Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Of defeat....and the HURT

I know that you all have guessed what this one is about. Yes, and most, if not all are right when you clicked on this one knowing fully well that Indian team bashing is lurking right round the corners.

I confess I am hurt. Hurt that my favorites are not there anymore; hurt that ICC followed one ridiculous format to eliminate teams; hurt that Woolmers no more; hurt that its just not gonna b fun with the big guys gone so early and hurt that this may not be the last time.

OK... now that I mention what has hurt me... I shall reason out a few of the wrongs that I feel could be righted and also comment on the general state of the game in India...

The tournament format...
It tried to ape the Soccer cup format but clearly missed out on the Fact that even Team # 8 and 9; pray they land in the same group... have a cushion of playing someone atleast 8 ranks below them and beyond... Also competition in the soccer qualifiers is more evenly matched and teams have an idea what they are heading towards...
My format :
Have 15 teams in groups of 3 ; so each group has three test playing nations... Have two rounds each and select top 2 teams from each grp and then (3 match round robin to select two teams from the third ranked teams)... this way teams like Bermuda and Ireland and Holland play 3 test playign nations twice getting better exposure and teams like India and Pakistan get a chance at redemption if there is a slip-up... At the end we have 8 teams left (top 2 from ech group and two of the three third ranked teams). Then have a good old knock-out quarters semis and finals...
This gives slightly weaker teams at another shot to topple stronger teams like SA and Aus (one more knockout match, u see)... What we get at the end of this is a real champion who has played 11-13 matches against quality opposition... facing more chances at elimination... Sounds fair, eh???

T
hat said and done; what transpired and followed after Paks defeat to Ireland is unacceptable. I strongly protest the killing of Woolmer. Games and sports, at the end of the day, are just that. If betting has gotten so big as to claim a coach's life then authorites need to wake up and take immediate action. I watch evry sport for the love of the game and I cannot digest that what I saw was all set up by the betting mafia. Totally untolerable, despicable crap...

Now the thing that hurt the most... This wasnt an under-talented Indian team going for the jugular. This probably was one of the strongest team in the past few years. SLightly cocky and arrogant but really good. Then what happened?
Well for starters they took Bangaladesh for granted... big mistake.. teams have reached the WC on basis of thr talent... Secodn mistake was the apparent lack of team spirit aided handsomely by the lack of motivation and zero game planning... As if this wasnt enuff of a recipe for disaster, we picked teams totally cluelessly with no focus on result driven tactics... No wonder we crashed out... Even if we had followed my suggested format it would have been a tough time getting to knock-out stage... Let be...

Now what hurt me the most.... The players didnt really seem hurt.. what thr face reflected ws unhappiness... The passion to perform was totally missin and the warmth of the advertising money was an able comforter in this disastrous tornado of losses... I hope I read it wrong cos if I didnt then we are virtually staring at a talent pool totally wasted by the excess of comfort provided without deservance....

Till I see some fire in this team again... I shall stay ashamed and disgusted about these folks.

Friday, March 09, 2007

World cup' 07....

Yea try as hard as I may; it just doesnt seem to die down... Evry four years, this mega crazy event drops in and I am bowled over by the prospect of my team being crowned World champs or atleast the dream that lasts for that time frame....

WORLD CUP CRICKET:
As much I hate to admit, I am glued to it 24/7 and no other games lights my fire like this one. I spend mundane hours watching cricket though only a part of it is really crazy exciting. I guess the personalities in the game make me watch it. Thats the only reason I have come up with so far and though I know its kinda lame... so what....Every mother in the world feels her kid is the best, dont they?

Well so how do I rate India's chances? If u ask me; I would say We are gonna win. Do i Believe this.. Honestly, my heart does but my brain says it wud be NZ crashing surprises all over.

As for the money end of it; If I know you personally and you wanna throw in your hat for any other final (my say is India-NZ); feel free to drop me a call and we can discuss the tabs.