In the Name of Cricket: Cricket

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20/12/2008

The ICC Equation

Now that the Government of India has disallowed the Indian cricket team’s tour of Pakistan, the relationship between the India and the Pakistan Cricket board will surely come under stress.

Obviously, the BCCI and the PCB considering the financial incentives would have liked to go ahead with the tour. However, the matter was out of their hands once the Mumbai Terror attacks caused a rupture in the relationship between the two nations. The Indian government with parliamentary elections around the corner had no wish to act oblivious of the public sentiment. As cricket holds such a hold over the psyche of the two nations, the GOI decided to act firmly. (Now cricket lovers may argue that they should show the firmness elsewhere.)

Leaving the merits and demerits of the GOI’s decision aside, it is germane to wonder what it will do to the relationship between the two cricketing nations. As the decision is too raw, it is guaranteed to generate venomous outpourings from Pakistan. Already personalities like Rashid Latif has made demands calculated to sour the relationship between PCB and the BCCI further. The politicians and the media are going to join in to aggravate the situation sooner then later.

Funnily enough both the PCB and the BCCI appear reconciled to this decision and left to themselves they would quietly waited for the situation between the two countries to resolve before taking any drastic decision. As said earlier the situation has gone out of their hands.

To add to the turmoil, Sri Lanka Cricket Board a known BCCI baiter suspected of conspiring with the ECB has swiftly stepped into the breach. Their willingness to tour when other nations had refused is going to make them close to the PCB. Their intimacy surely would have caused discomfort to the BCCI if not for the fact that the ECB who would have relished BCCI’s discomfort is itself on shaky grounds over Stanford and their own breed of EPL.

This brings us to the interesting conundrum of who is going to support whom in the ICC. Until now, PCB has been a firm supporter of the BCCI and CSL rumored to support ECB. From news reports, it appears CSA and CA the weather cocks of the ICC has quietly backed BCCI. They may not change their colours soon unless the ECB shows enough gumption to take on the BCCI again. Considering the present bonhomie between the ECB and the BCCI, it looks unlikely that the ECB will launch an attack head-on. However, with its vote bank suspect, the BCCI’s days of bulldozing the opposition may be over. It has to learn to be more openly accommodative and less self-centered.

Surely, this change in the power equation within the ICC is good for the development of cricket and hence welcome.

Cricket News Online Live.com

2nd Test Day 2, Mohali, India –England, 2008

India squanders away the toss advantage.

As I predicted India failed to score even 200 runs at close of play on the 1st day of the 2nd Test between India and England at Mohali.

Granted bad light robbed nearly 120 minutes of play. Yet to score only 179 in 72 over's averaging just over 2 runs per over is lamentable. By neither setting the pace nor securing the game, India has squandered away the advantage of winning the toss and batting first.

Look at it this way, 179 is by no means a comfortable total because; the pitch is going to provide some movement at the start of the day 2. A couple early wickets can leave India gasping and mounting a rear guard action. This uncertainty is needless and if the batsmen had attempted to force the pace, things would have looked rosier.

Gambhir by scoring his 3rd -century in as many matches has underlined how far he has evolved. He is currently India’s most dependable batsman. Dravid made an unconvincing 65. Contrary to what is said in the media, Dravid is nowhere near his pomp and struggled for 205 balls to score his 65. Someone should put his and our misery to an end.

By the look of it if the Indian batsmen fail to take the English bowling by the scruff of its neck, it is going to be one boring Test match.

Cricket News Online Live.com

19/12/2008

Pakistan Tour cancellation – It is the correct decision

The Indian cricket team’s tour of Pakistan has generated a good healthy discussion on this blog. If yesterday I assumed that, the majority was for a delayed tour today our readers have proved that the naysayers are in equal number.

Philip9876 another of regular readers has left a stinging retort at my feeble attempt to differentiate between sporting and political relations with Pakistan.

Here is his retort in full; the Ott he refers to is none other than me.

Ott, its easy to say that we should decouple politics and sports. But just going thru the sports minister's quote. "One team comes and mows down 190 people and they want another team to go there and play as if nothing happened?"

I dont even want to have any sort of communication with the country of Pakistan and her people. By going to Pak, the PCB would have made $20million. PCB is headed by Miandad, who in turn is a close relative of Dawood. Dawood is known to bet on cricket matches. With a relative of one of the world's dreaded criminal related to the PCB so closely, how do we trust the PCB any more? What's a guarantee that Miandad/Dawood nexus wont fix the matches or profit in private from the matches?

The money earned by betting on the matches will be used by Dawood to further his drug trade and to help ISI foment terror in India and the region.

Why give them a chance? I heard that PCB is in deep trouble and that by India pulling out, its on the verge of collapse. That's what i always wanted. To let Pakistan know that there is cost to escalating tensions and to pursue its wellknown policy of bleeding India with a thousand cuts. The only weapon that India has is economics. WE should use it to strangle Pak as much as possible so that the next time they even think of fomenting terror, they should pee in their pants.

As for all the people who say that both politics and sports should be apart, i would like to hear their comments after the next team from Pakistan comes and mows down his/her family.

We should have no contacts with Pak. Period. There are many more civilised countries in the world to play cricket with.

Though I do not necessarily agree with all he has said, I believe some of his points are irrefutable.

What do you think?

Cricket News Online Live.com

30/09/2008

Modi : Flintoff and Pietersen will play in IPL.

Andrew Flintoff after training at Adelaide Oval

Image via Wikipedia

This time Lalit Modi is determined to recruit the big names of English cricket for IPL.

To recap, the ECB has done its utmost to prevent current English players from playing in IPL, saying that the IPL clashed with their domestic season. The first edition of IPL, a hastily arranged affair ran from April 18 to June 1 last year, clashing with not only the county fixtures but also with a couple of Test matches.

Modi had then promised that he is even willing to bring the next edition of IPL forward by a couple of weeks to prevent the clash of dates. In the meanwhile players like Pietersen made pompous statements like they had refused offers from IPL. Once the tournament began the comedy started, with Pietersen himself back tracking and wanting to play and almost all the fringe cricketers making tall claims of receiving offers from IPL.

Despite the changing scenario the ECB remained adamant. Matters came to a head, when the powerful Players Union asked the ECB to allow the players to "take advantage" of the Indian money. This is when the ECB played their master stroke or so they thought. They mooted a new Twenty20 Championship hoping other cricketing nations would take the bait and follow their lead. Unfortunately, their grand design failed because Australia and South Africa stood by IPL.

The ECB had fondly believed that the new Twenty20 Champions League will help keep their flock together. Now that the Championship plans had failed and the Stanford Twenty20 mired in legal wrangles, the English players are ripe for picking.

The astute Modi has identified it as an opportunity to sign up the English players and according to yesterdays reports he going full steam to have them in IPL's payroll.. In fact he is, " certain that the Indian Premier League will definitely see the likes of Flintoff and Pietersen playing next year".

It will be interesting to observe how the ECB reacts. Will it be another 'rape and pillage' response or a silent acceptance of the inevitable?.

Cricket News Online Live.com

29/09/2008

Why IPL does not share its spoils?

Lalit Modi on why IPL does not split its riches with other cricketing boards.

"It's a domestic tournament. When county cricket (in England) was going well for hundreds of years, we never got the spoils."

Put this way there is a compelling logic behind IPL's parsimoniousness. Do you agree?

05/09/2008

How do you see cricket evolving in the future?

Image by Márcio Cabral de Moura via Flickr

When I started to play cricket, the only format played internationally was the five-day test format. Then as you all know, the ODI gained popularity and for the next 25 years was the most popular format.

The ODI's popularity and even its relevance is now being questioned by the current favourite, the Twenty20 format. Regardless of the sneering traditionalist's the Twenty20 format appears to have caught the public imagination and is all set to be the format of the future.

The one common thing among these formats was the fact that the contests was always between countries/nations. Therefore, the changes have been slightly easier to digest.

However, Greg Chappel believes that it will change. He believes Twenty20 Club franchisees will gain popularity and Test will take the back seat.

Do you think this is how cricket will/should evolve?

25/08/2008

Champions Trophy postponed to accomadate IPL Champions League

A jaundiced view from Lord's

Though the decision to postpone the Champions Trophy appears as an effort to appease the PCB, it is the ECB's view that it is all a part of BCCI's sinister design.

Consider the evidence.

It is common knowledge that ICC succumbed to the adamant BCCI's insistence that Pakistan host the Champions Trophy . It is ECB's suspicion founded on such scurvy tricks played by the BCCI in the past, that it (BCCI) deliberately did so knowing very well other countries will baulk at playing in Pakistan and their hesitancy will lead to scuttling of the Champions Trophy.

To those knave enough to wonder how BCCI benefits from the postponement of the tournament ,ECB answers that this postponement provides an ample window to stage IPL's Champions League.

In short, ECB sees it all a part of BCCI's sinister design to take over world cricket and asks others to follow its lead and show the upstart its place.

22/08/2008

Why Cricket SA supports India

Image via Wikipedia

Recently ECB tried to upstage India by promoting another League similar to the Champions League. At that time I had wondered on this blog whether Cricket Australia and Cricket SA Cricket would support India.

I need not have worried as in the end both the cricketing nations backed BCCI's Champions League.

Truth to be told, I was a bit perplexed at their support. The reason being, it was a heaven sent opportunity for them to stand up to the supposed dominance of the BCCI.

Anyway the truth is out, according to this report, "Three matches against India in Northern Ireland last year helped to substantially reduce the losses incurred by Cricket South Africa (CSA) in its last fiscal.CSA financial chief Hentie Wyk said here the loss of 16.3 million rands was much lower than the 72 million rands loss that had been budgeted."

If just 3 matches that too in played in Northern Island could reduce Cricket SA loss by 50 million rand, is it a wonder that they supported the BCCI.

It is evident that Cricket SA knows which side of the bread is buttered.

21/08/2008

ICC accuses Cricket Australia of hiding behind Player’s Association.

Image via Wikipedia
The conduct of Champions Trophy in Pakistan is proving divisive.

On one hand, the ICC stands accused of cowing to the powerful Asian bloc by insisting on Pakistan as the location. On the other hand, Cricket Australia stands accused of folding under the pressure brought on them by the powerful Player’s Association.

However, yesterday’s statement from the Player’s Association that they will not play in Pakistan has added a new twist to the story. ICC feels that Cricket Australia is using the Players Association to escape making a decision.

In fact, an ICC source, who refused to be named, questioned whether the governing boards were hiding behind their "players" so as not to further antagonise India and the powerful Asian bloc which effectively rules the game.

20/08/2008

If you cannot read Mendis, blame your cricket gear

How much more ridiculous can it get. Ranil Abeynaike says that "Modern cricketing gear make Mendis difficult to crack".

I would not be surprised if other cricketing experts spring out of the woodwork to claim that a batsmen should have been breast fed as an infant to play Mendis.

Continuing the trend of so-called cricket experts, I call upon you the real experts, i.e., readers of this blog to contribute your expert opinion on why Indians find Mendis unplayable.

For starters, contemplate; has Deepika Padukone anything to do with it?

15/08/2008

Yuvraj scores 172 against Sri Lankan XI

Sri Lankan XI v Indians, tour match, Colombo

Yuvraj's 121-ball 172 and with contributions from Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma Indians piled up a mammoth 342 for 5 against Sri Lankan XI.

Keen observers would have noted that Ajantha Mendis is not a part of this Sri Lankan XI.

10/08/2008

Ishant’s recovery is important

The Indian physio was busy on the second day of the Third Test. VVS Laxman turned his ankle, Tendulkar jarred his elbow and a rearing Kumble delivery, messed up Parthiv’s pretty face.

However, in the context of day three of the Test, Ishant injury may prove dear. If India is looking to price out early wickets in the morning, a fit Ishant is crucial. Or else, India is looking at a lead of a minimum 100 runs.

A lead as large as 100 runs may prove a daunting task for the Indian batsmen and the pressure could make them wilt.

For India, a vigorous Ishant is indispensable to impose itself in the game.

Photo courtesy: dario(head)

09/08/2008

Vaas misses a rare double by 2 runs.

When Vaas got out driving Harbhajan straight to Virendar Sehwag at covers, he missed out on a rare double by 2 runs. If he had scored the 2 runs he would have completed a deserved double of scoring 3000 runs and 300 wickets.

His aggregate now stands at 2998 runs and 347 wickets in 107 Tests.

Curtains for Asif?

PCB’s three – man committee appointed to investigate Asif’s confinement at the Dubai Airport for possession of drugs have reportedly submitted their finding’s to the PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf.
The evidence is damning. The committee reportedly has unequivocally evidence to suggest that Asif, to employ a colloquial term, is doing drugs.
Now it is left to PCB’s Chairman Nasim Ashraf to decide on the quantum of punishment.
However, this ‘evidence’ along with the report of his ‘positive’ test during IPL may well see Asif career end.

06/08/2008

BCCI retaliates - Ranatunga gets his due

Regulars may remember this blogger's rightful anger against Ranatunga for back stabbing us and also for daring to talk ill about our cricket team.

Though delayed, a speculative report suggests that the BCCI has retaliated and hit Ranatunga where it hurts.

The Central Organising Committee meeting for World Cup 2011 has been postponed indefinitely following BCCI chief Sharad Pawar's inability to attend the meet. Although Sri Lankan Cricket cites official engagements as the reason for Pawar's unavailability, there is more than what meets the eye.

Yipe! This is sure to bring him back to his senses.

05/08/2008

Twenty20 for 2020 Olympics

Back when this blog was relatively unknown, news broke out about the possible inclusion of cricket in the Olympics.

I posted it on my blog along with my opinion on which format was apt for the Olympics.

This set of a series of comments and Soulberry, the father figure to most Indian cricket bloggers generously posted it in the BBC very own 606.

The majority felt that the ODI’s was the apt format. However, some insisted that Test matches were the way to go. Interestingly, the Twenty20 was never in the picture.

We are all familiar with the eventual turn of the events. Twenty20 took the world cricket by storm and even a traditionalist like the former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist has pushed for the inclusion of Twenty20 cricket in the Olympics from 2020.

This gives me a pause to wonder how we ignored the aptness of the Twenty20 format. If there is one format of the game that appears to suit the Olympics to a T, it is undoubtedly Twenty20.

Are there any naysayers?

03/08/2008

A ’perfect Test match’ at Galle?

Can someone tell me whether the Galle Test qualifies as a perfect Test match for Sri Lanka?

What's more, let me take this opportunity to remind the Right Honorable Ranatunga the Chairman of SC that you had your day.

Take it away folks!

02/08/2008

County cricketers house wrecked over suspected affair

We all know how fans reacts to a cricketers performance in India. They either compose bhajan's in his praise or when he fails, they reduce his newly constructed house to rubble.

However, in the much more sane and mature land of the old country, things a re slightly different. There, they are unemotional when it comes to their performance in the field, but if they perform elsewhere, they suffer worse fate.

Believing his wife had been having an affair with Neil Edwards, a county cricket player half his age, John Matthews sawed his supposed rival's bed in half, poured creosote on the furniture, scratched his plasma TV and poured expandable foam down the lavatories and bath. The apartment has been uninhabitable since.

It also happens in South Africa

If you assumed that misappropriation of funds meant for cricket was Zimbabwe's prerogative, then you assumed wrongly.

The former financial manager of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA, now Cricket South Africa), Diteko Modise was charged in February this year with nine counts of fraud, money laundering and theft after 7.4 million rands (approx $1 million) disappeared from the coffers of the UCBSA during the time that he was responsible for the cricket authority's internal audit processes.

Granted Modise did it to line his pockets, nevertheless, this incident points to a peculiar trait prevalent in the region - funds meant for cricket seems to tantalize dictators and common men alike and siphoning them is one of the popular past- times.

31/07/2008

The Twenty20 Champions League format

The inaugural Twenty20 Champions League tournament will be played from September 20 to October 8. However, the location is still in suspense. Lalit Modi, the Chief Organiser of the Twenty20 Champion league had mentioned venues in India, but an IS Bindra suggestion that England would be a better venue as it provides the multi-racial mix this format demands has put the decision on hold.

The calls to stage the Twenty20 Champions League in England may be a deliberate attempt to leave a door open for ECB.As widely reported, the ECB had fallen out with the Twenty20 Champions League organisers and had even mooted a rival Twenty20 'Dubai Desert Classic'Champions League. Unfortunately, with Cricket Australia and South Africa Cricket backing BCCI,the ECB find themselves isolated. If the ECB accepts,it is only a short-step for a complete reconciliation.

As things stand, these are the facts:

8 teams will play for a prize of $ 6 million.

A total of 15 matches
Teams will be divided into 2 pools
4 teams in each pool.
The teams are:
The Rajasthan Royals and the Chennai Super Kings from the IPL
The Victoria Bushrangers and the Western Warriors from Australia
The South African sides the Titans and the Dolphins.
The Sialkot team - winners of PCB's Twenty 20 Championship
The 8 th team in all probability could be Middlesex. However, if ECB puts a spoke in the works, they would be replaced the Central Stags from New Zealand or one from the West Indies.

BTW: The 2009 edition may well see 12 teams playing 23 matches.