Fancy a meal hanging at a hundred feet above the ground? Marketing innovations around cricket reached a new "eight" with international chain KFC coming up with the concept of the "Champions Box", which involves dangling from a specially-strengthened crane on a platform with 21 other invited diners as the cricket goes on below you.

The "table in the sky" has secured racing-driver type seating for its patrons as they nibble on fried chicken and their favoured tipple. Entry is by invitation or for winners of a specially-launched contest for this "one of the 10 most unusual restaurants in the world, brought to cricket for the first time" as a statement from the organisers put it.

While this is all very well, one cannot help but wonder how much patrons will be able to tuck away with their tummies tightly strapped up in the "secure" seats.

Pakistan speedster Mohammad Asif’s return to international cricket had some of the hallmarks of a mystery yarn. Still under a year-long ban imposed by the Indian Premier League’s governing council — and confirmed by its drugs tribunal — for a positive dope test during the course of IPL-1, has been here in South Africa for the last two days but can only officially join his team-mates in the Sandton Sun after midnight on Tuesdsay, when the ban period runs its course.

While the rest of Younis Khan’s squad flew in via Dubai, Asif was routed into Johannesburg through London to avoid being snared for yet another indiscretion.

It will be recalled the lanky paceman spent a few weeks in a Dubai jail last year when he was caught with contraband "stuff" in his pocket while on his way back home after being nailed for his drug offence as a Delhi Daredevils player. Wisecracked a Pakistani journalist, "It will be like a muhdehki, a pre-wedding tradition back home when the to-be bride and groom get to see each other for the first time in the more traditional homes. It’s been such a hush-hush affair."

With plenty of cricket to come and the disappointment of a huge defeat in their only practice match at the hands of the Kiwis behind them, the Men in Blue were given a day off from all cricket by coach Gary Kirsten here on Tuesday. "We’ve told them to forget all about cricket for the day and take a total break from the game — go see a movie, shop, whatever," Kirsten said. "Sometimes getting away from it all helps you recharge yourself as individuals and as a group which also helps you absorb pressure which will be on once you are back on the field."

Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh however, opted to spend the early part of the day in analysing footage, given some urgency in the capitulation to an nondescript Kiwi attack at Potchefstroom on Sunday.

Rahul Banerji