I was not a big fan of sports. However since returning to India I have developed an interest in cricket.Where possible I watch the matches whenever the Indian team is playing. Like all arm chair specialists I do not hesitate to give my opinion on the incompetence of a fielder or a batter, even though I haven't the foggiest of what is a leg bye or a mid off or the difference between a googly ( a Google derivative perhaps ?) or a doosra. Whenever the Indian team collapses during batting as it did recently ( although it eventually won the match) I express my doubt as to whether the match has been fixed ?
Having watched these matches for almost five years I have noticed the following :
- In the past cricket in India was a middle and upper class sport played in the elitist schools, but now with its popularity it is now a common man's sport with the players coming from a broad spectrum of backgrounds all across India.
- How the country unites ( no issues of religion, language, regionalism - with the exception of the Shiv Sena occasionally playing the spoilsport) behind team India with Indian flags on shirts, faces, bodies leaving no doubt that it is a united India regardless of where the match is played.Bollywood movies are perhaps the only other unifying events. Perhaps one should start a party consisting of only Bollywood actors and cricket players. In the South of course the movie players have been very successful in transitioning from movies to politics.
- The ascendance of the Indian team to the top rung of the cricket teams in the world. This is partly driven by the financial clout of the Board of Cricket Control of India ( BCCI) which was also responsible for the cricket league in India called the Indian Premier League which perhaps should be relaunched as a reality show following the drama surrounding it over the last year and the rumored cash generated.
- The rise of the sports celebrity - particularly the cricket players who are now on par with the film stars and
get large amounts for product endorsements, are seen at openings of new stores, walking the fashion ramp
and of course on the society pages of the news papers.
- Of course in India you cannot have a good thing going without the politicians being involved, whether it is on the governing board or at the various matches commanding the best seats.
....................................................................................................
In yesterdays World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan, it was interesting to note the difference in style between the two captains . India's Dhoni was captain cool displaying no emotion during the pre-match or post match interviews or during the match itself. No signs of worry when things were not going the Indian way or showing any feel good emotions when things started to fall in place for his team. Pakistan's Afridi on the other hand wore his heart of his sleeve on all occasions. During the match you could see him encouraging, advising, and occasionally reprimanding his team players when they did not perform. As it became evident that Pakistan was about to loose, you could see him trying to hold back his tears. Post match he was gracious towards his team and his opponents.
....................................................................................................
Generally I am not into adulation of sports persons or movie stars or any such persons. However I do make a exception for Sachin Tendulkar. If there is one person who stands out in terms of total commitment,team player, and all around decent person, I do not think there is any other sportsman who comes close to Sachin.
A few years ago when he was going through a bad patch I used to express my frustration and felt that it was time for him to make a exit. He had achieved most sports men would have hoped to achieve in a lifetime.I was wrong.
With his dedication he has come back stronger and better. He is the rock on which the Indian team stabilizes . Time and time again, when the rock stars of cricket, the Sehwags and the Yuvrajs let their egos take the better of their performance and let the team down, Tendulkar never lets that happen. In the semi-finals against Pakistan, you could see from his face that it was requiring quite a lot of effort on his part to make the singles but he hung in there. His modesty and humility is well known. Unlike the old film star , who is way past his prime and who endorses anything from cement to hair oil , there are certain products which Tendulkar will not endorse based on his principles. You do not see him giving his opinion on political or economic events. He keeps a low profile when he is not playing. To misquote the words of a Mughal Emperor on Kashmir, I feel that if there is a all around Indian super star Sachin is it, Sachin is it, Sachin is it.
....................................................................................................
Finally as I said that you cannot keep politicians away from sports, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yet again took the opportunity of the semi-final to invite his Pakistani counterpart for a bit of cricket diplomacy. In this case perhaps the Urdu couplet which he had used as rebuttal to Sushma Swaraj ( the opposition leader) in Parliament, would be equally appropriate in his desire to put India and Pakistan on the path to peace, in spite of the various snubs and rejections he has received in the past .
“Maana ki teri deed keqaabil nahi hoon main; tu mera shouq to dekh, mera intezaar to dekh "
(I understand that I am not worthy of your gaze; but have a look at my keenness, have a look at my anticipation for you).
Hopefully his attempt will be rewarded this time.
Having watched these matches for almost five years I have noticed the following :
- In the past cricket in India was a middle and upper class sport played in the elitist schools, but now with its popularity it is now a common man's sport with the players coming from a broad spectrum of backgrounds all across India.
- How the country unites ( no issues of religion, language, regionalism - with the exception of the Shiv Sena occasionally playing the spoilsport) behind team India with Indian flags on shirts, faces, bodies leaving no doubt that it is a united India regardless of where the match is played.Bollywood movies are perhaps the only other unifying events. Perhaps one should start a party consisting of only Bollywood actors and cricket players. In the South of course the movie players have been very successful in transitioning from movies to politics.
- The ascendance of the Indian team to the top rung of the cricket teams in the world. This is partly driven by the financial clout of the Board of Cricket Control of India ( BCCI) which was also responsible for the cricket league in India called the Indian Premier League which perhaps should be relaunched as a reality show following the drama surrounding it over the last year and the rumored cash generated.
- The rise of the sports celebrity - particularly the cricket players who are now on par with the film stars and
get large amounts for product endorsements, are seen at openings of new stores, walking the fashion ramp
and of course on the society pages of the news papers.
- Of course in India you cannot have a good thing going without the politicians being involved, whether it is on the governing board or at the various matches commanding the best seats.
....................................................................................................
In yesterdays World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan, it was interesting to note the difference in style between the two captains . India's Dhoni was captain cool displaying no emotion during the pre-match or post match interviews or during the match itself. No signs of worry when things were not going the Indian way or showing any feel good emotions when things started to fall in place for his team. Pakistan's Afridi on the other hand wore his heart of his sleeve on all occasions. During the match you could see him encouraging, advising, and occasionally reprimanding his team players when they did not perform. As it became evident that Pakistan was about to loose, you could see him trying to hold back his tears. Post match he was gracious towards his team and his opponents.
....................................................................................................
Generally I am not into adulation of sports persons or movie stars or any such persons. However I do make a exception for Sachin Tendulkar. If there is one person who stands out in terms of total commitment,team player, and all around decent person, I do not think there is any other sportsman who comes close to Sachin.
A few years ago when he was going through a bad patch I used to express my frustration and felt that it was time for him to make a exit. He had achieved most sports men would have hoped to achieve in a lifetime.I was wrong.
With his dedication he has come back stronger and better. He is the rock on which the Indian team stabilizes . Time and time again, when the rock stars of cricket, the Sehwags and the Yuvrajs let their egos take the better of their performance and let the team down, Tendulkar never lets that happen. In the semi-finals against Pakistan, you could see from his face that it was requiring quite a lot of effort on his part to make the singles but he hung in there. His modesty and humility is well known. Unlike the old film star , who is way past his prime and who endorses anything from cement to hair oil , there are certain products which Tendulkar will not endorse based on his principles. You do not see him giving his opinion on political or economic events. He keeps a low profile when he is not playing. To misquote the words of a Mughal Emperor on Kashmir, I feel that if there is a all around Indian super star Sachin is it, Sachin is it, Sachin is it.
....................................................................................................
Finally as I said that you cannot keep politicians away from sports, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yet again took the opportunity of the semi-final to invite his Pakistani counterpart for a bit of cricket diplomacy. In this case perhaps the Urdu couplet which he had used as rebuttal to Sushma Swaraj ( the opposition leader) in Parliament, would be equally appropriate in his desire to put India and Pakistan on the path to peace, in spite of the various snubs and rejections he has received in the past .
“Maana ki teri deed keqaabil nahi hoon main; tu mera shouq to dekh, mera intezaar to dekh "
(I understand that I am not worthy of your gaze; but have a look at my keenness, have a look at my anticipation for you).
Hopefully his attempt will be rewarded this time.
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