It’s just not cricket on the Net

With user identities like Falco9, Leonine, sheikh-of-tweak, zeeman05, Donga81, biochem-lab, and even sanath-jayasurya, it is impossible, of course, to know who is really who. But let something even vaguely provocative be said about the Indian or the Pakistani team, and the modest ones will be forced to log out.

A chat going by the name of the-fastest-one, a supporter of the Indian team, was particularly nasty. On one occasion, when this reporter logged on, the-fastest-one became so creative that several other chatters sent out messages asking "everyone to ignore the-fastest-one".But zeeman08, a Pakistan fan, matched the-fastest-one’s filthy word for filthy word. And both seemed to be relishing it.

Perhaps the mildest comments exchanged by chatters were, You Indians are bullshit’, Come on Aussies! Come on!’, Sachin is the best’, Any takers for Shoaib’, and the like.

There are groups of supporters for Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, and other teams, too. When the war of words is on, they join up and spur each other to new heights of invective, at the same time provoking the others to do their worst.

Some Ahmedabad teenagers who were thinking of spending some time bantering about cricket were shocked. Says Rinish Shekhani, "The verbal war is on for the last five days. And it’s dirty!"

While compulsive punters use the Internet for placing their cricketing bets, this other group indulges itself with filthy abuse. Not surprising then that witty exchanges are rare.