World Cup Masala 1/30
By Anil
January 30 2003
by Anil, 30 Jan '03
Matt Hayden is the latest among a cast of thousands in the ranks of English and Aussie cricketers, ex-cricketers, and politicians who have raised the bogie of shaking hands with Mugabe ahead of his team's match in Zimbabwe. Hayden says, "In my opinion that (a handshake) seriously compromises the values and traditions of what I'm about and I wouldn't like to do that." One may be tempted to ask Hayden exactly what values and traditions he's all about? Is it the vicious and abusive sledging he is reknowned for, or is it the destruction of dressing rooms everywhere after being given out LBW? One can only hope that Darren Lehmann is not the next cricketer to worry about compromising his values and traditions!
Interestingly, the Zimbabwe cricket board has said that handshaking between politicians and cricketers was never on the cards, hinting at yet another fabrication by a few mediamen with nothing better to do. It has also been reported that the letter slipped under English players' doors in Australia contained no threats and was a simple position statement, distorted yet again by some very opinionated media as a dire warning to English players if they chose to go ahead with the match. Clearly, such media cannot be relied upon to report facts: they report only opinions, and wildly exagerrated ones at that.
Ajay Jadeja has been found to be unfairly banned from playing cricket, with a High Court arbitrator quashing BCCI's 5-year ban on him. This may end up putting him in the ranks of numerous other international cricketers who have been mentioned in the CBI report as accepting money from bookmakers and escaping punishment. Well, maybe not quite, given that he has already served 2 of the 5 years and his cricketing career has been killed off. Is it a stretch to imagine the extent of the damages he could claim from the BCCI?
Ian Chappell has gone public with the controversy over ICC Dictator Malcom Speed working to prevent him from joining the TV commentary team in South Africa, based on an article he had written denouncing Speed for double standards over his amusing "money or country" stand after senior Indian cricketers called his bluff over the contract. Will some board or players organization declare war on the ICC, calling for democracy and a change of leadership?
Speaking of the ICC, they have once again caved in to the demands of the Indian cricketers (just as they did during the Champions Trophy mini world cup) who struck out reportedly illegal portions of the ICC contract before signing. Will the ICC ever see reason? One assumes that the finding of the Delhi High Court, which ruled that the ICC actions, with regard to the unlawful contracts they have been forcing Indian cricketers to sign, smack of "exploitation", and that no funds would be allowed to leave India for the ICC, would have struck fear into the hearts of the Malcoms. As they backed off their earlier rhetoric about India possibly not being "allowed to play", now tail between legs, they lamely claim that BCCI's $9 million share of the World Cup revenue may be "frozen" until the issue is decided by a court. But they would doubtless have recognized that if they do so, then 80% of the total World Cup 2003 funds, which come from India, would also be frozen due to the High Court ruling. Some people apparently believe that rhetoric can mask fact but they are sadly mistaken.
Leicestershire have snagged one of the world's top batsmen, Virender Sehwag, who made his international debut for India in South Africa only last year and has never looked back since. A furious Deness, the Scottish match referee who did his utmost to derail Sehwag's career at the time by banning him for merely appealing in his very first match (apparently deciding not to go by his previously very clean record in Tests), but ended up being banned from officiating in the Test himself (!) is expected to appeal for a ban of Leicestershire from England's county circuit.
After what seems like the millionth review of Zimbabwe security arrangements by the ICC, in every instance being found free of security risks for international cricketers from anywhere, England (and Australia) have once again managed to call yet another meeting of the ICC to argue this issue. This was amusing first and tiresome later, but now it's outrageous. When was the last time so many meetings were called to discuss the same topic over and over and over and over... why can't the sissies simply move on and boycott the match, forfeit match points, and pay damages to the various boards as laid down by the rules? Now that's what is called taking a principled stand. But the whingers want to have their cake and eat it too. So what else is new? Sunil Gavaskar, how right you were!
It was reported that violence is rife in South Africa, with a reported 20,000 murders per year, 50,000 rapes, and 15,000 carjackings. In fact, some are sending advisories out to World Cup tourists on the sort of confrontation tactics should be used in case of attack. Have the mama's boys who are so afraid of touring Zimbabwe heard about all this, and where might they want to reschedule the World Cup if they do?
Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has gone on record as saying that the most important pool matches for Australia, if they want to get to the final, are the ones against India and Pak, and the rest of the matches were "light" ones where some players could be rested. Could Nasser Hussain be feeling just a bit slighted?
Sandy Gordon, a reputable sports psychologist from Australia, has been hired by the BCCI to impart psychological training over the period of a little over a day, and the BCCI have made much noise about this. If India wins the Cup, should we expect the credit to go to Mr. Gordon's magic? Conversely, if India doesn't, then will his fee be withheld for not eliminating negative thoughts?
John Wright, who was found not guilty by consensus of Indian and New Zealand mediamen of any fault whatsoever in India's abject failure in John's own backyard -- even while the same mediamen heaped abuse on the Indian cricket team for being narrowly edged out in a series of very close matches played on the worst, most underprepared pitches in the world -- has been "put on notice" by the BCCI. Will New Zealand hire a fired coach for their national team after the World Cup?
Meanwhile, as bookmakers and betting agencies such as Bet365.com put their money on India being the third team seeded after Australia and South Africa to win the World Cup, the silly ratings by the ICC and numerous other irrelevant outfits like PWC who indulge in wishful thinking stand exposed and embarassed. Will someone please tell them to put their money where their mouth is? They could rake in plenty if they believe their own ratings!
In fact, with India having defeated South Africa as recently as the Mini World Cup a few months back, and with Australia suffering from issues such as injuries to main bowlers Glen McGrath and Shane Warne, the banning of team member Lehmann at the start of the World Cup, a deep fear of Harbhajan Singh who has perfected a new delivery for the World Cup and made that fact very public, a weak middle order that collapses when the top order doesn't deliver, blind over-aggression which can lead to sudden setbacks (as in the ICC Trophy semifinal against Lanka), and a captain who is severely handicapped in strategic thinking ability compared to previous captain Steve Waugh, India is probably one of the top favorites to win it all.
Good luck to Dada's Devils, and may they bring the Cup back home March 23!