Ashok Dinda to wed cricket-loving fiancee on July 22

Indian cricketer Ashok Dinda is set to marry his sweetheart, Sreyasi Rudra. The wedding is on July 22 at Chinsurah, a Kolkata suburb. Dinda's reception will be at a Kolkata club on July 24.

Dinda met Sreyasi at a friend's residence four years ago and it was not love at first sight.

"We met again after a few years at a party and I liked her, but we did not exchange numbers. After our third meeting, I took her number from a friend and we kept in touch. She is the most sober girl I've ever met. I made her meet my mom one and half years ago. I gave her hints about my feelings then, but she brushed me off. I kept pursuing her till she gave in," Dinda told a newspaper.

Sreyasi, a software engineer, and Dinda decided to wed during this year's IPL. A July date was fixed since that's a lean season for cricket. "Later, I would get busy with matches, so this was the best time," said the fast bowler from Bengal.

Unlike many wives of cricket stars, Sreyasi comes from a family of cricket enthusiasts. "So, I had no option but to love cricket. Even my 86-year-old grandmother is mad about cricket," says Sreyasi.

Dinda has played 13 ODIs and nine T20 internationals for India. He is yet to play a Test match and the 29-year old currently represents Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League, having earlier played for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils.