I refuse to believe there was ever an expert on cricket. Still, some of us would like to believe cricket followers in the sub-continent are as naive as the voters who keep falling in the traps well laid out by our puckish politicians. Believe it or not, there is a lot in common between our devil-may-care politicians and our power-hungry cricket officials. In both cases, national interests invariably revolve around commercial visions, goal orientation is the last priority.How does one explain the pulling down of Vajpayee government for little logic? Or the disaster of Indian cricket in the World Cup?Let us observe some of the comments after India failed to reach the semi-finals. Azhar says, "I am still enjoying my cricket." Now, tell me, at whose expense? The Indian skipper's batting average in the World Cup was the same as Srinath's bowling average. The number of bad strokes Azhar played in the competition was embarrassing. His indisciplined batting, reminded one of Kapil Dev's outrageous strokeagainst England at the Kotla in '84 which coast India the Test match. India's greatest all-rounder was put on the match well and truly. It is amazing no such move has occurred to anybody in the Indian cricket board, vis-a-vis Azhar's batting. If anything, there are many sympathisers for Azhar. In effect, they are only trying to save their own skin, in my estimation. My solitary prediction was that Azhar would not return with all his colleagues. He even managed to keep company with the team coach and also some of the famed members, who form the nucleus of of the team.Azhar also managed to get a certificate of merit from the president of the board. "I find nothing wrong with Indian captaincy," Raj Singh Dungarpur opined. How I wish Dungarpur had elaborated on the "rights" with Indian leadership.I reckon India's sole target was to get into the Super Six. Beyond that, the vision was criminally blurred. Obviously, the focus and motivation part and the many prayers and good luck functions ended in a lot ofun-fulfilled cupidity.You can't just spring forward and fall back, and yet give the impression of purposeful planners.If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort. In that area too, Indians were found wanting, rather sheepishly.Against New Zealand in the final game, the Indians were expected to keep their self-esteem as high and far as possible. But how poorly they caved in to a side, which made one semi-final a big mockery.I have no doubts in my mind that a few heads must roll. Like Azhar, who ought to look within and not outside at his critics, Gaekwad and Dr Chadha too have had their share of PR trips. Tendulkar, Ganguly and Dravid should put their heads together to own the responsibility of Indian batting. Ditto for the Karnataka bowling trio. Mongia needs competition ever so badly to remain on his toes. The board could do with some accountability and transparency within its ranks. Please, let us not allow our cricket to go the political route. Thanks!
