Turned over a new leaf today.....

I dunno where to begin and what to write, rather what not to write because so many thoughts are circling in my head.. Bob Woolmer dead! - splashed across all TV channels today and the first news on New Year's was this :( Terrible is how I felt, for the man who died was no ordinary one in the game of cricket. He was an icon,a coach who founded a concept,new to the cricket world, one of systematic,methodical,analytical approach to bettering cricketers and their careers and the sport as a whole.

Two days ago,India lost to Bangladesh at the word go. To see a young Bangladesh enjoy the fall of an Indian batsmen(supposedly the best in the world),not once but multiple times over,in quick succession,reminded me of a young Pakistan years ago,the difference simply being that this time around, it was the Pakistan on the eastern side. It was the same fervour and fire within to be the best on that day, I have seen in the eyes of a Miandad or an Akram ages ago.

On the same day,a bigger tragedy struck. Pakistan lost to Ireland,thus losing their honor, chances in WC and above all ,a fantastic coach! Pakistan lost in the real sense because even today, many of us rate them as the potential danger unit in this game. Until now, we did. Today,things are different. Neither do they possess the ability to fight back like they did in 1992 and lift the cup,nor do we possess the ability to meet them in a semi/quarter final World Cup match,a virtual final for any Indian or Pakistani cricket fan..In short, we both lost!,as the papers said, together we lose... :)

Who is to blame ? No one,because after all this is a game and in sports such things happen. Everyone, because it is we (collectively fans,media and general public) who hyped up this game and turned it into a lucrative business. Vishwanathan Anand has done India proud just at the time when a Tendulkar or a Dravid or a Sehwag has let us down. Yet we don't care. Our hockey team is treated like s*** outside because we dont provide them with enough gear and support. It is we, who let noodle straps interfere with an in-depth analysis post-match, by experts. We are the ones who enjoy casual,double-meaning comments spawned by a mediocre cricketer and term it 'Siddhuism', while an Imran sits helplessly waiting for his turn to mouth some genuine cricketing ideas.Mandira Bedi or Sidhu is not a personal target but it is unbearable to see professionalism being replaced by mediocrity, class replaced by common, the gentleman replaced by a rogue..And we are responsible!

In a way am glad this happened. WC 2007 is a moment afterall and 4 years down the line there will be another WC and life will move on.. Bob Woolmer will receive his sympathies and tributes and Pakistan will get a different coach. Flintoff will probably quit drinking or quit playing, depending on which is more important. India's loss will be forgotten in a day or two hopefully, if we get back into the groove after this jolt ( we Indians need a slap afterall to realize ! ) or if India go the Pak way, we will all get back to normal within one week of frenzied media hoopla,someone will lift the World Cup and that someone appears to wear yellow...( form is of no consequence when u are damn lucky!)

What will change will the be the attitude of cricket fans, I hope. As I can speak for myself, I will venture to write down my new resolutions with respect to this game, hoping that every cricket fan will extrapolate this.

1. Cricket is a game, just as much as chess, tennis or hockey is.
2. Sachin is no God, he is a class player, nearing his retirement and having played enough takes it easy many a time, so it is time for me to move on beyond him.
3. Dravid is an excellent sportsman but he might be a better coach than a captain.
4. From now on, I shall watch every match India plays ( in Hockey ofcourse), atleast attempt at understanding Indian Hockey.
5. Bangladesh and Ireland are upcoming teams and it will be interesting to watch their growth in the years to come.
6. I will try to watch cricket matches telcast on DD rather than Sony Max for the simple reason that I can watch the complete over and also the wickie walking half-way across, however bad the transmission is.
7. I will not buy Pepsi,Coke,Anchor switch,toothpaste,jam,shoes,Bournvita,Boost ,anything that is endorsed by the Men in Blue.
8. I will no longer consider a day off for an India-Pak match,rather will want to watch an Ind-Bermuda or a Ind-Ireland in the future. Or Bangladesh ofcourse...
9. I will not bribe God during an Ind-Pak match :)
10. I vow to be a sports fan rather than a cricket fan,taking every game with a pinch of salt and a spirit of sportsmanship..

May the best team win WC 2007..

P.S :- My previous blogs on cricket stand null and void :)