Game for Money? - Pinch Hitter

Game for Money?

Manoj Madhavan - Monday, September 22, 2008 3:43 PM
Aussie captain Ricky Ponting could very well be sporting a "See-I-told-you-so" look on his face since Saturday's deadly suicide attack on Islmabad's Mariott Hotel.

 

His comment justifying Australia's decision to call off the Pakistan tour. "The decision to not tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy had been the right one, following bomb blasts in Islamabad over the weekend. The right way through is that we just have to listen to the advice from the experts, our Department of Foreign Affairs, and security advice".

 

Now, I am not too convinced with this line of thought. Why is it that on the question of touring India, the same Department of Foreign Affairs blinded itself to similar "security threats", inspite of the successful execution of Operation BAD in India (Bombings in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and recently in Delhi). Ask the players. It is never easy to concentrate on the game when you are playing international cricket under such fear. Still, most international boards would rather agree to play in India than Pakistan when it is a question of safety.

 

Is that the only reason why the Aussies are touring India without much fuss about safety issues? I think there is much more to it than the "assurance" from the Indian authorities or the Australian Foreign Affairs Department.

 

Lets look at it this way. We all know that BCCI is the richest Board in the world and in this cricket crazy nation, you get everything as a player: from money to endorsements to even fame. Add to all this the IPL craze and its promise to get even bigger in the second season. With that in mind, I would say that no board or player can afford to let go of a chance to tour India.

 

Now that the tour is been given a green signal by all concerned department here are a few things to look forward to in this tour
 
Sachin Tendulkar
Needs 77 more runs to be the highest run getter in the Histroy of Test cricket.
2 more catches to complete a 100 catches milestone
 
Harbhajan Singh 9 more wickets to reach 300 wicket milestone.
 
Brett Lee 11 more wickets to reach 300 wicket milestone.
 
Wasim Jaffer

56 runs short of reaching the 2000 runs milestone
 
Saurav Ganguly (if selected) 112 runs short of 7000 run milestone"

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7 Comment

From Ranjith Kollannur

September 22, 2008 4:47 PM
It is not the terror that worries that Aussies, but more the source of terror. In Pakistan, it is allegedly groups with links to al Qaeda and the Taleban (whom Australia is actively fighting against in Afghanistan), while in India it seems to be more home bred and independent of external forces (Signified by the apparent lack of concern of IM abt Kashmir). If that is the case, Aussies have less to fear from the blasts in India. Of course, there is always the money :) .

From Manoj Madhavan

September 23, 2008 10:47 AM

Point Taken Ranjith. Thanks

From Venky

September 23, 2008 1:39 PM
Thats a nice point Manoj. I second it completely. I would like to add that these Aussies know for sure that they are going to get a foolproof Z++++ security and they are really safe behind it. Moreover there is a BIGGER idea behind this-"IPL". They cannot avoid this national duty and be absent here when their presence in "IPL" later would be unexplainable. So, for a BIGGER, ulterior cause they chose to believe the Indian assurance & security. Let Pakistan too announce a "PPL" with double, triple emolument....the predicament then would be the one to watch out for.. GO Sachin GO.....GET to the magic figure....you deserve it mate...please hurry !!!!!!!!!!!

From Kaushal

September 24, 2008 11:59 AM
i sort of agree with you Manoj but there are a couple of small additions. Terror strikes in India are usually less 'deadly' if I may use the term. They are more random and of less intensity. There hasn't been a case of a senior leader being assasinated (since Rajiv Gandhi) or suicide bombings at high profile place (since the Parliament attack- which was daring but not efficient). In Pakistan, on the other hand, these things are commonplace. AQ role is underscored whereas in India, these are small time terror groups. I am not saying that any sort of terrorism is less bad or something but guessing that from an Australian's point of view, these things would count. What of course counts is the money involved. Especially the IPL. If it were the players who objected not to go to Pakistan, it would have been the same players begging the CA to allow Indian tour.

From Jagadish

September 24, 2008 12:53 PM
In the context of the PCB announcing the venues for India's series, I don't understand why India's cricketers are the sacrificial lambs. If a place is dangerous for Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand & West Indies, it is dangerous for India. India & Pakistan have been at war for over 60 years now, in one form or the other. India has been a victim of terrorist attacks launched by/assisted by Pakistan-based terrorist groups. A year ago when South Africa pulled out of a triangular in Sri Lanka, India played on. The BCCI seems to believe Indian cricketers' lives are less important. It's so stupid to say that terrorist groups have never attacked a cricket team. England & South Africa would have stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad which was bombed last weekend if the ICC Champions Trophy was in progress. As for the India v Pakistan series being played far too often, I guess the frequency will end up being fine tuned over a period of time. Then again, if India does manage to win against Pakistan repeatedly, I'm for playing twice a year! :)

From smitha

September 25, 2008 1:36 PM
I always look forward to reading your blogs, Game for money not bad at all, Cricket and terrorism is a good combination! Look forward to seeing Sachin reaching both his milestones in this series.

From Manoj Madhavan

September 25, 2008 4:17 PM
Indeed Smitha, Sachin's milestone is something the whole of India is looking forward to. For a change we might see something different in the covers of newspapers and magazines.

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