DURING the mid-1930s when in college, though dress code was not compulsory, one could see players dressed in a manner as if it was necessary for them to adhere to particular dress. Tennis players would wear white shirt and pant with white flat-foot shoes, while for cricket, they would put on white long shoes plus cream coloured flannel paints. Now all this has changed. Tennis players now adorn different-coloured attire mixed with even black dress and shoes.

Different light and fast colours are now worn by cricket players for 20-and 50-over matches. Some of them are not pleasing to the eye. Even total black has been added. Will someone more knowledgeable than this old viewer advise why this unpleasant change?

While on the subject of dress, it may be added that in the 1950s and 1960s one could hardly see people in Europe, including the British, in shirtsleeves; they would wear suit and tie during the week and combination at weekends. Now they do not bother for ties except for duty and formal occasions. This may possibly also be because of climate change.

I am not happy with the colours used in cricket and would request some knowledgeable person to advise why all types of dark colours have entered the domain of games?

S. FARID AHMAD
Karachi