West Indies cricket

The West Indies victory over Pakistan on Sunday was a lifesaver for the Caribbean team. If we had lost that match, after keeping the visitors at bay on the first day, and almost throwing it away on the second, leaving us with a sleepless night on the third, it would have been an absolute write-off for the Windies.

Walking through the plaza last weekend, I noticed that nobody was listening to the radio commentary. Stark contrast to earlier times when you could ask anyone, "What's the score?" and earphones would be plugged out to give a fulsome report on the run of play.

Cricket broadcasting serves to raise the level of excitement for the listening audience. We have been blessed with some first-class commentators who have the ability to paint a picture of what is happening on the field, as well as provide the most delightful snapshots of incidents over the boundary.

That magic moment when a truly great bowler starts his run-up is best described by the cricket seer John Arlott writing about one of Australia's greatest bowlers. "From two walking paces, Lindwall glides into the 13 running strides which have set the world a model for rhythmic gathering of momentum, for speed-giving power. Watching him approach the wicket, Sir Pelham Warner was once moved to murmur, 'Poetry.'"

The same for Michael Holding's silent, swift, superb motion as he ran towards the wicket. And who can forget the roar of excitement that always followed Wes Hall as he delivered the first ball from the southern end of Sabina Park?

Our gifted commentators delight in highlighting the peculiarities of the play and teasing our imagination. Ivan Barrow once told us, "It's a shorter ball and it has the batsman doing the hop, step and jump." Roy Lawrence gave us this infamous but delightful gaffe, "He scored six runs out of that over, five of which were singles." Not to speak of the naughty and irreverent mention made (was it by Arlott?) of the number of maidens being bowled all around the ground.

This morning, no matter how we have criticised the team and the West Indies Cricket Board, interest in the WI's fortunes has been revived, and faith and hope are burning in the hearts of cricket fans across the region. The realists will caution and make their sage predictions. They are right. But there is a little blip of optimism, and we have recharged our batteries, tuned the cable channels, phoned friends, and are on our way to, yet again, we know not what.

team spirit resurrected

I make no predictions for the second Test, but we are encouraged by the team spirit which has been resurrected by the clinical victory on Sunday, so ably executed and led by Captain Sammy. Let us hope that this time we don't seize defeat out of the jaws of victory.

Cricket, ah, cricket, once the balm of the troubled West Indian spirit. Those who continue to tinker with and juggle personalities in and out of the team at the expense of our winning ways need to understand what cricket has meant to the West Indian psyche. "What do they know of cricket who only cricket know?" quizzed C.L.R. James in his book, Beyond A Boundary. As we focus on the game and its technicalities, we tend to forget its use and contribution as an instrument of social transformation in West Indian development.

We continue to miss the boat by not utilising our sports achievements, models, stories and legends for nation building. Think of what it would do for Jamaica, and for cricket, especially at this moment of 'who-is-a-don' controversy, if we were to make George Headley a national hero.

His cricket record stands by itself, but it was his dignity, character, talents and selflessness that represented the hopes and aspirations of the masses, as we forged our way towards nationhood and independence. He has been singled out as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, cricketers that ever lived.

Lindell Wright and his new Jamaica Cricket Association board members may want to consider making the name of this icon the game-changer for Jamaica and West Indies cricket.

India’s new cricket coach-Fletcher

Fletcher, who captained Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup and played just six one-dayers during the African nation's pre-Test days, had mixed results as England coach. The high points of his career were England's Ashes triumph over Australia in the home series of 2005, England's first series win in West Indies in 36 years and the team earning the third spot in Test rankings. Fletcher was the first foreigner to coach England's cricket team. Known to be a task-master, he guided England to eight straight Test wins. The biggest moment came in 2005 when England bested a star-studded Australian team to win the Ashes for the first time since 1987. The Zimbabwean was honoured by Britain's Royalty with an OBE. But later, England's form slid and his performance came under the scanner. England managed to draw series in India and Pakistan but the 0-5 whitewash in the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia led to widespread criticism of Fletcher, who refused to step down at that stage. England's early exit from the 2007 World Cup forced him to quit. Fletcher, whose name was reportedly suggested to the BCCI by Kirsten himself, has a tough job on hands as the amiable South African has set a high benchmark and finished the stint with the World Cup win. With Kirsten at the helm, India reached the top of Test rankings and number two in the ODIs. He gave up the job to spend more time with his family.

Australian cricketers

While big money has come to dominate the game, it remains the diversion of choice for millions of fans in some of the world's poorest regions. For them, to borrow a sentiment from the great English football coach, Bill Shankley, cricket isn't a matter of life and death, it's more important than that. The truth of this is confirmed in Zimbabwe

As such, the proposed tour of the Australia A test cricket team to Zimbabwe in July looms as a shining light on the horizon for many of Zimbabwe's suffering population. It is true that our country still struggles to reconcile the notions of democracy with the atavistic remnants of dictatorship. No one is more frustrated and disappointed by such a situation than me. Yet, for this, we cannot punish the vast majority of Zimbabweans who look forward to the simple joy of watching top-class international cricket and whom, as was proven in the 2008 elections, support democracy.

In this light, attempts to force Australia out of the tour, coming from those within Australian cricket, are perplexing and damaging to the collective heart of most Zimbabweans. In fact, they are wrong. Many Zimbabweans, including myself, have the greatest admiration for the former Australian test player Stuart MacGill, and especially for the principled stance he took in 2004 to not tour Zimbabwe as a member of the Australian test squad. Then, the situation demanded such a response. He has now become the highest profile nay-sayer in regard to the up-coming tour. He is wrong.

Cricket in Zimbabwe is in a vastly improved state and the nation as a whole has made significant strides forward, despite hardliners within Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party who have caused such turmoil. While no one would argue that the situation in Zimbabwe is perfect, it is unrecognisably better than when MacGill chose not to tour. In many ways the situation in Zimbabwe is similar to pre and post-1990 South Africa. Before the release of Nelson Mandela, it was wholly inappropriate for sporting teams to have anything to do with the apartheid regime. After Mandela's release, however, it was entirely appropriate that, for example, an all-white test team should tour the West Indies in 1991, well before the conclusion of the transition to democracy.

At the time the South Africans toured the West Indies, South Africa was still in a very fragile state. The entire country was wracked by violence and was being ground in the machinations of extremists. The international community supported these tentative steps to reintegrate South Africans into international sport because it was recognised that sport could be a force for good and could help the country reconcile. Zimbabwe today is in a similar position. Our transition is fragile and uncertain. There are extremists who would like to derail the transitional government. But progress is being made, albeit slow. A constitutional reform process is under way, independent newspapers are back on the streets, health clinics are being refurbished, schools are reopen, the economy is stabilising, hyperinflation has been dealt with.

Finally, the issue of safety for such a touring party must be addressed. As I know from bitter personal experience, Zimbabwe can be a very dangerous place if one is a politician or activist opposed to Zanu PF. However, for most Zimbabweans and for those visiting Zimbabwe, the country is one of the most peaceful, violence-and-crime-free countries in the world. Zimbabwe is certainly far safer than India or South Africa, regular venues for Australian touring cricketers. We do not have the bomb threats India has and our crime levels are way below that of South Africa. The New Zealand ''A'' side toured Zimbabwe late last year and remarked how welcomed they were and how peaceful the country was.

Indeed, there is much to celebrate in today's Zimbabwe and there is is much to underpin the support of international sporting teams to aid in the process of further unifying the country via the ''soft'' nationalism of international sporting competition. People who have opposed Mugabe's Zanu-PF regime for decades such as Morgan Tsvangirai and myself have personally asked the international community to assist this fragile process through tours of this nature. Likewise, resolute campaigners for freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe, including well-known figures such as former Zimbabwean cricketers Henry Olonga, Heath Streak, Andy Flower (now the England cricket coach) and Alistair Campbell have all backed foreign tours to Zimbabwe. Have those who would seek to spurn all these efforts spoken to such experts regarding the role of cricket in Zimbabwe's progress to freedom?

Lifeline Match for Pakistan!

 

For Dr Sohail Saleem, the medical fitness expert of Pakistan cricket Board, the match felt like a lifeline for his beleaguered nation. For, that country has been in turmoil since 2009 in the arena of cricket. This victory could have become a face saver for Pakistan, diplomacy has triumphed. "This match was very crucial for us. Anyway, it will be an all-Asian final. Back home, everyone had lot of expectations as cricket and patriotism was almost synonymous." Hailing the Indian hospitality, he added, "We had been warmly greeted and given complimentary food right from Amritsar to Chandigarh."

Dr Saleem decided to stay at his hotel room, wearing his Team Pakistan T-shirt. He watched each bat-to-ball moment as he did not want to show his emotions to his team manager. "The defeat is acceptable as it is a game and the best team will take away the cup. But as a Pakistani, I feel disturbed." Streaks of hope interspersed in his comments, he said, "In the last world cup, we could not make it to the semi finals. This time, at least we have managed to elevate ourselves to this level."

Enlisting some data on the suicide rate in Pakistan in 2001, which has increased to manifold in 2010, the physician said, "The victory could have brought a smile on the face of our almost gloomy nation. Both natural calamities and terrorism have hit our country hard. Entering the finals could have provided some succour." Appreciating the decision of Shoaib Akhtar to retire before this match, Dr Saleem said, "Fast bowlers like him are prone to injuries. He took the right decision."

Lorgat reveals Cricket can bring India and Pakistan closer

 

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat hopes Wednesday's World Cup semifinal clash between India and Pakistan would bring the two countries closer. Cricket has again brought together the two countries, who have not played on each other's territory since the 26/11 Mumbai at tack.

Lorgat said he was delighted that cricket diplomacy has encouraged the two countries to come together. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh's invitation to witness the match. "There is nothing quite like nation versus nation cricket. But in Mohali there will be another massive factor that will add to the notion. I hope to see the mighty power of sport and the great spirit of cricket providing a platform for the two governments around this semifinal.

"Certain countries, when they play, it's romanticism, it's massive and wherever they play it's big, so we like to see cricket providing that platform for India and Pakistan. "Cricket diplomacy is better than no diplomacy," Lorgat said while addressing a press conference Monday at the Sri Lankan Press Club here on the future of the 50-over format. The Indian and Pakistani governments have often used cricket to improve relations. It was first in 1987 that then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had invited Pakistan president General Zia-ul-Haq to witness a Test match in Jaipur.

In 2005, at the invitation of Manmohan Singh, Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf had visited Delhi to watch an India-Pakistan one-dayer. Lorgat also reiterated that the success of the 50-over format has given a new lease of life to the shorter format of the game. "The more we talked of a game in crisis the more we created the crisis and more it fuelled the talk of doom and despondency," Lorgat said. "And all the time there was no real evidence of crisis." He said ICC's market reasearch on the game will surprise everyone.

"We tested five key markets to look at trends around the three international forms of the game--Test, 50 overs and Twenty20 cricket," he said. "The result were interesting to say the least. Some might even find them hard to believe. What it has showed is that the fans still have an apetite for the 50-over format. "A total of 676 million people in the five markets, England, New Zealand, India, South Africa and Bangladesh expressed not just an interest but a passion for the ODIs."

Murali changes from match-saving to nation-saving

 

As his cricketing career winds down, Sri Lanka's superstar Muttiah Muralitharan, the man who can spin a cricket ball like magic, is turning his sights on dragging war-shattered youngsters out of poverty and nurturing the country's next generation of athletes. Who else but Murali, as he's known to the whole country, could persuade the Sri Lankan president to donate a 50-acre parcel of land in the northern region that has been devastated by 20 years of civil war.

But Murali hasn't given up on cricket yet. He's hoping for two more games in the next few days to bring the World Cup home. "We have a good team with good ability but we're also going to need some luck," Murali said after a day spent touring the project. Murali got up early for the helicopter trip from Colombo a few hours after helping Sri Lanka beat England and qualify for the World Cup semifinal.

With his 39th birthday coming up next month, Muralitharan is counting down the days to his retirement from all cricket, which will happen at the end of Sri Lanka's World Cup campaign. Struggling for fitness, he is determined to play in Tuesday's semifinal against New Zealand in Colombo and then possibly the final in Mumbai. Muralitharan took 800 test wickets and carried on a rivalry with Australian spinner Shane Warne for several years over who was the better bowler before the Sri Lankan retired from the five-day format last year.

Muralitharan outlasted Warne, but both men now co-operate on development projects. Now only a maximum of two ODIs remain to cap his career. But the disasters that have struck Sri Lanka, civil war and then a tsunami that killed more than 30,000 people in 2004, have thrust Murali to the forefront of global efforts to raise money to lift Sri Lankans out of poverty — and cricket is often the best currency to use. "Cricket is the most important game in this part of the world," he told a news conference Sunday held to announce a $5 million project to build a new school as well as a "Learning and Empowerment Institute," which will include sport.

On Sunday, Murali was accompanied by his friend and former cricketing foe Sir Ian Botham, who has joined the project, for a tour over the land near the northern town of Mankulam, ravaged by the war that ended in 2009. The land dedicated to the new centre first has to be cleared of explosives, Murali said. Botham said it was "mind-blowing" to see the extent of devastation left behind in northern Sri Lanka. High-profile cricketers like Botham, ex-England captain Michael Vaughan and Australians Steve Waugh and Warne have been major contributors to the project, which has seen one centre already built in the south of the country that was ruined by the tsunami.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, also a supporter of the charity, said Muralitharan had been an advocate of ethnic harmony in a country often divided between Tamils and the majority ethnic Sinhalese people. Murali is a Tamil. "Cricket is a social panacea in Sri Lanka and Murali is an icon, not just as a cricketer but as an advocate of racial harmony," Sangakkara said. The centre already built in the south of Sri Lanka had become "a vibrant hub," Sangakkara said.

Sri Lankan government forces, dominated by the Sinhalese, are suspected of shelling that killed thousands of minority Tamil civilians, and the Tamil rebels are suspected of using civilians as human shields. Amnesty International says between 7,000 and 40,000 are estimated to have died in the final five months of the conflict.

Nike introduces 'Bleed Blue Pledge,'

 

Today Nike announced the release of “Bleed Blue Pledge,” a new ad campaign where the pride, passion, and fearless soul of Indian cricket brought to life through the voice of the elite athletes of Team India. During the 60-second ad the members of the Indian Cricket Team articulate the passion for cricket in this country, pulling back the curtain long enough for the viewer to witness how the game is played, loved and revered from the perspective of the athlete.

“Bleed Blue Pledge” is not just the voice of the professional athletes who play the game; it’s the voice of the sport as it exists inside the hearts and minds of millions of Indian fans and players. In India, the cricket that’s played in the streets of the cities gives birth to the cricket played on the fields of the stadiums. In turn, the dreams held by the streets are inspired by the realities of the arena. It is this reciprocal relationship that leads to the edicts of “Bleed Blue”, words that have become more like codes of honor to Team India and the fans that support them.

Meshed with scenes of real match play, “Bleed Blue Pledge” features elite cricket athletes like Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, S. Sreesanth, Sachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir describing the tenets of their game. They dominate to the point where their opponents fear them. They approach the game head on. They break boundaries and achieve dreams. They banish fear, pain, and most of all: excuses. They give their heart and soul to the game of cricket, understanding that they are not only representing their team, but that they are speaking for entire nations who have become unified by a common love.

“There is no better voices to speak to the fervor and love for cricket held by this nation than those of the incredible athletes of Team India,” said Sanjay Gangopadhyay, Marketing Director, Nike India Pvt. Ltd., “’Bleed Blue Pledge’ is unique because it allows these players to express their passion and commitment to the game in their own words. They are testifying to what they believe in. And their beliefs come from the pride and culture of India. This ad  demonstrates Nike’s deep connection to the sport, and to Team India, because there is no script. This is their moment to talk about their game.”

By utilizing both social and broadcast media, “Bleed Blue Pledge” will reach millions of India’s devoted cricket fans and allow them to share their passion for the sport/team. The teaser makes its world premiere March 23, 2011 on Nike’s Cricket Facebook page. The broadcast premiere of the spot then takes place during quarterfinal play on ESPN, the next day, March 24, 2011. The spot will also air on Star Sports, Star Cricket, and other sport, entertainment, and news channels.

The commercial was created by JWT of Bangalore, India and can be viewed on the Nike Cricket Facebook page (http://facebook.com/nikecricket).

“Bleed Blue Pledge” marks the latest opportunity for fans to “Bleed Blue” in support of Team India.  “Bleed Blue,” Nike’s current cricket brand campaign, brings to life the passion and obsession for the sport shared by Team India’s players and their fans through consumer events, grassroots outreach, and social networking. “Bleed Blue” has encapsulated the fervor for cricket in India by collecting over 11 million handprints via an innovative digital and events campaign that asked fans to express their loyalty to the team by simply marking their handprint in blue. Fans were then able to post their unique handprint to their Facebook page to share with friends and with India’s men in Blue.

Fans can continue to “Bleed Blue” and follow the latest on Team India through Nike’s YouTube channel (http://youtube.com/user/nikeindia) featuring candid interviews with Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, and Sreesanth and through the Nike Cricket Facebook page.

As the sporting world prepares for cricket to enter quarter final round play, Team India will be seen sporting Nike’s Considered team kits made from recycled plastic bottles. Nike, the official apparel sponsor for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), introduced its considered design ethos in Team India’s game day apparel in September 2010. The team began wearing this kit for the first time on pitch this spring.

Cricket World Cup

 

If ever there was an advert needed for 50-over cricket then the 2011 World Cup (so far) is most certainly it. The group stage has lasted a month but has come and gone relatively quickly, showing no signs of the major fatigue suffered back in 2007. What’s more is that we now head straight into the knockout stages, rather than the usual group stage re-run we used to get in the form of the Super 8 stage. There has been no shortage of thrillers, with England usually being the main protagonists in them.

A major talking point at these tournaments is always whether the associate nations (in this case: Ireland, Kenya, The Netherlands and Canada) manage to justify their inclusion alongside cricket’s Test playing nations. Now more than ever they need to prove their worth with the ICC having decided to cut the number of teams at the 2015 World Cup from 14 to 10, effectively leaving space for only one associate nation. Unfortunately all four teams, as well as Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, have now been knocked out, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t had their moments. The undoubted highlight for the minnows was Ireland’s emphatic win over England. Chasing a daunting total of 327, Ireland were staring down the barrel of defeat at 111 for 5. But then, Kevin O’Brien, The Jolly Green Giant, stepped up and ruthlessly blasted and blundered England’s bowlers around the park, scoring 113 runs off 63 balls – the fastest in world cup history. Aside from that, none of the associates managed to clock a win against a high ranked team, although Ireland did come mightily close a couple of times. And apart from O’Brien, Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate was the only other player who really stood out; scoring two hundreds and taking a handful of wickets, it seems he is perhaps too good for his own country.

So far there have been some big surprises, as well as some not so big surprises. For example, Pakistan have been surprisingly consistent. In the wake of spot fixing hearings and player sanctions they have showed the world just how dangerous they can be, topping their group with only one defeat and achieving the feat of dealing Australia their first world cup loss since 1999. Unsurprisingly, Australia failed to return to their best. Most of their wins were laboured affairs and they were they only team who failed to bowl Kenya out. Other things that happened according to expectations were that South Africa choked, Sachin Tendulkar scored big runs in front of big crowds and England lost their easy games but won their important ones.

Aside from one rather ugly incident when the West Indies team bus was stoned by Bangladeshi fans who were less than happy with the heavy defeat that the Windies had dealt their team, the tournament has otherwise run very smoothly. All things considered, what we’ve seen so far points to what will hopefully be the most unpredictable and exciting finale the cricket world cup has ever seen.

Cricket wants to conserve its arrogance

 

Masquerading so called noble causes is a popular occupation these days. One such noble cause is the dictum of spreading the game far and wide, to corners of the world where people are oblivious to its charm. And of course what better than that sport's marquee event as the perfect stage to invite newer audiences in and ask them to make an initial investment.

How dare then the cynic asks if it damages the notion of a world cup to have contests of such low intensity and value. Must a sport condemn its devoted followers to seek delight in woeful practitioners of skills they relish and revere? Must the prospect of Afghanistan playing Papua new Guinea in a worthy cricket match sometime in the future be reason to enough to endure what this world cup has just vomited on its core support base?

For the record, in the group phase of this tournament there were 19 matches involving a non Test playing nation against a full ICC member country. One of those, Ireland vs England, ended in victory for the underdog. Consider the others. 3 ended in wins by 7 wickets or more. Six others by 5 or 6 wickets. 6 ended in wins by over 100 runs, 4 of those by over 200 runs; the equivalent of an innings defeat in a Test match. Almost every time Canada batted, the ambition was to somehow play out 50 overs, the scoreboard and by extension those watching on the ground or on Television were of little relevance. The only aspect of Kenya's cricket that was more shocking than their playing ability was the hair do's of some of its players. Netherlands were a two batsman team, both of whom had little else Dutch about them other than their second passports. The Irish were a whiff of fragrant fresh air but is that reason enough for the others to stay on?

Cricket in its design is an arrogant sport. And draws its strength from that arrogance. Unlike football, it offers nuanced engagement and not instant rewards to its fan. Unlike Tennis, there is no hook such as the constant turning over of the scoreboard. Unlike Golf, it expects players to challenge themselves not just against the elements but against each other too. Cricket tickles curiosity about events that may occur hours, maybe even days later. It is the premise of the sport. To expect that notion to seep into the minds of sports fans around the globe is foolish and laced with danger. It is why I believe Cricket must battle hard to preserve its arrogance so that in territories where it has traditionally flourished, its following isn't eroded.

Television is the platform that delivers cricket, with all its inherent arrogance, to its consumer. That consumer in India, England, Australia, Pakistan and the rest of the cricketing globe is easily distracted these days. At the push of a button, the best footballers in the world offer instant nirvana. Or the fastest car drivers in the world seduce him with daredevilry and speed. So on a Sunday afternoon, how do we ensure cricket remains his devotion? By asking him to watch Kenya vs Australia? Or Canada vs New Zealand? Exactly what this World Cup scheduled one Sunday and expected its audiences to endure.

Isn't it amusing to make the argument for Canadian cricket when its players answer to names Hansara, Bagai, Rao and Osinde. Its all very well to report on a lad from Ludhiana who has had a childhood dream realised by playing a World Cup. But we must also ask if he had stayed in Ludhiana would he have made Punjab's second XI for the Ranji trophy? Can a team that arrives at a game with the sole purpose to minimise the margin of defeat be expected to offer a spectacle? Without the prospect of a spectacle, modern sport is nothing but an exercise in futility and fodder for those who seek refuge in canards such as 'development' and 'growth'.

In fact, few sports allow their marquee events to be devalued by the presence of such mediocrity. Football's World Cup features 32 countries but requires fierce competition in various regions of the world before you can play alongside the elite. That is why when New Zealand shows up at a World Cup it can draw three games. It is why Russia missed the last World Cup. A Grand Slam Tennis tournament saves up wild cards for some local talent but the qualifiers are a dog fight. Even to reach those qualifiers requires a certain level of ranking points. There are no freebies. And here is cricket, doling out spots to 4 teams when below the top notch those are perhaps the only teams who have any playing pedigree. It is a sham.

For all its floundering, the ICC have the right formula for future world cups. Let a qualifying competition become the World Cup before the World Cup. Let the 9 Test playing nations qualify directly because they belong to the heritage of a small sport and keep it vibrant by playing against each other regularly. The other 6 including Zimbabwe battle for one spot. That tournament can end two days before the world cup opener so it has context and a curious TV audience. The winner can celebrate its place with the big boys and the losers can spare us the agony. It will allow a tighter, leaner and more equal world cup and do no further damage to a format that is battling for legitimacy. As for the moping minnows, let them have the T20 World Cup to aspire to. After all, no one lets India into the football World Cup just because we really think it will be good for the 'development' of the game here!

An arrogant game needs saving from the do-gooders who are intent on foisting mediocrity upon us.

Bangladesh cricket cultivates on Australian model

 

Bangladesh may have left their supporters heartbroken by crashing out of the cricket World Cup, but no one can doubt the team's improved performance over the years. And here lies an Australian connection. A team which once went winless in 46 ODIs at a stretch and took 13 years to get their first limited overs victory over a Test playing nation, have now reached a position where their supporters expect them to put it across the strongest of opponents. And that they can do at times. India and South Africa found to their peril in the 2007 World Cup and England were at the receiving end in the current event.

Ahead of the World Cup, Bangladesh crushed New Zealand 4-0, humbled Zimbabwe 3-1 and gave England a fright before going down 1-2 in an away series. The game's authorities in Bangladesh attribute much of the improvement in the team's standards to a systematic development programme that is in place. In 2007, the country's cricket board signed a landmark treaty with its Australian counterpart. Before that, Cricket Australia had been providing training to young Bangladeshi cricketers under Australian coaches.

"After the 2007 pact, Cricket Australia trained Bangladeshi coaches, helped the BCB ( Bangladesh Cricket Board) prepare a coaching manual, set up an umpires' management system and trained young players at Australian academies. CA experts and coaches came to Bangladesh while two promising youngsters went to Australia for training every year," said BCB media manager Rabeed Imam. "Our development programme is totally based on the Australian model. We fast-tracked the process of graduation from the youth level," Imam said.

Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim and pacer Shafiul Islam are products of the development programme run under the supervision of a high performance unit. "We also gave more prominence to talent hunting," said BCB's acting national manager of game development, Nazmul Abedin Fahim. In 2003, BCB roped in former Australian cricketer Dav Whatmore as the national coach. "He was a great motivator. He helped the players come out of their defeatist mentality," Imam pointed out.

Under Whatmore, Bangladesh won their first Test match and series overpowering Zimbabwe, defeated India in an ODI, and pulled off a big upset victory over World champions Australia in the NatWest series. Then followed the 2007 World Cup wins against India and South Africa, and Bangladesh had announced to the world they could not be taken for granted. Meanwhile, Shaun Willams was appointed as the national manager of game development and went on to play a key role with the Under-19 and A teams. He took over as coach in 2007 after Whatmore stepped down.

"After the initial successes, the mentality of the players also began changing. The earlier players were only looking forward to doing well in local cricket. Then came a time when we had cricketers whose focus was doing well in Test cricket. And now we have a generation who think they can beat the best in the world," said Imam.

Side by side, the school cricket structure was made more organised with the BCB lending strong support. "Now we have 540 schools spread over all our 64 districts taking part in the Under-16 school cricket. Matches are 50-over one-dayers. Every year we arrange for training of the participants," said BCB deputy manager for game development Sharif Mahmud Palash. The best of talent from the schools play in the inter-district Under-16 tournament, from where they are spotted by the clubs for league cricket. The BCB also runs Under-14 and Under-18 tournaments which serve as supply lines for the senior level.

All these steps, coupled with the successes of the national team, have helped in expanding the players' base. Bangladesh now has over 30,000 registered players in the school and league levels. Besides, there are 300 licensed coaches, said the BCB's Fahim. Imam also referred to the state-run Bangladesh Krira Siksha Pratishthan, (BKSP), the national institue of sports, which runs its own grooming programme for young talent.

Naimur Rahman, who led Bangladesh in the nation's first ever Test match in 2000, belongs to the first group of cricketers who passed out from the BKSP, said Imam - himself a member of the same batch. However, inconsistencies are there and big gaps still have to be filled. The batting folded up for a pathetic 58 against the West Indies and a miserable 78 against South Africa in the current World Cup, showing a lot more needs to be done.

"The BCB is dong well. They are organising good training for all departments of the game - batting, bowling and fielding. Now we have to plan for the next five years. We need to look ahead," said former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud.

Re-laucnh of Kenya cricket league

 

Cricket Kenya is re-launching national league involving eight top teams drawn from Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru. The CK chief executive officer, Tom Sears, on Wednesday said that the league will be played in two formats, 60 and Twenty20 overs.

He said that to make it competitive, all the national players will be evenly spread out and that a number of professional players from the sub-continent will also be brought in.

New league

He also said that all the under-19 players will be featured in the tournament and that they were also approaching Uganda to an aim of getting them to be part of the new league. Sears said that they have had fruitful discussions with Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association whom they are asking to reschedule their league, which has been traditionally played around the same period.

The NPCA league has been the most important event in the country. In the 1990s Kenya’s domestic attracted quality players from India and Pakistan who played a major role in uplifting the standards of the game in the country. Those players included Sandip Patil and Bawilder Singh Balu who were part of the India 1983 World Cup winning.

Historic semi-final

Patil later become the national team coach and he took Kenya to a historic semi final at the 2023 World Cup in South Africa. Sears said that the success of their new event will determine how soon the first class games would be introduced in the country.

Recommendations for introduction of a longer version league have come from may people including former coach, Roger Harper, the late Bob Woolmer, when he was the ICC High Performance manager. With the introduction of the new league format, there will be light at the end of the tunnel for Kenyan cricket. Kenya play their last match at the world cup against Zimbabwe on Sunday.

As for Balu, he introduced a triangular junior event with David Waters, the then NPCA secretary which involved players from Kenya, India and United Kingdom.

Ranbir needs Big B, Aamir and Hrithik for his cricket team

 

With the cricket fever griping and escalating across every soul in the nation, Bollywood celebs seem to have become infectiously rooted on this sporting passion that some of them even manage to take out time to catch a glimpse of the matches. One Bollywood celeb who has lately been showing spirited interest in the sport like his industry counterparts is the heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor.

The actor quite lately is having an unwavering love for cricket after participating in a few celebrity matches. In a recent interview, when asked to choose the most enterprising players from Bollywood for the cricket team, Ranbir surprisingly pitched for Amitabh, Aamir and Hrithik. “The three players who have to be on a cricket team are Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan,” stated Ranbir.

Ranbir charts out positions for three stars

Ranbir believes that these three actors can bring magic and the much elusive victory to the cricket team with their capabilities. Giving them interesting field responsibilities, Ranbir stated that he will put Amitabh near the boundary, since he is tall and won’t have a problem catching all the sixes.

Commenting on Aamir, he added that since the actor is great at analyzing and studying every situation he would be perfect as a wicket keeper. However, while giving a position for Hrithik, Ranbir said that the ‘Guzaarish’ actor has to be a bowler on the field, since he’s quite swift and easy and can certainly baffle any batsmen.

Ranbir campaigns for sports

Ranbir who has been chosen as a brand ambassador for Fit India Movement will be campaigning to promote sports in schools and will also be making it a career. Fit India Movement, a campaign started by NDTV and Nirmal Lifestyle, is an initiative that aims to bring out talents in sports. For this initiative, Ranbir would be campaigning in schools across the nation.

Ranbir, who launched the first phase of this campaign ‘Marks For Sports’ in Delhi, entered the venue on a bicycle and spoke at length about the campaign. "It all begins at the school level and Marks for Sports is a campaign that will help discover the talent that our children have and sports teaches you so much. Other than making you fit, it teaches you discipline, motivation and team spirit,” stated the young Kapoor.

Talking about his favorite sport, Ranbir said that he had always loved football, but unfortunately, nobody had been there to guide him to take it up as a career.

Indian team rejects practice session

Team India skipped a practice session here at the IIT Chemplast Cricket Ground yesterday. There was a blank reaction from Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) officials who were unaware of the reason cited by the team to call off the session that was scheduled for 1600 hrs. No reason was given nor was anyone in the Indian camp available for comment.

India manager Ranjib Biswal was unable to elaborate on the issue. When MiD DAY called him in the afternoon to confirm, he said: "Yes, the session has been cancelled." When asked the reason, he said: "It's just cancelled," but did not comment further. Later, in the evening, his phone was powered off. A top Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official said that he was not aware of this, and that he would find out the reason.

"We haven't been informed about this, but we will definitely look into the issue," he said. Local media liaison RN Baba, who had made transport arrangements for the media to commute from Chepauk to IIT, said he was not given any reason by the team. "All we have been told is that it's cancelled. I am not aware of the reasons. We are trying to find out," he said. A source close to ICC said that the organisers were displeased with repeated delays and inconsistent schedules of the Indian team.

"They (ICC) are a little perplexed with this scenario. No other team has delayed sessions more than India. It's irregular behaviour," he said. Last week, at the Feroz Shah Kotla, skipper MS Dhoni said his team preferred to train in the evening, having delayed a session that was due to begin at 1000 hrs. Even the ICC media officials were unaware of the change in plan until the last minute.  Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir will join the team today while coach Gary Kirsten joined the squad yesterday. The rest of the team arrived here from Nagpur on Monday night.

India have played five games having won three, tied one and lost one.  They currently lie second in Group B, behind South Africa to whom they lost in a thriller at Nagpur on Saturday. Dhoni's men play their final group game here against West Indies on March 20.

Solar rotate to cricket viewing

Until two years ago, villagers from Kendrapada had never seen light after dark, unless it came from the moon. Then, solar light arrived and changed everything. Today, thanks to light energy captured from the sun, at least ten remote seaside villages of the district will be able to watch the ICC World Cup 2011 live on television. These villages Bagapatia, Okilapala, Ahirajpur, Banipal, Deulasahi, Rangani, and Talachua under Rajnagar block in Kendrapada started getting electricity throughout the night through solar energy with the efforts of Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) of New Delhi.

"TERI, through its programme Light a Billion Lives' provided solar light to villages with a population of about 12,000. The institute spent Rs 2.70 lakh to provide solar light to each village by constructing solar panels with the help of villagers," said Jagabandhu Nayak, former chairman of Rajnagar block. Apart from TERI, the state government also provided solar lights at subsidized rates to many remote seaside villages in Kendrapada. Two years ago, villagers used to depend on kerosene oil-lit lamps to read. Watching television was a dream for them. But solar light transformed these villages to such an extent that they can now watch television at night.

Some of the villagers have installed special DTH antennas and solar panels at a cost of about Rs 3,000 each in order to watch the cricket matches that are telecast on private channels. "The only channel we could watch after the arrival of solar light two years ago was Doordarshan. But the craze of the cricket World Cup compelled us to install special DTH antennas at an extra cost so we can watch the matches," smiled Madn Jena (32), of Banipal village.

The entire nation is in the grip of World Cup fever and people across cities and towns have been glued to their TV sets since the matches kicked off. But power cuts are a way of life in India and cricket fans are often unable to watch the matches because of this problem. In the villages that rely on solar power, however, people are watching TV without any interruptions because there are no power cuts.

There are no proper roads connecting most of the villages. But now they are watching the World Cup live on TV. "I watched the match between Bangladesh and England last night. We were very happy that Bangladesh won," said Arjun Mandal (62) of Batighar village. The villagers cheer their favourite teams and cricketers. As of yet , only 60 people have installed DTH and so large numbers of villagers gather in the houses of DTH TV owners to watch the World Cup matches. "I have placed my television set in the veranda to allow my fellow villagers to watch the matches," said Arabinda Manna of Batighar.

"Many youths of our villages are watching World Cup cricket for the first time and they seem to be loving the game. They have become completely cricket crazy," said Manas Nayak of Okilapala. Although all the villages support India, they are divided when it comes to the other teams. Bangladesh is the most popular team among the immigrants from the country who settled in the remote seaside villages of the district long ago. South Africa, England and Australia are also hot favourites with many villagers. "I felt sorry when South Africa was beaten by England a few days ago," said Madhu Nayak, a fan of the SA team, of Kansarbadadandua village.