Not quite cricket

It could have happened anywhere, was the refrain. But the fact that history repeated itself at the same hallowed site 8212; that too at a time when the Pak tour was being seen as a shadow play of the prime minister8217;s historic Wagah crossing 8212; speaks volumes about the rot that8217;s set in. Firstly, among the cricket viewers 8212; though whether the Calcuttan species is a class apartand whether its sins should be projected on the whole nation will no doubt be hotly debated. Secondly, among the cricket administrators, who, with ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya doubling as Cricket Association of Bengal chief, put personal agendas over conventional wisdom and awarded the sensitive tie to Eden Gardens and packed the stands to capacity despite warnings of a repeat of 1996.

But that sight of Shoaib Akhtar making a meal of Venkatesh Prasad was also indicative of the Indians8217; lackadaisical game. What on earth does it take to wipe away that resigned look our men in white wear as a uniform? Certainly not the sweet whiff of victory. In fact, anyone would have thought that the game was over in the first session of play itself, with the Indian pace duo sending six opposition men back to the pavilion with just 26 runs on the board.

Anyone, that is, but the wised up Indian cricket fan, an unwitting yet optimistic recipient from the heroic XI of the wisdom of the sages to abjure all expectations. Letalone strategic thinking, even routine exercises in motivation like cheering one another, egging one another on are conspicuous by their absence as are shrewd tactics like calling for fresh gloves or taking a little walk to clear the head to take the zing out of a bowling attack on song. As Wasim Akram gloated after his improbable win, quot;what the Indians seem to be lacking is a hunger to win.quot; It is this karmic belief in que sera sera that coaching camps have to tackle.

Admittedly, nothing is as simple as it seems. As the umpires presided over proceedings in a chillingly quiet stadium, they too drew attention to themselves and their colleagues as unwitting conspirators in the rot. The Calcutta Test saw them sadly compromised as they gave one dubious decision after another.

At a time when betting syndicates become invisible puppeteers and matchfixing charges fly thick and fast, the ICC seems oblivious to the need for a minimal standard in umpiring to ensure that this last untainted pillar retains itsinviolable authority. And last, but definitely not least, the BCCI too must introspect on its idea of time management and the spectacle of key players like Javagal Srinath and Tendulkar struggling with injuries and the thought of soldiering on till early April, just one month before the World Cup campaign.