What it is to be Afridi !

What it is to be Afridi!

I watched India-Pakistan play each other yesterday. The most awaited match of the tournament. Media had hyped the match, but when India-Pakistan play each other, especially in world cups, it is all part of the parcel. This is the tenth world cup and India played Pakistan the fifth time in world cup history. And as usual, I expected the players, specially Pakistani players, to sledge and there by create the atmosphere of true rivalry. On the contrary, they weren't the Pakistanis of old days. Javed Miandad's jumping on the pitch, Amir Sohail's aggressive remarks, Shoiab Akhtar's angry looks... were all missing. Pakistanis played like true gentlemen. Not that they weren't gentle enough earlier, but "that" edge was completely missing, in their batting, bowling and fielding. I didn't enjoy beating Pakistan as before.

Afridi was leading an inexperienced Pakistani side. Just before the world cup, quite a few players were axed for being involved in match fixing. A day before the match, players were warned by their interior minister not to get involved in match fixing. They were under vigil all through. I can just imagine, what they could have been through.

Pakistani politics, I think, is eating away it's cricket. We all know what the Sri Lankans faced when they last toured Pakistan. No other team now wishes to play in Pakistan. Whatever matches Pakistan plays, plays on neutral venues or opposition's home ground. Though the world cup is being played in the Indian sub-continent, Pakistan didn't get to host a single match. What a pity!

Economically, Pakistani players are poorer in comparison to other cricketers. All for obvious reasons. IPL also do not entertain Pakistani players.

With all this and more, there is no doubt whatsoever, that they are a talented lot. Just to mention - reverse swing was first noticed by Akram and famous doosra was Saqlain's invention. Pakistan has a long list of great cricketers. Wahab Riaz, a new find for Pakistan, proved that yesterday. His reverse swinging yorker to Yuvi said more than words could ever say. No wonder they topped their group and reached the semis.

One day after the loss, Zulqarnian Haider, Pakistan's former wicket keeper, has questioned the defeat and has asked higher authorities to probe the poor performance of the team. Wonder what Afridi will have in response to all these allegations.

Afridi, in the interview after the match, said sorry to his nation and I'm sorry for him. Not because he lost the game for Pakistan, but because talent is not getting it's worth.

Well, I am a true supporter of men in blue! Pakistan was just another hurdle, we got to get our hands on to our second world cup!


PS: Afridi, a day after I wrote this blog, has questioned Pakistani's openly as to why Pakistani's hate India? He said, Pakistani weddings are done in Indian style, Pakistan watches all Indian movies, dances to Indian music, has so many things in common... then why? It was just a game that Pakistan lost!
Well said Shahid Afridi! We certainly need more people like him on either side.

De ghuma ke ...

Another three days and we are through with the league phase and there is no world cup fever in India!?! Well... stop kidding and feel the heat!!! It's on ...

England has kinda fellas chosen for themselves - well, it is because of them that the atmosphere is all chilled up. Windies are blown out by bench-warmer Tredwell, and of course, Swann came is handy as usual. What started as a usual match, England as usual made it unusual! Having lost to weak teams (Ireland and Bangladesh) and drawn with India, they won against South Africa and Windies; all thrillers. Forget not Rusell's catch taken (well almost) by Jonathon Trott and thereafter the review for LBW appeal against Sarwan, would have really broken the team. With just 26 runs to defend and 4 wickets to take, Englishmen held their nerves when it mattered! Scrapping through a do-or-die situation like this, they had a lot of luck on their side today. It might just get them their first cup, if it favours them till the end.
With all this part of history, Bangladesh will now have to try their luck against the mighty South Africans. Life is not always that easy (Bangladesh gate crashed into the second round in CWC 2007)!
With only a few league matches still to be played, it is quarter-final time, and with top eight team almost certain now; get ready to knock off or get knocked off!

The Supreme Saviour!

"What the hell is going on in this country," the Supreme Court remarked as it expressed annoyance with the lack of government's seriousness in bringing to book alleged black money offenders like Hasan Ali Khan and asked for his arrest.

Hasan Ali Khan, who started as a stud farm owner with just 2 horses in Hyderabad in 1991, moved to Pune and Mumbai to grow as a gambler, betting on horses. He is now a billionaire with 8 billion dollars stacked in accounts abroad. He had/has accounts in Swiss banks with balance over 6 billions, which was recently moved out to elsewhere. This person having strong connections to the underworld, was introduced to the Swiss bank by none other than Dubai underworld dealer in ammunition. And, yeah... and, guess what, he is a free man in India! Being arrested and left out for crimes like owning a fake passport, has a strong backing from someone very mighty.

"You (Enforcement Directorate) know about his arms deals, smuggling cases and his other connections and still you allow him to come on another day. Whose convenience is sought to be seen? We want a simple answer why is there not a custodial interrogation (of Khan) when the nation's integrity and sovereignty is at stake.", questions honourable Justice of India.

Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who is fully aware of his responsibility, is simply incapable of acting and says that compromise has to be done to run a coalition government. But, in the case of appointment of Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), it wasn't compromise in the name of coalition. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P. Chidamabaram and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj were part of the panel to select the CVC. Swaraj's demand to expand the panel were put down and C. J. Thomas was appointed as CVC with 2-1 majority against Swaraj's wish. The President too had given a go ahead for this appointment. This was another attempt to have individuals, who can do fovours for Congress, holding important positions.

Supreme Court, after Sarosh Homi Kapadia took over as the Chief Justice of India in May 2010 (earlier CJI, Balakrishnan, who held office for three years, has allegedly amassed disproportionate wealth), has come out against the government time and again on issues from washing of paddy in the last monsoon, to eviction of Thomas as CVC, to oust Raja and initiate investigation in 2G scam, to stacking of black money in tax haven and many more occassions.

"I come from a poor family. I started my career as a Class IV employee and the only asset I possess is my integrity", said Sarosh Kapadia, son of a defence clerk, in one felicitation function held for some other judge. An honest person at the helm can work wonders for India.

Finally, in the PIL filed by Ram Jethmalani, SC orders CVC's eviction. Surely, what government wants is clear from acts like these, doing every bit to pave way for corruption. In times like this, we, the people of this country, have hope because and only because Supreme Court is above the government - directing it to act. Many thanks to SC and moreover, thanks to Honourable Chief Justice of India Sarosh Kapadia, you are the Supreme Saviour!