From chasing his love abroad to CSK's guest forever, this ex-cricketer's fascinating journey

Dubai: Among the many love stories we might have read or witnessed some go beyond our imagination. But this former cricketer from Tamil Nadu, India, took it to all different level putting his cricket career, job and a good life at risk in search of his love abroad five decades ago.

Meet Mahalingam Venkatesan, fondly known as Mali, a prominent cricketer in India’s domestic circuit in the late 1970s and 80s who took a brave decision during his peak career travelling to a foreign country in search of his girfriend, now his wife.

"I met my wife Priscilla, who was a South African-Indian. She had come to India in 1983. But when she went back, I had to find a way to go and chase her to South Africa," Mali told the Hindustan Times.

"My girlfriend and her sister had come to SBI to exchange currency. India and West Indies were playing a Test match in Chennai. I took her to the match and the rest as they say is history. Something clicked that day and today, she and I have been married for 38 years," Mali, 70, said.

During his playing days, Mali represented several teams including the Jolly Rovers, a club owned by India Cements in its early days. In 1978, he joined the State Bank of India team and toured Sri Lanka alongside cricketing stalwarts like Syed Kirmani and Kris Srikkanth, who was his junior at college.

"Those days, travelling wasn't easy. One couldn't travel to South Africa easily," he said about his travel plans in search of his girlfriend. "But I got special permission from the Government of India and landed there the same year. I told them I have a relative in South Africa whom I had to visit. Those days, there were only paper visas. After landing in Durban, when I called her and told her that I was here, she couldn't believe it. She was like 'You're lying'. I went to her workplace and declared 'Look, I am here, all the way from India to meet you'."

At 24, Mali began a new life in South Africa and was keen to continue playing cricket. At the time, South Africa's domestic set-up had two boards — Natal Cricket Association and Natal Cricket Board — operating during the apartheid era. He joined a local team that wasn't a multi-racial setup. Mali also featured in two league matches for the Pastorals in Durban's A-Division League, held in the Phoenix district.

Mali finally got his break with the NCB and played a few matches. But the cricketing life there didn't last long as his visa was about to expire. Despite several efforts, Mali was forced to return to India leaving his wife behind.

"I played really well in four matches. The selectors were to meet for the Benson and Hedges Tournament. I got selected, but before I could go any further, they found out that I am not from South Africa. And then they banned me. NCB said 'you can't play', because they felt that any player not from South Africa automatically endorsed aparthied for them. So, I went back to India. But, I was the first Indian from India who played in South Africa," he said.

Remembering his playing days, Mali mentioned a memorable First-Division game he played in Chennai where he took an incredible eight wickets for just 12 runs, dismissing a lineup of Ranji Trophy players.

"I played more than 100 First-Division matches. And in South Africa, about 12 matches. I got 8/12 in a First-Division game playing for SBI. In an inter-regional match, I got the wickets of GR Viswanath, Kirmani, Roger Binny, who were representing Bangalore SBI in the Ramananda Rao Trophy. It was some time in the 80s. I even won matches with the bat: 28 runs were needed to win off three overs, and I remained unbeaten on 26 and won the match. I scored 98 in a first-division game. Missed a hundred because the other players got out."

But a botched surgery following an accident derailed his life and his dreams of playing the Ranji Trophy. "I was involved in a motorbike accident and the surgery didn't go well. After that, my knee was not the same. It surely limited by career."

Mali retired from professional cricket in 2000 and began a new journey where he achieved remarkable success. He ventured into the restaurant business, opening three establishments in quick succession. Although he eventually parted ways with them, these business decisions proved highly lucrative, allowing him to build a substantial fortune. But his connection with cricket was revived when the Indian Premier League began and was played in South Africa in 2009.

"I have been in South Africa for the last 24 years. I am thankful to Mr. N Srinivasan and Kasi Viswanathan. In 2009, when the IPL came to South Africa, they gave me an opportunity to assist Chennai Super Kings. Srinivasan sir said, 'Kasi, Mali will be our guest forever'. Ever since, every IPL, CSK sponsors my trip with wife. I enjoy CSK's matches and travel all over India. Even last year, I was there. In SA20, they appointed me as the public officer for Joburg Super Kings."

"I have no regrets today. I have two sons, aged 28 and 38. I will turn 70 in May. I came here and started three restaurants. The first one was called Little India. All used to come. After I stopped it, I opened two more restaurants, named Palki and Mali's Indian Restaurant. Mali's did very well, but in 2019, when my son moved to Canada, I gave it up too. I was the director of three restaurants."

Currently, Mali, based in Durban, works as a public officer for the Joburg Super Kings in the SA20 tournament.

“Even after so many years you are mixing with the team. I'm travelling with the team. What else do you need? You have been a cricketer. Even after your old age, you're still with the cricketers,” he said.