby the target of the media.

If he participates, Yuvraj Singh will fear just a couple of things

(a) Hope after this show, the media doesn’t link him with Priyanka Chopra

(b) I’m not caught while going for late night parties in Buenos Aires.

S.Sreesanth

If Harbhajan is fearful of Symonds, then Sreesanth has to fear his India colleague. While the duo patched up on camera, Sreesanth ko abhi bhi Bhajji ke thappad ki goonj sunai deti hai. Besides, Sreesanth’s attitude has never made him popular with his colleagues and opponents. The man from Kerala would fear being isolated in far off Buenos Aires.

-Mayur Lookhar/Sampurn Wire