Mohammad or Muhammad is the most common name in the world. It is also the most sacred name for an entire religion. We have had some really great and famous people with this name; the Prophet being the most celebrated.
Mohammad Ali the Boxing Legend, Mohammad Rafi the Indian music Maestro, Qaid-E-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Bin Tughlaq the Maniacal Genius, Mohammad Ghauri and Mohammad of Ghazni are / were some hugely famous names.
In a country that perhaps hosts the largest number of Mohammads, Two Mohammads who could have been the stars of a brave new world; have instead brought a country and a game to disrepute beyond dispute.
When the reports first came, I wasn't surprised. Every time their brittle batting collapses, we are forced to listen to these "Fixing" stories. It was like listening to an old broken record. But as more skeletons started to tumble out, I was devastated.
Mohammad Aamer is such a precocious and precious talent, I had almost started to adore him. Mohammad Asif in spite of his inglorious behavior in the past was an exceptionally talented pacer.
Both these guys could have forged a long term and deadly pace combination to take Pakistan Cricket to new heights. And then they did this !
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Ravindra Jadeja for President !
Looking at the selection policies of Indian Selectors lead by Sri-Can't, I am tempted to make this suggestion. We should select and elect Ravindra Jadeja for the post of President of India.
Why ?
Here are the 5 points in support of Jadeja for President !
1] Ornamental to the Core: The post of President of India is an ornamental one. But for the great A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, they have been mostly rubber stamps. Shane Warne's Rock Star is of ornamental use to Team India. If any doubts persist, just click on the links and see how Yusuf Pathan, the man dropped for inconsistency fares when it comes to team's needs. Compare that with Ravindra Jadeja who has played mostly self serving Cricket all through !
2] Pathan is too straight: Like his lofted shots, Pathan is too simple and too straight. Only those with the ability to scheme and with right connections get to become President of India. Jadeja at the tender age of 21 showed he can swallow for breakfast, the entire gigantic figure of Yusuf Pathan who just can't scheme to save his life or that of his half brother.
3] Strike rate vs Average: BCCI Selectors go by Cricket Ratings which give higher points to averages than strike rates. An average of 22 with a strike rate of 103 is inconsistent. An average of 31 with strike rate of 77 runs per 100 balls is what the ODI Team needs; according to our Selectors. Dhoni has consistently underestimated and underutilized Yusuf. Shane Warne's dark-horse unfortunately has become Dhoni's darned ass !
4] Long Rope and Tight Rope: Let me admit Jadeja has better credentials in the bowling department. Has better economy, average and strike rate. But then he has bowled lot more than the poor Yusuf who has often been used in the power plays and then confined to the third man boundary. Players like Jadeja, Nohit Sharma and I shan't Sharma get the long rope while Yusuf always has to do the tight rope walking.
5] Selectors think Pathans are from Afghanistan: The Selectors perhaps think the Pathans are from Afghanistan. How else can we explain a guy like Irfan Pathan not even getting a chance in second string or third string teams when we see rank new comers making merry ? That only means one thing. In spite of very ordinary performances and self-serving Cricket, Jaddu will continue to rule.
He continues to rule without accountability. Is it not the greatest quality required for an Indian Politician ? So His Excellency Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja deserves to serve India as the President ! Period !
Why ?
Here are the 5 points in support of Jadeja for President !
1] Ornamental to the Core: The post of President of India is an ornamental one. But for the great A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, they have been mostly rubber stamps. Shane Warne's Rock Star is of ornamental use to Team India. If any doubts persist, just click on the links and see how Yusuf Pathan, the man dropped for inconsistency fares when it comes to team's needs. Compare that with Ravindra Jadeja who has played mostly self serving Cricket all through !
2] Pathan is too straight: Like his lofted shots, Pathan is too simple and too straight. Only those with the ability to scheme and with right connections get to become President of India. Jadeja at the tender age of 21 showed he can swallow for breakfast, the entire gigantic figure of Yusuf Pathan who just can't scheme to save his life or that of his half brother.
3] Strike rate vs Average: BCCI Selectors go by Cricket Ratings which give higher points to averages than strike rates. An average of 22 with a strike rate of 103 is inconsistent. An average of 31 with strike rate of 77 runs per 100 balls is what the ODI Team needs; according to our Selectors. Dhoni has consistently underestimated and underutilized Yusuf. Shane Warne's dark-horse unfortunately has become Dhoni's darned ass !
4] Long Rope and Tight Rope: Let me admit Jadeja has better credentials in the bowling department. Has better economy, average and strike rate. But then he has bowled lot more than the poor Yusuf who has often been used in the power plays and then confined to the third man boundary. Players like Jadeja, Nohit Sharma and I shan't Sharma get the long rope while Yusuf always has to do the tight rope walking.
5] Selectors think Pathans are from Afghanistan: The Selectors perhaps think the Pathans are from Afghanistan. How else can we explain a guy like Irfan Pathan not even getting a chance in second string or third string teams when we see rank new comers making merry ? That only means one thing. In spite of very ordinary performances and self-serving Cricket, Jaddu will continue to rule.
He continues to rule without accountability. Is it not the greatest quality required for an Indian Politician ? So His Excellency Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja deserves to serve India as the President ! Period !
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Randiv isn't the first !
After expressing my anger against Suraj Randiv on Facebook and Gmail buzz, I went through many a blogs and articles. I now feel all of us have over-reacted; Viru, his favorite Captain Dada, Bedi as usual and most of us Indians have !
Yes, it wasn't exactly a sporting act by Randiv. But he isn't the first to do so. Sri Lankans have a proven track record here. Hence targeting a young bowler is unacceptable. If someone has to answer, it has to be the man at the helm. We very well know he is not very fond of seeing India at the top the Test Championship table.
Amidst all the cacophony, one former Indian Star has talked some sense. Randiv or Sri Lankans are not the only culprits. India too have done this before ! I am surprised but also admire the courage and integrity shown by Mr. Chandu Borde.
I remember an incident from South Indian filmdom. Malayalee girl Nayan Tara made her debut as a girl next door in Malayalam. But once she crossed over to Chennai and started acting in Tamil movies, she shed quite a few pounds and a lot of cloths too. She got rid of her middle class inhibitions and did a few bold scenes with her friend Chimbu.
Men like me didn't mind a bit ! But the Malayalee crowd over-reacted to this and she was castigated by the prudish Mallu middle class. A hurt Nayan came out with a statement, "I haven't done anything that wasn't done by anyone in the past". She was right !
Instead of offering an apology to Sehwag, Randiv too could have told, "I haven't done anything that wasn't done by anyone in the past". He hasn't done that and we should admire that.
A famous statement of Manoj Prabhakar comes back to haunt me, "Is Hamam me saare nange hain". Those who live in glass houses don't throw stones ! India should forget and get over this incident. Let us move on !
Yes, it wasn't exactly a sporting act by Randiv. But he isn't the first to do so. Sri Lankans have a proven track record here. Hence targeting a young bowler is unacceptable. If someone has to answer, it has to be the man at the helm. We very well know he is not very fond of seeing India at the top the Test Championship table.
Amidst all the cacophony, one former Indian Star has talked some sense. Randiv or Sri Lankans are not the only culprits. India too have done this before ! I am surprised but also admire the courage and integrity shown by Mr. Chandu Borde.
What he said is this: "No team wants to allow a batsman to cross the century mark and all the teams in the world have succeeded on number of occasions in denying the batsman of a century. Even we Indians have followed this and never gave a freedom for the batsman to set a mark. It was a brilliant knock by Sehwag, he deserves all accolades," he said.
"I would not say it as 'not cricket'. Some people are generous to a fault but others, like the Australians, won't give you an easy hundred to take. There can be two opinions on this; whether Sri Lanka were unsporting or not.
"I remember (In Delhi in 1958-59 series) against the West Indies I had scored a century (109) in the first innings and was 96 batting in the second with fast bowler Roy Gilchrist repeatedly bowling bouncers at me. When two balls remained non-striker Vijay Manjrekar came and told me you have to get to the century. I hooked the next ball, it went for a four but I disturbed my wicket and was hit-wicket," he recalled.
"In the same match, we didn't allow Gary Sobers to get to his double hundred when he was on 199. It's part of the game. We Indians have also adopted such strategies. Even local cricket in India is played in that manner," he said.
Men like me didn't mind a bit ! But the Malayalee crowd over-reacted to this and she was castigated by the prudish Mallu middle class. A hurt Nayan came out with a statement, "I haven't done anything that wasn't done by anyone in the past". She was right !
Instead of offering an apology to Sehwag, Randiv too could have told, "I haven't done anything that wasn't done by anyone in the past". He hasn't done that and we should admire that.
A famous statement of Manoj Prabhakar comes back to haunt me, "Is Hamam me saare nange hain". Those who live in glass houses don't throw stones ! India should forget and get over this incident. Let us move on !
Sunday, August 8, 2010
A Story of the Silent Savior !
'Ramayan', the Indian Epic has always been about 'Ram' the Prince who spent 14 years in the wilderness to honor his father's words. So glorified has been Ram in Ramayan, an equally phenomenal character was completely sidelined as a sidekick. That was his unbelievably loyal younger brother who followed him throughout the travails, minus the wife !
There are many Heroes in real life. There indeed are many Heroes in most of the stories in 'Real' and 'Reel' Life. But somehow, we have a penchant for making 'One' an absolute Hero and all others the sidekicks. This has been the story of Indian Cricket for the past two decades. Ever since the 'Eleventh Incarnation of God' made his debut, this has been the case.
But Team India perched at the Top of Test Cricket Table has many Heroes. It is the collective effort of many men that has catapulted India to number 1 position.
This in no way should be seen as an effort to minimize the greatness of the most admired Indian Sportsman of all times. This is just my sincere tribute to the most stylish batsman since Mohammad Ahzaruddin.
In spite of a quite prolonged ongoing poor run of form, Rahul Dravid's determination at the batting crease has won us many a battles away from home.
One session of madness with a method is all Virendar Sehwag needs to change the fortunes of the team and demoralize opponents.
In the aftermath of the match-fixing scandals and amidst the ruins of away from home disasters, one man taught Team India to stand up and be counted among the best. And he was rightly called 'Dada' !
In a game dominated by batsmen in a country obsessed with batting records, there was a man with an elephantine appetite for wickets and success. He rightly was nicknamed 'Jumbo' !
Then there is the perennial 'Trouble-shooter' of Indian Cricket. Very few people remember he has played 116 tests. Still very few people remember he has scored over 7000 runs and 16 hundreds batting mostly with the lower order and tail for company.
In Ramayan, the invincible Indrajit could be slain by only a man who had practiced 14 years of celibacy. It was rightly the most dedicated man who could fell the most demanding of the villains. Laxman made Ram's job of conquering Lanka possible by getting Ravan's proud son out of the way.
Rewinding to circa 2010, Team India were not favored to beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka once Zaheer Khan was not available. Murali and the Lankan batsmen made India look ordinary in the first test. Second test was all about Batathons. In an evenly contested Third Test, in spite of Sangakkara's assertion, India showed why they still were the top dogs.
And then the man who has remained a silent achiever for most part of 14 years and done his bat do the talking; had to come to the rescue again. Veeru was gone for another of second innings failures. Dravid's defense had let him down and India were staring at a 2-0 series loss. Of course there was Sachin, but it was the absolutely subtle handling of spinners by Laxman which made the chase possible on the fifth day wicket.
India didn't exactly conquer Lanka. They haven't done it for over fifteen years now. But this series was believed to be lost once they were walloped in the first test and it needed a 'Laxman' to save the honor. Rightly so, who else could have done it in the land of Ravan but for Laxman !
The day his story is written, they can name it, Laxmanaayan; A Story of the Silent Savior !
There are many Heroes in real life. There indeed are many Heroes in most of the stories in 'Real' and 'Reel' Life. But somehow, we have a penchant for making 'One' an absolute Hero and all others the sidekicks. This has been the story of Indian Cricket for the past two decades. Ever since the 'Eleventh Incarnation of God' made his debut, this has been the case.
But Team India perched at the Top of Test Cricket Table has many Heroes. It is the collective effort of many men that has catapulted India to number 1 position.
This in no way should be seen as an effort to minimize the greatness of the most admired Indian Sportsman of all times. This is just my sincere tribute to the most stylish batsman since Mohammad Ahzaruddin.
In spite of a quite prolonged ongoing poor run of form, Rahul Dravid's determination at the batting crease has won us many a battles away from home.
One session of madness with a method is all Virendar Sehwag needs to change the fortunes of the team and demoralize opponents.
In the aftermath of the match-fixing scandals and amidst the ruins of away from home disasters, one man taught Team India to stand up and be counted among the best. And he was rightly called 'Dada' !
In a game dominated by batsmen in a country obsessed with batting records, there was a man with an elephantine appetite for wickets and success. He rightly was nicknamed 'Jumbo' !
Then there is the perennial 'Trouble-shooter' of Indian Cricket. Very few people remember he has played 116 tests. Still very few people remember he has scored over 7000 runs and 16 hundreds batting mostly with the lower order and tail for company.
In Ramayan, the invincible Indrajit could be slain by only a man who had practiced 14 years of celibacy. It was rightly the most dedicated man who could fell the most demanding of the villains. Laxman made Ram's job of conquering Lanka possible by getting Ravan's proud son out of the way.
Rewinding to circa 2010, Team India were not favored to beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka once Zaheer Khan was not available. Murali and the Lankan batsmen made India look ordinary in the first test. Second test was all about Batathons. In an evenly contested Third Test, in spite of Sangakkara's assertion, India showed why they still were the top dogs.
And then the man who has remained a silent achiever for most part of 14 years and done his bat do the talking; had to come to the rescue again. Veeru was gone for another of second innings failures. Dravid's defense had let him down and India were staring at a 2-0 series loss. Of course there was Sachin, but it was the absolutely subtle handling of spinners by Laxman which made the chase possible on the fifth day wicket.
India didn't exactly conquer Lanka. They haven't done it for over fifteen years now. But this series was believed to be lost once they were walloped in the first test and it needed a 'Laxman' to save the honor. Rightly so, who else could have done it in the land of Ravan but for Laxman !
The day his story is written, they can name it, Laxmanaayan; A Story of the Silent Savior !
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Especially sickened by the overdose of India – Sri Lanka Cricket, I was looking at Pakistan – England series as the tonic for my Cricketing brains !
The Cricketing World would have been at their feet in no time. Name, Fame, Fortune and big bucks would have followed them without any delay.
Why ? Why did they do it ? When it looked as if we were witnessing a resurgence of Pakistan Cricket in general and fast bowling of unbridled passion in particular. WHY ?
Both these guys have now joined in ignominy another Mohammad, who confessed, "Maine Match Banaaya".
It hurts to be an Indian who supports Pakistan Cricket. It lacerates when something like this happens. I can't even imagine how the flood hit and devastated Pakistani supporters must be feeling.
Betrayal is an understatement !