Since the whole match fixing scandal during Hansie Cronje’s time, I got totally disillusioned with cricket and quit watching it. Before that happened, I was a big South Africa fan (Klusener fan to be more exact). The Indian team was never one of my favourites. The one and only Indian cricketer I came close to liking was Robin Singh. If you are wondering why I don’t root for India then it’s nothing to do with the players. I just hate the way the game is worshipped in this country. Recently, since my co-workers were rooting for India in the T20 world cup I had to join in. The semi final against Australia was a good match. I was pretty sure we would lose but Dhoni and his men proved me wrong. The victory at the finale was well deserved, especially since it came against Pakistan. It’s great that we won. I mean everybody plays to win. I congratulate the young Indian team with all my heart.
The media went out of their way to show the replays of the last over again and again, explaining every ball, every shot as if we are cricket illiterates. I understand that the victory meant a lot but three days down the line the news channel are still into the ‘breaking news’ mode. A news channel even went out of its way to show the celebrations in their office. What’s more? Even Kapil Dev joined in and that too was breaking news. When India won the Nehru cup, I remember very clearly that it was hot news the entire night but next day onwards it was life back to normal. Tune into any news channel today, you’ll definitely see something related to cricket being shown.
What is even more irritating is the politicization of cricket that is taking place. What’s with all the netas and the cash awards? One person starts it and the rest follow suit. Do you think they even watched the match in the first place? Some politicians are using this as an excuse to garner more votes. It is amazing how they manage to turn every event around in such a way that either ways it becomes a win – win situation for them. If only they could use their brains for a better cause. I am sure India would have been one of the most developed countries by now.
The BCCI has a strange way of functioning themselves. Win a cup and get extra cash prize, lose and the loss will just be ignored. I say that if you are going to pat on their back for every victory, then you also need to be harsh with every loss.
I pity sportsmen who represent India in other games. I can understand how they feel. I am a swimmer myself. Had I been in some other European country, maybe by now I could have become a professional swimmer. But out here, you just need to get on with life once school gets over- gain a degree and run around looking for a job. My father told me being a sportsman in this country won’t take you places unless one is into cricket. So true! That is why I applaud people like Sania Mirza who fought all the odds to become what she is today. Even then people have a problem with her- Oh god she wears such a short skirt! I have heard many people say this. What is even more saddening is women are the ones to make such a statement. So what should Sania do? Wear a burkha?? What exactly is their solution?
Small countries like Thailand, Singapore etc. are producing some world class players. In India, there is no infrastructure. Whatever money is sanctioned for certain projects is halved even before it reaches the hands of the constructors. My cousin is an ex-SAI student. For the ignorant ones, SAI stands for the Sports Authority of India. The quality of the kits provided by the association, the diet and the training camp (which happens once a year) can never ensure that our country produces world class players. The country is so fully into academics that children never get to hone any other talent they might possess otherwise. The media too chooses to shower all its attention on cricket. An honest observation I have made is that in every newspaper, regardless of whether there is any cricket going on in the country or elsewhere, the main sports page is always reserved for cricket. The rest of the sports news follows in snippets here and there. If you don’t believe me then feel free to go ahead and scan today's paper. You’ll know what I mean.
Coming back to cricket, news channels have been going bonkers comparing this victory to the 1984 victory. I have heard the reporters mention over and over again “Kapil Dev ki kaptani mein hamari jo ek etihasik jeet hui thee…” I think it is time we stopped lauding ourselves on that victory. If you have to move ahead, you have to leave the past behind. It’s been 20+ years since that victory already. As the country’s population moves from millions to billions, I am sure so many potential talents get lost along the way. I hope eventually some infrastructure gets developed so that the future gets brighter than what it is today for the future generation.
Until then I’m just thankful that Mahesh Bhatt was unavailable (both physically and on the phone) for an interview.
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