Anything but cricket
Posted by battleinsports on March 21, 2007
The recent developments in Carribean has shocked and rocked whole world. If this is what is awaiting in future for coaches and support staffs then spare a thought for their helpless families. The pain that Woolmer’s family is going through could never be judged and compensated. The claws of non cricketing actions have completely taken the game to it’s nadir and future doesn’t look any better unless ICC does something drastic and bold. These years sponsors, marketeers and bookies are more in the news than the game and each and every match being played comes under suspicion. Sports have never been under such siege while sportsmen bear the brunt of public ire and ill founded vandalism. The problem is for ICC to come up with a plan to cleanse the game with immediate effect, provide a transparent body to monitor and implement tough measures and keep everything open for inquiry. Each and every move of ICC smells of foul – from creating a format to ensure smooth passage of big guns into later stages (the fact that still minnows have managed to upset a few is a credit to them) to the fact that unlike soccer the last group matches would not be played simultaneously giving bookies enough reasons to cheer. The real lovers and enthusiasts are getting sidelined and such incidents are shaking their heart in disbelief and shame.
Without doubt, sub-continent is the heaven for this betting racket but the others are also a part of this disease. Emotional and mindless supporters create enough problem for players, coaches and support staffs only to be compounded by such nexus with illegal identities. Whatever be the outcome of the reports on Bob’s suspicious death, cricket has already lost it’s glory and face in this tournament. From here on, there would be everything else but cricket in carribean – police, investigation, media hype, allegations and counter allegations and to top it all senseless comments from all types of self proclaimed experts.
Woolmer has only proved about the futility and darkness prevailing in the game, though the saddest part is that he had to pay the price with his life.
May his soul rest in peace and his family gets enough courage to overcome this grief.
