Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Tendulkars words are important,but not enough. More players must speak their minds,reassure fans
Cricket fans dont put up N. Srinivasan posters on their bedroom walls. The honour of representing Indian cricket,and the dogged trust that comes with it,are reserved exclusively for the players. Which is why,as all hell seems to break loose in Indian cricket,one would expect these demi-gods to shed their reticence,wear their pained hearts on their blue sleeves,and reach out to their fans. For once,the crisis in Indian cricket demands not a statesmans distance,but a soldiers war cry to rally followers at a moment of uncertainty. The captain,Mahendra Singh Dhoni,only had a wry smile to offer before he departed for the Champions Trophy. Except for Rahul Dravid forced into the firing line during the IPL because of his three arrested team-mates no other senior player was offered a stage to vent their sense of betrayal,nor was it sought.
Sachin Tendulkar released a statement,late in the day,touching on the need to address public mistrust. But it carried a tone of despondency,not outrage. His appeal to the authorities,to take sincere steps to restore the pride and joy of Indian cricket,had a touch of resignation.
There is no pride and joy in Indian cricket right now. What it needed was the most ringing,authoritative voices the Tendulkars and the Kumbles to demand that the BCCI clean up the spot-fixing mess. It needs them to send a stern message to younger cricketers. Hurt,shock and disappointment is for the public to feel,as Tendulkar acknowledged. These knights of Indian cricket also need to envision the way ahead. Only they can give cricket the cathartic moment it needs.
