ESPNcricinfo: Did they upgrade or downgrade?

I started using Cricinfo even before it became ESPNcricinfo in 2007. As a regular and a loyal user I have seen multiple changes and revamp happening to the site. Recently on 20 July, 2017 it upgraded to a new look. Being an avid user of Cricinfo and understanding the ever changing media, I completely agree about the need for a revamp of the mobile site (the new template looks good for that purpose). However, the outlay is really cluttered on the desktop site.

There are things which I did not like at the instant (though I understand that changes require some time to adapt). But there are certain things which kept Cricinfo way ahead of its rival, those things are now missing. In fact few other things that its rivals are adopting have been missed and/or lacking here which would not benefit Cricinfo. I will dwell into those, points by point. The reason why I chose to write an article like this is because my comments are not going to reach them, there’s no feedback mechanism like IT Tech support, they are not responding to my tweets. If they are not going to change for better then I am afraid to say that I may have to find some other cricket sites which would suit my needs.

Anyways here are the pain points:

1. Check out the comments section in the article posted by editor of Cricinfo, Sambit Bal link shared above). Almost 95% of them are negative, while I don’t agree to all of it, but so many people not liking it should create a sense of awareness, right?
• Do visit the Google play store, the ratings have dropped drastically in the recent month (no guesses for what could be the reason). Do read the comments there as well
2. All those stats provided in the beginning of Sambit Bal’s article suggests that world is moving towards mobile and I kind of agree to. But that doesn’t mean that people will totally ignore laptop/PC. Cricinfo’s decision to make desktop version also have a feel of mobile does not get to me. Everything looks to be cluttered, previously it was grouped very intelligently, now I find difficulty in searching for good article, or breaking news, or say stats which was previously available in one corner. Now I need to scroll and scroll and scroll and I wouldn’t even realize that I missed it while scrolling
• The desktop users still constitute 30-40% of the audience, they cannot discount them
3. The excitement I had earlier to check the site every day for a good cricket article has decreased. And I am afraid it will be gone. Are they even listening to people what are their views? Like I mentioned earlier check comments section of Google Play store and Sambit Bal’s article. Or else they can do one more thing, why don’t they create a poll to get the pulse of the reader on their new upgrade or I dare downgrade
4. Commentary section. This was USP of Cricinfo, but the recent updates have killed it. I will tell you why
• Earlier it was interesting to see and easy to filter ball by ball commentary for an individual bowler or batsman, now that feature is gone in this version. I don’t understand why? Was it obsolete or very complex for them to retain?
• As and when the wicket fell, a summary was provided something like this “Dhoni c Smith b Stark 62 (58 balls)”. Now this feature was there till the last version. After 20^th July, this is also gone. Now I need to check the scorecard which is an extra effort
• Previous themes gave me commentaries for 50 overs in one page, now I need do endless scrolling (which is definitely not a user friendly feature)
5. Freeze panes: For live matches I have suggestion to Cricinfo. Put the freeze pane not just on score but also consider the menu-tabs such as “Live”, “Scorecard”, “Report”, “Commentary”, “Coverage”, and “Statistics”
6. Live matches in mobile: I agree that I scroll down for easier use of access, for the same reason I would also scroll left or right (swipe would be more apt word) but in the latest app I need to click on the tabs instead of swipe (which again is not so user friendly feature)
7. Connectivity: As soon as I move away from network zone, the page auto refreshes and goes blank (only in live matches page in mobile). At least keep whatever was there so that I can read the commentaries

All in all it seems like a downgrade, until Cricinfo fixes it, I am not be able use the site/app properly

Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ genealogy - in brief

I recently read Muhammad by Martin Ling. I found the brevity in language quite amazing. Here I am pulling in few instances from his writing and presenting it to you. This is very interesting to those who are interested in the life of our prophet Muhammad ﷺ .

Ismail's (as) second wife was a kinswoman of Jurhum tribe. Jurhumites who had come from Yemen took the responsibility of taking the ownership of Zamzam and Kaaba. But the time came when the Jurhumites began to commit all sorts of injustices, for which they were finally driven out; and before they left they buried the well of Zamzam. Their place of lords of Mecca was taken by Khuza'ah, an Arab tribe descended from Ishmael. But Khuza'ah made no attempt to find the waters. They dug other wells and Holy Well was half forgotten memory. Khuza'ah thus shared the guilt of Jurhum. The chief of theirs, on his way back from a journey to Syria, asked the Moabites to give him one of thier idols, which he placed in Kaaba and it became the chief idol of Mecca.

Quraysh was one of another most powerful Arab tribes of Abrahamic descent. After 400 AD, a man of Quraysh Qusayy married a daughter of Hulayl who was chief of Khuza'ah.
Hulayl preferred his son in law to his own sons. Qusayy ruled over them all as king, with undisputed power, and they paid him a tax every year on their flocks, so that he might feed those of the pilgrims who were too poor to provide for themselves.

Amongst Qusayy's four sons, was Abdu Manaf, who was already honoured in his father's lifetime. But Qusayy preferred his first-born, Abd ad-Dar, although he was the least capable of all. Out of piety Abdu Manaf accepted his father's wishes without question. Abdu Munaf's son Hashim, clearly the foremost man of his day demanded the rights to be transferred to his clan. The clans were divided in support for family of Abd ad-Dar and Abdu Manaf. Violence was looming when a compromise was suggested, and it was agreed that the sons of 'Abdu Manaf should have the rights of levying the tax and providing the pilgrims with food and drink, whereas the sons of 'Abd ad-Dar should retain the keys of the Ka'bah and their other rights, and that their house should continue to be the House of Assembly.

Hashim was held in much honor for he had established 2 great caravan, one to Yemen and one to Palestine/Syria. The second caravan would halt at the oasis of Yathrib (later known as Madina). Now in Yathirb, they had matriarchal traditions and they were collectively known as the children of Qaylah after one of their ancestresses. They had now branched into  two tribes which were named Aws and Khazraj after Qaylah's two sons. One of the most influential women of Khazraj was Salma the daughter of 'Amr, of the clan of Najjar, and Hashim asked her to marry him. She said that she would agree to marriage only on a condition that the control of her affairs should remain in her own hands. When she bore him a son she kept the boy with her in Yathrib until he was 14 years old. But Hashim fell ill at Gaza in Palestine and died there.

He had two full brothers, 'Abdu Shams and Muttalib,' and one half-brother, Nawfal. But 'Abdu Shams was exceedingly busied with trade in the Yemen, and later also in Syria, whereas Nawfal was no less busied with trade in Iraq, and both would be absent from Mecca for long periods. Hence Hashim's younger brother Muttalib took the rights of watering the pilgrims and of levying tax to feed them. Hashim had 3 other sons from other wives and Mutallib too had his own sons but none would be compared with Salma's son. She named him Shaybah, and he had already showed distinct promise of gifts for leadership, and excellent reports of him were continually brought to Mecca by travelers. Mutallib went to see his nephew and ask Salma to entrust his nephew to his care. Salma was unwilling but when Mutallib explained what was in store for Shaybah, she agreed. Muttalib took his nephew with him on the back of his camel; and as they rode into Mecca he heard some of the bystanders say as they looked at the young stranger: "'Abd al-Muttalib", that is, "al-Muttalib's slave". "Out upon you," he said, "He is no less than the son of my brother Hashim." From that day he was affectionately known as Abd al-Mutallib. 

When Mutallib died he took the heavy responsibility of feeding and watering the pilgrims. And he surpassed both his father and his uncle in his fulfillment of this task.

Abd al-Mutallib then once had a dream of where to dig Zamzam. Along with his son Harith he dug the well of Zamzam

One of his wife Fatimah bore him 3 sons Zubayr, Abu Talib and Abdullah. Promise to sacrifice Abdullah and how it was negated by sacrificing camels is a well known story.

Abd al-Muttalib knew four of the Hunafa' (people who believed in one God), and one of the more respected of them, Waraqah by name, was the son of his second cousin Nawfal. Waraqah had a sister named Qutaylah who was very close to him. He often spoke to her about coming of the prophet and that he could be among Arabs and his words had made so great an impression on her that thoughts of the expected Prophet were often in her mind. Once the sacrifice of the camels had been accepted, 'Abd al-Muttalib made up his mind to find a wife for his reprieved son, and after some consideration the choice fell on Aminah, the daughter of Wahb, a grandson of Zuhrah, the brother of Qusayy. Aminah was now a ward of his brother Wuhayb since her father Zuhrah had died. Wuhayb himself had a daughter named Halah of marriageable age and when 'Abd al-Muttalib had arranged that his son should marry Aminah, he asked that Halah should be given in marriage to himself (Hamzah and Saffiyah - uncle and aunt of Prophet Muhammad was from this marriage).

Preparations were set for double marriage. On the appointed day, on the way it so happened that Qutaulah, the sister of Waraqah had eyes for the younger man, Abd Allah for beauty, the Joseph of his times. She was struck by the radiance which lit his face and to her it seemed to have a shine beyond this world. Could it be that Abd Allah was the expected prophet? Or was he to be the father of the prophet? She spoke to him and proposed marriage to him. But he refused and said, "I cannot act against my father wishes." The marriage took place according to the plan. The 2 couples stayed in Wuhayb house for some days. One day when Abd Allah went to fetch something from his own house, he met Qutaulah, he sister of Waraqah. She searched his face, on asking what is she doing, she replied, "The light has left you that was with you yesterday. Today you can not fulfill the need I had of you."

The year of the marriages was AD 569. The year following this has been known ever since as the Year of the Elephant, and it was momentous for more than one reason.                        

Pakistan's journey in CT2017 - re-imagined

Pakistan recently won Champions Trophy 2017. Against all the odds, this team achieved what even their greatest of fans would have never imagined. Pakistan had never been a good batting team, their bowling was wayward in the past couple of years (the rank 8 in the world is the testimony to the fact). And let’s not talk about their fielding. Where did all the data go in deciding the champions? Not even a great analyst of game can answer that. I myself being an analyst fail to do so.

Pakistan cricket team unpredictability is not unknown to everyone. All of us know what Pakistan is capable of when they bring their A game up front and we also know how timidly they would surrender when it’s not their day. They showcased their Z to A game in the span of 6 match tournament. After Champions Trophy ended I tried to imagine different scenes where the Pakistan team were like an army meeting enemies in the battle field. So, here’s how the story goes:

India v Pakistan at Birmingham - Jun 4, 2017
Indians are fully prepared, make no mistake they are a super power. Pakistan is meeting their arch rival. After sneaking through the backdoor (read last ranked team), they seemed to be unequipped. The only good thing about them was they didn’t forget their green uniform. They forgot their weapons, there was no confidence, and most of the men were new to the battlefield and others got injured. It seemed like they got chickens in their armory. It was such a mis-match.

Pakistan v South Africa at Birmingham - Jun 7, 2017
Pakistan knew from now on their throats are in the noose. A little slip up and they will be gone. Along with rusted sword they got few shiny swords (read Fakhar and Hasan). With men equipped with rusty sword they were defending themselves impressively. The opposition, South Africa another super power were not at their best. Their commander was less than superb in the recent battles. Nobody can’t seem to remember when was the last time he gave a smile. Another mis-match should be on the cards, but Pakistan seem to be holding the South Africans back. Sword on sword, each one pushing each other. And then the rain came. And we know how vulnerable South Africans are to the rain. They are made of salt and they melted away. Pakistan stood there victorious profusely wiping their sweat.

Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Cardiff - Jun 12, 2017
“Now is the time” was going on in Pakistanis heads. “One more victory, one more victory O lord!”

Well these were the most matched sides. Inexperience to inexperience, randomness to randomness, volatility to volatility, low rank to lowly ranked, everything matched. It was a battle of anxieties. “Who will falter first?” was the questions. Swords and spears were exchanged. Rusty swords breaking and flying away. Much time passed but no clear winner. Who will weaken first? The new supplement by Pakistan (read Fakhar) in some way or the other seems to be working. Could this be their day? Nope, not yet. Sri Lanka too got their arsenal full even though small and ineffective. They pushed back harder. Brought their most famous and lethal sword (read Malinga), fell Pakistan and started to poke them. It was a matter of time. Why is it always somehow with Pakistan? One push and the blade will be inside of Pakistan and they will be henceforth called Panicstan. Just one push. And here it will be. But wait, what do we see now? Blades are broken. Sri Lankans are flabbergasted, shocked, stunned, dumbfounded. Pakistan have a wry smile, gets back and kicks little Shree Lunkuns on the knee and the stomach and the head. Swoooshh! The end of Sri Lanka

Semi-final: England v Pakistan at Cardiff - Jun 14, 2017
“One more victory, one more victory O lord!”

Here we are. The medieval and modern day greats (both for different reasons). Another superpower – the Great Britain. Well not exactly them, but I think you get my point. Pakistan was never to be here and England, as all expected they were to win the championship. Pakistan to them was just a fly on the rug which they would swat away. But but but, Pakistan’s artillery was growing, they seem to be picking up the weapons from their battlefields and quickly sharpening them.

As soon as the battle began, England’s huge stature sidelined. Pakistan seemed to have pull aside the curtain which England was holding in front of them. Behind it was timid cat who was calling itself a lion all these while. All the previous battles were forgotten by Pakistan. They burnt in those and have risen like phoenix. The superpower had no chance but surrender.

Final: India v Pakistan at The Oval - Jun 18, 2017
“One more victory, one more victory O lord!”

“Mother of battles” is what we were to witness. Indians were also looking out to their arch rivals. They were no long holding a chicken. The rust from swords have gone away, arsenal full of weapons and all seem to be working. No idea how, but Pakistanis have created a tank now. Indians were no short of these. They knew very well how to use their ammos but more than themselves they were worried about which Pakistan would turn up? The one with the chicken or the one with the tank?
Unfortunately for the Indians, Pakistanis turned up with the tank and now I don’t want to talk much about the final battle.

Victory lap
Pakistan were the resounding winners. They proved un-expectations are the best thing for them. Winning a major ICC trophy and that too against India was biggest icing on the cake they could ever imagine. They gave their nation and their fans a great Eid gift.

(I hope someone could make a short animated movie out of this)

Assalamualaikum

I spent one weekend in Washington DC in March, 2017. We missed our bus to our hotel. Fortunately for us, we remembered the address and rushed to take the metro. As me and my colleague stood infront of the kiosk to book tickets, I saw a well built African-American man getting down the stairs entering the station. He was in uniform, I looked at his badge - he was the station master (can't recall his name now). From a distance he said, Assalamualaikum (peace be upon you), I replied instantly Walaikum Assalam (peace be upon you too). This surprised my colleague, he asked do I know him? I explained how and why my religion teaches me that we should salute each other by spreading peace. Felt proud! Alhumdulillah!

Masjid at terminal 4 at JFK airport, New York

Traveling business class comes with lots of perks. The flight, chaufferservices, lounges, foods and extra pampering and what not. But the experience that I am going to share with you is something that is beyond any expression. And it did not come because I traveled business class.

After two weeks of praying alone at my hotel room (with the exception of Juma prayers), I was craving for a prayer (in congregation) with my brothers in faith. And getting that fulfilled in JFK airport was not what I expected. Well, I got a surprise. A full fledged masjid at terminal 4. 3 people already waiting for Isha (early night prayer). That's what Allah had planned for me. And His plans are always the best.

A wonderful start to the journey back home. Alhumdulillah!!!

My tryst with RDX

I was recently part of an office organized cricket tournament. My team RDX (Rebellious Defenders XI – why this name? That is the story for some other time) was considered one of the favorites to win the title. The matured team consisted of like-minded people, playing brilliant cricket delightful to the eyes and knowing how to execute a winning action. The preparations leading to the tournament was such that even though we are at our nascent stage of team formation, bonding between players were done, team spirit and winning recipes were blown and a nothing short of being champions were the mindset from the very start. That’s not an exaggeration, our first few matches in the tournament was an evidence of it. We truly dominated the league matches. We totally controlled our first knockout match too.

With the victories like; chasing 34 in 3.4 overs, 62 in 5 overs and bundling opposition to mere 37 runs while defending 98 in 10 overs were instilling a belief in ourselves that we could be title holders this time. But I guess, we were thinking too far. We were pushed to walls in the quarters and all our dreams were shattered. The loss gave us a reality check but there was no second chance.

We can condole ourselves by saying every great team faces this type of situation. Two great teams and their great matches comes to mind immediately. It befits our situation perfectly.

1.South Africa were considered the favorites to lift the 1996 cricket world cup. They had won all their matches comfortably before they met West Indies in the Quarters. But majestic Lara send them packing.

2.India in the recent times are dangerous outfit in all the formats. Under the able captaincy of MS Dhoni they were charging in WT20 2016 but hit an unmovable stone in the Semis of WT20, the Windies. Our favorite Indian team scored only 4 sixes and 16 fours in 20 overs while the West Indies team just wielded their bat and it went for a six, in total they scored 11 sixes 20 fours, simply saying they just stood ground and scored bulk of their runs in boundaries. Similar thing happened to us in the quarters, we kept on taking wickets of opposition while defending 84 in 10 overs, but it looked like whoever came to bat had just one thing in mind that is to score boundaries. 5 wickets fell but they overcame the target in 8^th over. We were in such hapless state that any regrouping or new ideas simply didn’t worked.

A victory is always sweeter

We can only contemplate a better performance next year but who knows what Almighty has in store for us. As of now we can cherish the memories and bundle our sadness into a container, lock it and throw the keys into the sea.

Remembering Hans Rosling

My journey to data visualization started with a video of Hans Rosling, The best stats you've ever seen | Hans Rosling. It was probably the most mind boggling thing, I had ever seen by then. It was just after moving into a company after graduation and an introduction like that had a tremendous effect into my way of thinking about data. That was an inspiration for many similar dashboards and reports and presentations I created in later times.

This great educator and visionary died last week. the world will be ever thankful to him for the immense impact he had.

What others say

“Rosling believes that making information more accessible has the potential to change the quality of the information itself.” — Business Week Online