Some say it was politics, at both the National and state level that did Praveen Amre in. Some say it was just plain bad luck. Whatever the truth behind the rather shoddy way that Amre has been treated by the bosses of the Indian cricket, things may just be looking up for this Mumbaikar.

Amre is on his way to becoming the first Indian player to play first class cricket in South Africa, after being offered a contact by the Boland Cricket Club. Though reluctant toname the price, Amre, in Delhi to play in the Indian and Sri Lankan All Stars games, said Boland is offering ``five-six times'' what he makes as a professional in India.

Ironically, due to a rather strange clause introduced by Central Zone, being a professional has hindered Amre's chances to shine at the domestic level. This Achrekar protege started his career playing for Mumbai, got a job in the Railways and then moved to playing for Rajasthan as a professional.

Unfortunately, he could not play for the Central Zone team for the last three seasons, as they have rather curious rule any player who is a professional, irrespective of whether he plays for the state or not, cannot be picked for the Central squad. So Amre, a professional, was out.

Amre, a thorough Maharashtrian for all his playing in Rajasthan, said his dream was always to ``score a hundred for Mumbai,'' having fulfilled his desire to ``score a century for India.'' Last season therefore, he made the move back to Mumbai. He was not picked forthe first game and coming into the team for the second, scored a century.

Unfortunately, with ill-luck dogging him, this was to be the year that Mumbai failed to make the Super League.

Coming after all this, the offer from the South African province, while being richly-deserved by him, should also be a pointer to the decision makers here. Amre's is another sad story of a man who had everything going for him, yet missed out on an opportunity for greater glory, because of the lack of any particular yardstick when it comes to the decision-making process in India.

And it is also sad that the reminder of the talent that does exist in the country, has to come from foreign shores.