Rusty, Rustier, Rustiest

By Gaurang
September 12 2006

In keeping with the damp weather in Kuala Lampur the upcoming tri-series, the first multi-team tournament India will be playing under the Dravid-Chappell combine, may turn out to be a contest to see which of the three teams is the least rusty.

The Indian Oil triseries in Sri Lanka played under Dravid, deputizing for an injured Ganguly, was won by Lanka. Since then, no multi-team tournament has been played under under the new dispensation of Rahul Dravid and Greg Chappell.

That the cricket will not be of the highest quality is virtually certain, as at least two of the three teams are coming of long layoffs, training camps in the Australian Outback or in the wilds of Karnataka notwithstanding, and all three teams will want to keep something in reserve for the much more important ICC Champions trophy which will follow shortly.

Already Australia have announced that they intend to use this tournament as a warm-up for the main event, the Ashes, as well as the one significant ODI trophy that they do not have in their cabinet, i.e. the ICC Champions trophy. India of course will take these matches a bit more seriously as they have been out of action for so long, that just the prospect of not sitting in the pavilion watching grey skies pour buckets of rain will be huge relief, and cause for major celebration. But Rahul Dravid has indicated that he intends to continue experimenting and "fine-tuning" during the tournament with an eye towards the World Cup.

West Indies have already indicated that they too are not too bothered about the outcome of the tournament and are much more keen on defending their title in the ICC Champions Trophy. The fact that over $ 1 million is guaranteed to the West Indies and Australian boards for each game they play against India, makes this a unique tournament in that the losing team here will comfortably earn more than the winner of the ICC Champions trophy.

Basically this hastily arranged tournament has one major purpose: To make the BCCI as much cold hard cash as possible. That the BCCI, in the record time of a couple of weeks, cleared spending half a million dollars to outfit the Kinara Ground with floodlights is as clear an indication that this tournament is vital to their pocketbook. The estimated profit from the event, even after paying the two non-Indian teams their "appearance" money, is a cool $25 million.

All this does not mean that there may not be some exciting cricket on view, the mere fact that the tournament features the Current World Cup holders, the runners-up and the Current Champions Trophy holders, will ensure that there will be much pride at stake. Also for the fringe players in each side, the Suresh Rainas, the Munaf Patels, the Phil Jacques, and Stuart Clarks, etc. this could be a make or break event.

Also if money spent is any guide then the fans, especially those in the United States, who will be forking out $99 a pop, will be hoping that this tournament lives up to the old adage: "you get what you pay for". Of course the BCCI who are footing nearly the entire bill for this tournament would love nothing better than to have its team, the boys in BCCI Blue, come home with the DLF Cup, though even if they don’t the BCCI will win regardless, having already sold the television rights for a hefty sum.