Well Played ICL

ICL (Indian Cricket League) seem to be moving ahead at fast pace. After finalizing contract with 44 cricketers (minimum number needed to hold the tournament), they have also figured out the location for training camp. Now next big challenge ahead will be to finalize the tournament schedule, and to figure out good class grounds for the tournament.

Whereas, ICL has done a lot of ground work in last couple of months, BCCI seem to be still struggling with same old agendas - internal politics. As Pawar is set to become ICC vice president next year, BCCI needs to find a replacement for him. So, as usual all the BCCI members will be trying to fit their equations right, rather than worrying about Cricket and Team India.

Can ICL really emerge as a successful league? Though only time can best answer this question, but there are a number factors in favor of ICL.

Twenty Twenty Era: ICL has planned a twenty-twenty tournament. As far as the spectator’s interest in Cricket is concerned, currently One Day Cricket is the most popular form of this Game. But twenty-twenty is fast emerging as a great competitor to one day cricket. In today’s fast world, not many people can afford to spend nine long hours for a single game of cricket. How many people really watch the entire (One day) Cricket Match on TV? Most people whom I know, prefer to watch first fifteen and last ten overs of an inning (this is where the thrill is). The fact that finally BCCI has also accepted Twenty Twenty version of the game (after initially refusing to do so), proves the importance of a shorter version of Cricket. As India has so far not hosted (or participated) in any major Twenty-twenty event, the ICL tournament can be a turning point for Indian spectators. BCCI currently does not seem to have any solid plan (in form of Indian Cricket team calendar) of offering a comparable thrill to the viewers.

More Freedom to support a Winner: How many people really like to support a habitual looser? The pain of being forced to support a unprofessional, politics ridden, careless looser is best known to the supporters of Indian Cricket team. But having born in to this country (India) they do not have any escape from the pain. They are cursed to support their team, and crib about the lack of spirit in the team. ICL can probably offer a relief to the Cricket viewers. Since the league will form different teams without any regional basis, spectators will have more freedom to choose their stars and to bet on them. If supporters of a team realize that their starts are focusing more on individual records and advertising contracts (than on team victory), they can probably dump these start and start supporting another team (there is a great chance that before you dumping such stars, ICL will dump them).

Fair Competition: Monopoly is an evil. Do you remember the state of automobile industry in India at the time when Maruti and Bajaj were the only players in Market? After the auto-mobile market opened up, and new players came in, both Maruti and Bajaj suffered a big blow. But this was for good of the consumers. Finally, Maruti and Bajaj had to put more efforts on quality and innovation (which really seem to be paying off as these two companies are doing good again). Probably BCCI will suffer the same fate and will have to face a “Do or Die” situation soon. And of-course it will be for the GOOD of Cricket (both the players and spectators). There are dozens of players who have suffered (and have been suffering) because of dictatorship in BCCI. They have been denied fair selection process for decades, but now they have an alternative in form of ICL. I still remember the last few days of Kapil Dev (as part of Indian Cricket Team). The treatment he got (at hand of erstwhile captain Azhar and BCCI) was really humiliating (despite being in best form of his career at that time). But till recently he had no choice but to work for BCCI (if he wanted to work for Cricket). Now doors have opened up for him and for likes. Next time BCCI might think twice before throwing Saurav Ganguly out of the team (and it also might have to think about continuing Ajit Agarkar).

BCCI’s suicide attempt: The way BCCI has attempted on ICL initiation can prove suicidal. BCCI has refused to accept the presence of ICL without any reasonable ground. ICL has always repeated their claims (even if they did not really mean it) that they are not competitors to BCCI and their presence will only help the domestic cricketers (both in terms of money and in terms of opportunity to play against international stars). Instead of recognizing ICL, or throwing them out in a diplomatic manner, BCCI took a blunt step by banning all the cricketers who join ICL. This tactics has fired back, as a big pool of cricketers has already moved to ICL, and will not be available for next season. To add to the BCCI’s problems, the anti-Pawar factions within BCCI might soon start to oppose BCCI’s decisions (regarding ICL). This will make the things even dirtier within BCCI.

……..

4th September, 2007

Recent bargain by Shoaib Akhtar against PCB is an example of what the fair competition can do to a market … There are many who believe that Cricket is just a game and not a commodity (to be sold in market), I feel sorry for them.

Is it a Win or Survival

Despite a poor start in the series, India has won the Test-Series in England. It is a great achievement for Dravid and his men. But I am worried about the Captains’ attitude.

What makes a winner stand out of looser and moderate crowd is the hunger to win. Winners do not get satisfied with one achievement (telling themselves how great it is) and they continuously fight for more and more. Australian Cricket is a perfect example of it. Australians have taken their goals to such a high level that them loosing a game looks so unexpected.

This winning attitude was missing during third test. Despite a huge first innings lead, India did not force a follow-on on England. As per the reports, Indian team looked unconvinced about facing England bowling attack on the last day (if there would have been any need). The second disappointing surprise was slow pace of Indian batting (except Ganguly). I think captain Dravid has made his mind to settle down with a draw (and not loose the match with a dramatic turn). He was also eager to add a few runs to his own pocket (personally it has been a flop series for him so far), even if it costs a probably team win.

This series win does not prove too much about Indian Strength. If first test was not rain-affected, then final result would have been much different. But this truth does not reflect in Dravid’s attitude. He seem to be on cloud-nine. I think he has convinced himself how great a Captain he is. Even most of Indian fans must be convinced about the same (such short-sighted they are).

W hat I would have loved to see from India was a Must-Win attitude in third test. But instead of killing the bird, they were trying to make sure that the captured bird does not slip away from their pockets. This does not make a winner. It only makes surviver. And how long you survive is just a matter of chance.

Sweet taste of Victory

Finally Team India sealed one more victory on foreign soil. Apparently they are the second most (after Auz) successful Team on foreign soil in current millennium. Indian team overpowered English in every field of the game. Every Indian batsman looked determined (which is rarely expected) and bowlers did a great job. This test match will be remembered for long, for the great display by Indian Players. But this match will also be remembered for many other reasons:

(1) Sledging: Jelly-Beans offered to Zaheer by English team started non-cricketing fight on the field. There was sledging, there were gestures, and there was even physical touch (between srisanth and the english captain vaughan) on the field. While Srisanth has come out with a 50% match fee, english press is still haunting the England Cricket team and blaming the “lack of focus on Cricket” as the major factor for their loss.

(2) Poor Umpiring Decisions: There were many poor umpiring decisions made in this match. Simon Taufel who has won “ICC umpire of the year award” for last three years consecutively, made a double mistake. He gave Sachin and Saurav out (in first innings) whereas the TV replays indicated that they were not out. In the second England Innings, Michael Vaughan also got out on a controversial decision.

(3) Poor English Luck: This loss to England comes just after the victory slept out of their hands due to heavy rains. A week back, English team would not have expected being 1-0 down in the series. Poor English!

(4) Ganguly-Dravid Chemistry: Another memorable incidence of the match was Saurav and Dravid on the crease at the victory moment. Though many people believe that they can not stand each other, but, they were seen hugging after the victory.

(5) Another betting racket: Another betting racket got busted during the final day of this match. Though India performed greatly in this match. But whenever I hear any thing about betting, the meories of match-fixing starts hitting my heads.

700 and still counting

M Muralitharan has become second Cricketer to have claimed 700 scalps in Test Cricket. Now he is just 9 wicket short of breaking Shane Warne’s world record of maximum test wickets. Murali has claimed maximum “wickets/test-match” amongst the bowlers who have taken 400+ test wickets and his wicket average is best. His bowling statistics are strikingly better than any other bowler. Though murali is 35 years old, but he looks very agile on the field and he has a atleast a couple of years of cricket left in him. At the speed at which Murali is taking his victims, he might easily reach 800+ Mark in test cricket. Hats off to Murali.

Is it a Send Off Signal?

Do you remember how Ganguly lost his place in Indian Cricket team? He was first banned for 2 matches by ICC because of slow over rate (and Dravid was appointed the captain in Interim). Then he missed a few more matches because of fitness issues. And finally he realized that he has no place in the team now.

Dravid has decided to take rest during a practise match (or might have been suggested, or might have been asked, or might have been forced) on the ongoing England tour. I am just wondering if we can see a repeat of (Ganguly) story again.

We all are aware of the rifts which Tendulkar and Dravid have developed during Greg’s regime. Tendulkar was too unhappy with coach and captain. Tendulkar also had some friction with Ganguly during Ganguly’s captaincy (When Ganguly made some indirect statements asking players to focus on team’s interest rather than personal interests). But, I think that Sachin’s friction with Dravid is many time more than with Ganguly:
(1) The rift started when Dravid supported Greg’s decision not to allow Sachin as an opener. Tendulker repeatedly informed the two about his desire to open but he was asked to bat lower down the order. If you remember, Sachin had expressed similar interest under Ganguly’s captaincy (when Sehwag and Ganguly had emerged as strong openers). Ganguly being a great leader (unlike Dravid) had decided to bat lower down the order and allow Sachin to contribute his best of the team.
(2) Sachin is supossed to a calm and composed person. He has never expressed his anguish to Media during Ganguly’s captaincy. The fact that Tendulkar expressed his unhappiness against Greg and Dravid (just after the world cup) shows how much hurt he is with Dravid.

Coming back to the probability of Dravid’s ouster from team, let us analyze a following facts:
(1) All of us are aware of the BCCI Support (thanks to Mr Pawar) which Sachin Tendulkar enjoys. This support, combined with his great past records, equally great current performances and a big fan club, makes him one of the most powerful players in Indian current Indian Cricket team.
(2) During his career (after he gave up the captaincy) Tendulkar has always repeated that he does not want to take up the pressure of captaincy and he wants to rather contribute as an ordinary member. But immediately after the world cup he expressed his desire to lead the team (may be he realized how difficult it is to play under a bad captain and how difficult it is for Ganguly to be the captain again). Yuvraj also made some statements to media metioning his (and other young player’s support) to Tendulkar as captain. All this definitely gives some indication that some thing is cooking with in the team against Dravid’ captaincy. It is also a big surity that Sachin will also enjoy support of Ganguly (after all Sachin was the only player to talk to him after Ganguly was thrown again out of test team despite his good performance). Though BCCI has decided to handover the capataincy to Dravid, but it is quite probably that soon Sachin will take over the responsibility. May be BCCI wanted to kill one bird at a time (and decide to kill Greg first).
(3) In the last practise match, both Ganguly and Sachin were rested. Now Ganguly and Sachin are back and Dravid has been rested. Is it another indication?

Time only will decide what happens next to the India Cricket team. But Dravid’s days seem to be numbered to me.