BCCI turns down 22 Desi applications

We, the Indian cricket fans, can heave a collective sigh of relief.

Our cricket board has almost finished the humongous task of selecting a foreign coach
for Team India.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to install Gary Kirsten as Greg Chappell’s successor.

It is indeed the biggest cricket news of our times.

The BCCI began the coach-hunting drive exactly nine months ago.

We have seen plenty of theatrics since then. Comments and counter-comments ran thick and fast in the studios of our 24X7 TV news channels.

Sitting in the cool confines, some experts batted for 'desi' coach, while other pundits vouched for 'foreigner' to steady the fluctuating fortunes of Indian team.

'FORD DRAMA'

But even an average cricket fan could not forget the ‘Ford drama’ that was unfolded in Chennai some five months back.

The whole episode had, in fact, dented the image of BCCI as the most professional sports body in our country.

Graham Ford and John Emburey were flown into Chennai for presentation before the coach selection panel.

Mediapersons and public waited with bated breath in front of the Chepauk Stadium.

After hours-long deliberations, the board officials announced South Africa's Graham Ford was the chosen one.

But barely 48 hours after the interview, Ford informed his regrets leaving the BCCI head honchos clueless.

KIRSTEN INTERVIEW

It seems the board has learnt a lesson or two from the Chennai 'circus'.

The officials remained tight-lipped about the Kirsten interview. No cameras, no live coverage this time.

The interview was held at Sharad Pawar's residence. Six of the seven members of the selection panel were present. Indian Test team captain Anil Kumble was the special invitee. It was a hush-hush affair. The interview lasted around 30 minutes.

KNOW OUR GK (GARY KIRSTEN)

Of course, he is one of the best batsmen in the modern-era. He has got 101 Test caps for South Africa. He scored 7289 runs at an average of 45.27. He has 21 Test centuries to his credit.

The Southpaw was equally impressive in one-day internationals too. From the 185 ODIs he played, Kirsten got 6798 runs at 40.95, which includes 13 tons.

…BUT WHY KIRSTEN?

No body knows for sure what prompted BCCI to zero in on Gary Kirsten.

First of all, he did not even apply for the post.

Then what makes him so special? Is that he associated with Cricket Australia's high performance manager for a couple of years? Everybody knows that that was the only high point in Kirsten's coaching career.

The fact is that the selection committee, In their quest to appoint a foreign coach, completely ignored the applications of around 20-22 Desi coaches, Lal Chand Rajput being the prominent candidate among them.

Rajput has developed good rapport with the players during the last three months. India clinched Twenty20 World Cup under Rajput's guidance. "I was looking forward to a longer stint with the team," Rajput was quoted as saying in an interview.

But the world's richest sporting body turned all of them down.
They directly approached Kirsten.

The powers-that-be in the BCCI believe that Kirsten can become a successful Indian manager.

So it’s time chant the old adage - All is well that ends well.

Gap is closing at the top of men’s tennis

Curtains came down on the 2007 tennis season with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal once again asserting their supremacy in the contemporary circuit.

The Swiss and Spaniard have been reigning the men’s rankings for the last two-and-a-half years.

Both expect to continue their good run in the coming seasons too.

But going by the recent results, it seems that the gap is closing at the top of men’s tennis.

A young crop of talents, led by Djokovic, Richard Gasquet and Andy Murray are making inroads into the forte of top-ranked players.

Chinks

The chinks in the armours of the top two were exposed at the season-ending Shanghai Masters.

Usually aggressive Nadal was blown away by the high-energy compatriot David Ferrer in the round robin stage. Federer too bit the dust against the unfancied Fernando Gonzalez. It was one of the appalling defeats he had since clinching the top spot in February 2004.

For the record, the Swiss ace lost nine matches in 2007 – as many as the previous two seasons put together- and to six different players, the most since 2004.

However, Federer and Nadal still hold the edge where it matters, splitting 11 of the past 12 Grand Slams.

Tough guys

The World No. 1 had gone on record saying that it was not easy to play young guys as they hit hard, flat, off the baseline and return well.

"Everybody cracks the 200 kilometre per hour serve without a problem. Everybody's got a decent second serve today. That makes it so much tougher to beat all these guys all the time,” Federer was quoted as saying in a recent interview.

Djokovic and David Nalbandian had beaten the top two at Montreal and Madrid too.

Nadal sees a good future for Djokovic. “He has a chance to be No. 1 or No.2. Murray is coming very well too,” Rafa was quoted as saying.

"Right now Djokovic is having a very good season. He has a chance to be number one or number two. Murray is coming very well too.”

It is sure that the coming season will witness tougher fights for the No. 1 and No. 2 positions.

Beware, Fedex and Rafa.

1.5 lakh peasants commit suicide in last 10 years

It may sound bizarre. The three richest States - Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh - which thrive on the globalised economy have accounted for half of the farmers' suicides in India during the last decade.

Maharashtra’s capital Mumbai is the financial nerve centre. Around 25,000 of India's 100,000-dollar millionaires live in the 'maximum city.'

Bangalore, Karnataka's capital, exports software worth Rs. 65,000 crores. It's economy is growing at a rate of 14-15 per cent. In addition, the city creates two lakh new jobs every year.

The tale of Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh, is no different. It vies with Bangalore to get an upper hand in Infrastructure development. Moreover, the government constantly offers soaps to major companies to set up their campuses in the capital.

But all the three State governments pay scant attention to the farmers who live behind the facade of the beautifully-lit multi-storied buildings and neon hoardings that dot these richest cities.

Harassed by money-lenders who play dirty tricks to retrieve the borrowed money, these poor souls were forced to end their lives.

NAGARAJ’S STUDY

A recent study by K Nagaraj of Madras Institute of Development Studies throws light into the farmers’ suicides in India during the last decade (Read P. Sainath's report in The Hindu; One farmer’s suicide every 30 minutes )

Analysing the National Crime Records Bureau data, he finds that 1.5 lakh farmers committed suicides in India during the 1997 - 2005 period.

Surprisingly, around 50 per cent of these suicides have occurred in the 'Big Three' States.

Of the 65,774 suicides, Maharashtra has registered 28,911 cases. 20093 farmers took their lives in Karnataka, while Andhra Pradesh recorded 16770 suicides.

Nagaraj's study states that "on an average, one farmer took his life every 53 minutes between 1997 and 2005 in the States of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh."

THE CULPRITS

Governments - both central and respective State - and banks should be held responsible this imbroglio. The governments had failed to provide adequate funds and subsidies for the farmers.

The banks were unwilling to give agricultural loans (I still remember one Sainath article in The Hindu a year ago. The article delves into the agrarian crisis in Waynad district of Kerala. It says: "Banks are not ready to give agricultural loans. Instead, they insist farmers to take the car loan. The farmers then sell the car to find the money for buying seeds and other related activities.)

THE DEEP-ROOTED PROBLEM

The coffers of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments have enough money to ameliorate the agrarian crisis. What lacks is a solid action plan.

The government should formulate long-term plans; should advise banks to 'liberalise' their rural lending strategies; should encourage setting up of farmer co-operatives etc.

VIDARBHA MODEL AND ROLE OF MEDIA

Sainath has quoted a study titled "Farmers’ Suicides in Maharashtra: An Overview” by Dr. S.K Goel, the former Divisional Commissioner of Amravati.

The paper reveals that the total number of suicides in the six districts of Vidarbha between 2001 and 2006 was extremely high at 15,980.

But the Maharashtra government has manipulated the data to establish that there is a 'decline' in farmers' suicides.

According to the official figures, less than 20 per cent of the 15,980 suicides were by farmers.

Media organisations, barring a few, did not find it news worthy to report on the official 'jugglery' and the plight of peasants.

Media bosses know that stories of farmers will never help them get high TRP ratings or increase the advertisement revenues.

For them, newsworthiness means 'India Shining' stories - stories from the stock markets - that arouse the passions of Indian middle class.

Then the moot question is - Who'll speak up for the farmers and their vegetable markets?

Do we need an alternative media? Is it the need of our 'good' times?

Sachin Misses Another Ton by a Whisker

It was a treat to watch Sachin Tendulkar at Mohali in the second ODI of the ongoing India-Pakistan series.

The master blaster was at his vintage best. He combined caution with aggression and belted bowlers all around the PCA Stadium.

Sachin reached 99 in 91 balls, which included 14 hits to the ropes and one above it. The crowd was bracing up to celebrate master blaster's 42nd ODI century.

But a moment of carelessness did Sachin in. Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal pouched Sachin’s offering off Umar Gull.

Jinxed 90s

It was Sachin's 14th century miss after crossing the 90-run mark, a record of sorts, indeed.

In June 2007 too, Sachin ran out against South Africa when he was on 99 in the Future Cup series at Belfast.

Interestingly, Pakistan bowlers foiled Sachin's parties most of the time.

They scalped him five times - at Dhaka in 98 (95), at Hobart in 2000 (93), at Centurion in 2002 (98), at Lahore in 2005 (95) and at Mohali in 2007 (99).

England, South Africa and Sri Lanka bowlers did him in three times apiece, while Australians got him out only on one occasion - at the day-night match in Mumbai in 1995. Playing at the No. 2 position, Sachin was stumped 10-run short of the ton.

Fact File

Here's the complete list of matches in which Sachin missed centuries by a whisker. (Read year, venue, opponent and score)

2007 - Mohali - vs Pakistan - 99

2007 - Belfast - vs South Africa - 99

2002 - Centurion - vs Pakistan - 98

2002 - Johannesburg - vs Sri Lanka - 97

2005 - Lahore - vs Pakistan - 95

2005 - Lahore - vs Pakistan - 95

2007 - The Oval - vs England - 94

2007 - Belfast - vs South Africa - 93

2005 - Nagpur - vs Sri Lanka - 93

2000 - Dhaka - vs Sri Lanka - 93

1999 - Hobart - vs Pakistan - 93

1999- Nagpur - vs South Africa - 93

1997 - Sharjah - vs England - 91

1995 - Mumbai - vs Australia - 90

Protests for Democracy

What do Myanmar monks and Pakistan lawyers have in common?

Both fought against the military leadership of their respective countries,demanding restoration of democracy.

In Myanmar, around 400,000 Buddhist monks began the protests after the government imposed drastic fuel price hike.

The simmering discontent against the military junta that has been brewing for quite some time came out in the open.

With each passing day, the protests drew massive support. And It was hailed as the biggest uprising against the junta since the pro-democracy protests in 1998.

The Pakistan lawyers, on the other hand, took to the streets to protest the removal of Supreme Court Chief Justice Ifthikhar Chaudhary. Soon it became a mass movement. Demonstrations rocked Pakistan cities. It was Musharraf's biggest domestic crisis since 1999.

The similarities end here.

The two incidents reveal the opportunist stance adopted by the US, the preacher of democracy.

In Myanmar, the Bush administration threw its weight behind the monks. The junta spokesman had openly pointed finger at the western powers (read US) for instigating the Buddhist monks.

But the protests died down in due course of time. Junta adopted multi-pronged strategies to crack down the dissent. It divided the Buddhist congregation; intimidated the poor monks; took thousands of protesters to jail.

But the activists in Pakistan, who rallied against President Pervez Musharraf, did not get support from the United States.

Instead it backed a military ruler who deposed a democratically elected leader to ascend to the top constitutional post in 1999.

But the president, however, was forced to eat a humble pie as the Supreme Court asked the general to reinstate Chaudhry as the judge.

It was a body blow for the general, who has been receiving millions of dollars in military aid from the US.

MUSH'S EMERGENCY

It seems that there is light at the end of the tunnel as the Pakistan lawyers continue their struggle towards a democratic country.

Even the Musharraf regime could not ignore the 'mass uprising'. The general has been forced to declare that elections to the parliament will be held in 2008 February.

It is indeed the victory of democracy. Hail the Pakistani lawyers and Ifthikhar Chaudhry.

Flawed Selection Process

Rahul Sharad Dravid is the most selfless cricketer India has ever seen.

He sacrificed everything for the team's cause.

Consider this. Hailed as the technically correct batsman, Dravid has averaged around 60 at the No. 3 position. The figure is better than any other batsmen in the game's history (barring Bradman).

But Dravid batted at No. 4, 5 and even at 6 positions - only to give more opportunity for the youngsters (for team's cause: euphemism).

He never stood against the team management's wishes. Instead, he gleefully accepted each and every challenge that came his way.

He even relinquished the coveted captain's cap when he could have continued at the position for one more year.

Here’s Dravid, the most selfless cricketer of our time.

Raw Deal

But the former India captain got a row deal from the BCCI selectors recently.

They dropped the unassuming cricketer and roped in a struggling Sehwag for the first two one-day internationals against Pakistan.

True, Dravid has not been among the runs in the recent one-day internationals against Australia.

He scored only 51 runs in the five innings against Ponting and Co., the top score being 31 at the second ODI in Kochi.

The out-of-form Dravid was dropped for the final ODI in Mumbai.

He averaged less than 10 in his last 10 one-day matches.

Judging Dravid

But you cannot judge Rahul Dravid based on his performances in a series or a couple of matches.

Because he is the most consistent Indian batsman, with a tremendous aggregate of 10,000 runs.

Because 'The Wall' has toiled in the middle and helped India build big totals in many an innings.

The Selectors' Mindset

It seems that Messrs Vengsarkar and Co. is not at all aware of the need of a consistent player in the middle.

So they have picked five openers for the first two ODIs.

Except Sachin, nobody is competent, in the chosen line-up, enough to play big innings in the middle.

If you examine the composition of other leading sides, you can make out the difference.

Younis and Yousuf are there for Pakistan; Jacques Kallis for South Africa; Mahela Jayawardene for Sri Lanka. They all provide the much-needed backing in the middle.

Unfortunately, talented middle order batsmen are absent from the Indian side, thanks to the 'analytical skills' of the Indian selectors led by former captain Dilip Vengsarkar.

The flawed selection process will definitely cost India dear against Pakistan. Let's wait and see.

In Praise of Lewis Hamilton

It was a disappointing Sunday for those who expected the Lewis Hamilton coronation at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

A gear box problem on lap six did the talented driver in at the crucial race.

But I love to call Hamilton as the champion.

Nobody has taken the Formula One circuit by storm as the 22-year-old rookie driver did. His first season has been exemplary.

The Briton has shown great maturity and remarkable speed from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

He has got all the champion ingredients. Fighting spirit, speed, and consistency.

We have seen his 'never say die attitude' many a time.

He slid off the track in bad weather conditions at the European Grand Prix . But he kept his engine going and was controversially winched back on track. The rookie finished ninth in that race.

His heroics were on display at Sao Paulo too. Even after pushed to the 17th place in the sixth lap, the Briton fought valiantly. He recovered both his composure and control. Thus he managed a decent seventh place finish. But it was not enough to claim the coveted title.

For the record, Hamilton has clinched six pole positions, four wins and 109 point in the 17 gruelling races of the 2007 season.

Moreover, Hamilton's driving is less error-prone than his McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso. The rookie has got a perfect grip on his car.

Here comes the champion. A right inheritor to Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher!

Cultural icon

I would also love to call Hamilton a cultural icon.

Formula One has been considered as a white men's world for quite long time.

But Hamilton gate-crashed in to the 'white kingdom' and became the first successful black driver.

It is heartening that he is fully aware of his ethnic credentials.Being black, for him, is not a disadvantage at all.

"Being black is not a negative. It's a positive, if anything, because I'm different. In the future it can open doors to different cultures and that is what motor sport is trying to do anyway. It will show that not only white people can do it, but also black people, Indians, Japanese and Chinese. It will be good to mean something," he was quoted in a recent media interview last month.

"Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King are my heroes," he has declared loudly.

The Right Spirit

The McLaren driver still has a chance to win the drivers' title if the FIA disqualifies BMW and Williams for allegedly using irregular fuel during Brazilian Grand Prix.

Then Hamilton will jump to fourth place, and will get enough points to claim the drivers' title.

However, it all hinges on technicalities.

But Hamilton has already gone on record saying that he did not wish to win the driver's title by default. "I want to win the title on the race track," Hamilton told BBC.

It is this fighting spirit that makes Hamilton a super hero in the Formula One world.

Incorrigible Deve Gowda

Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowda, the versatile political player Karnataka has ever seen, is famous for his unpredictable moves.

He may sacrifice a pawn (Kumaraswamy’s resignation) to keep his reputation intact. Some times, he will sign peace treaties with staunch rivals to enjoy the upper hand (JD(S)-BJP coalition).

At times, the incorrigible Gowda will resign to his own fate for a political sabbatical (Relinquishing the JD (S) national president post).

He has got an uncanny knack of forging political alliances too. Thus he managed to keep his faction-ridden Janata Dal (Secular), which secured only 54 seats in the 2004 Assembly elections, afloat in the Karnataka politics.

Soon after the last Assembly polls, he struck an alliance with the Congress. In return, his party got key positions in the Dharam Singh ministry.

But the marriage did not last long. JD (S) pulled the plug and ousted the Congress Government after nine months.

When an uncertainty loomed over political landscape of Karnataka, Gowda used his proxy (read son) H D Kumaraswamy to play the cards.

He struck a deal with 'communal' BJP and formed the government in the "larger interests of Karnataka'.

As the news about the unexpected deal broke, Gowda feared a backlash from within his own party and from the minorities. Suddenly he began the fire-fighting mission. He denounced his son; expressed 'shock' over the pact; he even exhorted HDK to break the alliance and return to secular ways.

The father-son spat too, as expected, did not last long. They buried the hatchet in no time, much to the chagrin of card-carrying secularists in the Janata Dal (S).

"It is all for the greater common good of Karnataka and its people," the incorrigible Gowda substantiated the alliance with Sangh Parivar.

The 'humble farmer' thus once again started calling the shots.

Communal Riots

BJP's ascendancy to power only helped in worsening the situations in communally sensitive areas like Baba Budangiri, Mangalore, and several parts of Bangalore City.

Communal clashes erupted at regular intervals. The JD (S)-led government did nothing to stop the marauding rioters, though it was very clear that BJP is instigating the riots.

People's Democratic Forum, a 40-member fact-finding team which visited Mangalore soon after the 2006 riots, squarely blamed the Sangh Parivar and the local police for the communal riots.

" Sangh Parivar forces had gained strength after B. Nagaraja Shetty of the Bharatiya Janata Party took over as the district-in-charge Minister," observed the independent panel.

But Deve Gowda and his Home Minister (M P Prakash) took a soft line on the crucial issues.

Reason: they did not want to annoy their coalition partner.

Fall from Grace

Those who have heard (read) Gowda chanting the secular mantra again two weeks back might have laughed aloud.

"The Sangh Parivar will make Karnataka another Hindutva laboratory if we (JD (S) transfer power to the BJP," he told the mediapersons.

It is hard to believe that a senior leader like Deve Gowda had failed to understand the perils of forming a coalition with BJP.

He talked as if he came to know about the evil designs of Sangh Parivar very recently (on the eve of the power transfer to BJP. As per the 20:20 deal, the JD (S) had to transfer power on October 2, 2007).

The ‘power transfer’ drama exposed the ‘secular’ Gowda.

He was hailed (even very recently) as a tallest secular leader in India. But his actions made people believe that he is the most power hungry politician.

Deve Gowda’s fall from grace, indeed, is one of the saddest political tales in contemporary India.

Sachin vs Anand - Who's the best?

Suppose one of the 24X7 news channels in India conducts an SMS poll. The topic is Sachin vs Anand – who is the best? Can you guess what the poll outcome will be?

You need not be an avid sports follower to predict the correct answer.

It will definitely be Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. No doubt about that. You cannot expect otherwise in a country that eats, drinks and sleeps cricket.

But if I get a chance to send an SMS, I will vote only for Viswanathan Anand. For I believe that Anand is the greatest Indian sportsperson.

I know majority of Indians will beg to differ.

Don’t count me in the anti-cricket brigade. I do enjoy cricket. Moreover, I admire the on field heroics of Sachin, Dravid, Dhoni and even Sreesanth.

Ripping Apart

Let us rip apart the professional achievements of India’s two sporting icons.

Sachin, 34, and Anand, 36, began their careers around the same time.

One hails from Chennai (erstwhile Madras), and the other is the son of Mumbai.

Both have carved a niche for themselves in their chosen sport.

Wisden had named Sachin as the second greatest Test and ODI player in the world.

Anand had won three world titles, including the one at the junior level. Winning titles has become a habit for Anand. For the record, the Grand Master has won the World Chess Championship at Mexico City last month.

Difficult Times

Anand struggled a lot in his quest to reach on the top of the chess world.

He took to the sports when the game was at its infancy in India.

In the beginning, the media paid scant attention to his feats.

He won the national sub-junior championship at the age of 14 in 1984. From then on, the Anand juggernaut kept on rolling. He has become the undisputed leader of the world chess. His victories in the national and international events forced the media houses to devote a little space in their newspaper columns for the mind game.

Thus the champion gave the much-needed fillip for the game in India. Slowly more and more youngsters started taking the game seriously. Coaching centres mushroomed in every nook and cranny of the country.

Thus India was able to produce a handful of young champions in Sasikiran, P. Harikrishna, Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, Tania Sachdev, S. Vijayalakshmi, to name a few. They kept the Indian flag flying in the international stage.

Sachin’s Easy Journey

But Sachin faced no qualms in his ascendancy to the pinnacle of the cricket.

The game has already caught the fancy of Indians even before he padded up for his first game. The players were rewarded well. Sports journalists paid too much attention for the ‘gentleman’s game’.

Sachin utilised this situation to the maximum. He fully concentrated on his game. Naturally, the media came to him. Thus he became the pin-up hero of millions of Indians.

Money Factor

Sachin became an integral part of the international cricket. He is labeled as the great crowd puller, no matter India won or lost a particular match.

Thus Sachin’s market value has soared to stratospheric levels. Now he is one of the highest earning sportspersons (brand ambassador?) in the country.

He endorses more than a dozen brands (17 approximately) all over the world. Besides, he owns two restaurants in Mumbai.

Love for the Game

On the contrary, India’s world champion Viswanathan Anand has been running on the single sponsorship of NIIT.

His market value never went up.

It never let 36-year-old Anand down.

At a time when most of the sportspersons will seriously mull over retirement (even Sachin is planning retirement, say media reports), the ‘tiger from madras’ is hungry for more titles.

It is the love for the game that keeps him on. Not money or market.

He is India’s most consistent champion. Hail the King!

Should BCCI celebrate this win?

So everybody is heaping praise on Team India.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, as expected, has taken the lead in honouring the Indian brave hearts.

A mass reception at the Wankhede; $2 million money purse; many more sops to follow.

But does Indian cricket board have the moral right to celebrate this victory?

Not really.

For the BCCI was the only cricket board that voted against Twenty 20 format in a crucial International Cricket Council meeting last year.

While all the other 10 Test playing countries gave thumbs-up for the abridged version, the Indian board vehemently opposed the format.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the BCCI had failed to muster enough support from other Test playing countries.

“We were reluctant at first to adopt this version because we thought it would undermine the 50-overs game,” BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah had said at that time.

Things have changed drastically over the past one year. The BCCI is now fully aware of the financial potentials of Twenty20.

India's victory has given a shot in the arm for the world's largest earning cricket body.

It has got one more money spinner.

Let the BCCI coffers overflow more!

Morale-wrecking comment

The World Cup victory has also proved the Indian selection committee chairman Dilip Vengsarkar wrong.

The 'Colonel' had said in an interview that there was not a lot of cricketing talent at the domestic level in India.

It is the domestic cricket that groomed all players of the triumphant side. Every one knows it. The 'Colonel' knows it better.

RP Singh, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla, Pathan brothers, Joginder Sharma, and Sreesanth, to name a few, are all products of India's tested domestic cricket format.

They utilised the opportunity to prove themselves in the world stage. And they did India proud.

So it's time the 'Colonel' took domestic cricket less dismissively.

India Celebrates