Mindgames or Foot in mouth?

Jubilant over the result, at least two of the leading Pakistani newspapers have raked up a controversy over the eleventh-hour selection of A...

Jubilant over the result, at least two of the leading Pakistani newspapers have raked up a controversy over the eleventh-hour selection of Ashish Nehra in the starting line-up, saying that India captain Saurav Ganguly was playing ‘‘mind games’’ with the Pakistanis. Choosing not to get into an argument, Ganguly has stated that the recovery was possible because Nehra responded well to treatment and that vice captain Rahul Dravid’s statement the day before was not with any malicious intent

INDIA PLAYING MIND GAMES: THE NEWS
‘‘Fired up Pakistan avenge Karachi defeat’’ was how the newspaper flashed the story, but published a corresponding story highlighting Nehra’s ‘‘surprise’’ selection. ‘‘India playing mind games’’ read the headline of the story in the newspaper, suggesting that the it was a surprise ‘‘to see Nehra figuring in the final eleven half an hour before the match’’.

‘‘One wonders what kind of medicine the Indian team has invented that saw Nehra getting fit in hours rather than days. Obviously, Nehra was in a position to play the second one-dayer and declaring him unfit a day earlier was just a stunt that aims at playing with the minds of opponents. The Indian camp must have wanted to add an element of surprise as a tool to trap the opponents off guard,’’ the paper screamed, adding that it created a ‘‘cheap’’ impression about the visitors.

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The paper added that the Pakistan team should mentally prepare for more such ‘‘misguided missiles’’ from the Indian camp, and that ‘‘Nehra is the only bowler of some substance in the Indian side. He proved that in the first one-dayer at Karachi and here in Rawalpindi. He has the ability to keep a check on the batsmen and the Indian camp definitely picked the right man to play with the nerves of the opponents.’’

THE TRICK BACKFIRED: THE NATION
‘‘Indian trick turns into reality as Nehra is out for a week’’ is how this newspaper chose to mock the Indian team. Claiming that the ‘‘trick’’ had backfired, the newspaper said, ‘‘The Indian team had poor fate as they might lose Nehra for a week after he was hit on his left hand while fielding on his own delivery in his last over.’’

GANGULY ROARS BACK
Well, not really, because the India captain actually chose to downplay the incident. He made light of the whole brouhaha, saying, ‘‘Nehra’s ankle was swollen the day before the match so I was a bit surprised that he said that he would not play. But obviously with all the treatment he recovered. His ankle responded well and he was able to play.’’

‘‘It was good for us because he bowled outstandingly. I did not know when Rahul made the announcement yesterday. I was not there. You also have to realise that some injuries may heal up or improve overnight. So it’s not always possible to make the right statement at the right time,’’ Ganguly contended.

(Agencies)