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Sport is the great leveller

Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle

Chaos seems to be the name of the game, with some countries agreeing to play in strife torn Zimbabwe and Kenya and some others not.

The eighth version of the limited-overs World Cup Cricket Tourney, seems to have run into turbulence with administrators of the tourney bowling their best deliveries to steer and see that the games are played without a hitch, while politicians are hell bent on playing the part of spoil sports and buckling the tournament. Politics and sport together must not be allowed life. Sports must be kept clean and played according to the rules, while politicians must be allowed to play their game.

At the time of writing, Australia and England have still to decide whether to play in Zimbabwe, while New Zealand have made it crystal clear that they will not play their game in Kenya come hell or high water.

But in the midst of all this chaos, what must be applauded is the determination of the International Cricket Conference to get the countries under their wing, not to heed politicians, but to go on and play the games that were pencilled for Zimbabwe and Kenya. And all ICC member countries are in agreement with their controlling body and are shunning the force bowled by their political leaders, urging them to boycott Zimbabwe and Kenya.

The International Cricket Conference, with two Australians heading it in Malcolm Gray, Chairman and Malcolm Speed, Chief Executive, seem to have at last grown its teeth and fangs and are all out to bowl out the political leaders unsporting strategy and score for the player and the game.

The ICC has promised utmost safety to all players, administrators, officials and all concerned. Then it is up to the players to go out and perform. The ICC and the organisers have run and re-run safety methods and are more that confident that the games will go on without any interruption.

What the Zimbabwe people are suffering the whole world knows. It is sad. Sport, it is sad is the great leveller.

What is sad and unacceptable is that only Australia and England are showing their dislike to playing in Zimbabwe while other teams in that group are more than happy to play in Robert Mugabe land.

Prime Ministers of Australia and England, John Howard and Tony Blair vehemently oppose their countries playing in Zim. The Aussie cricketers seem to like to play, while the Brits are reluctant.

If Australia, England and New Zealand fail to honour their fixtures, they will lose vital points. But what is sad is that if that happens it will take away the gloss from this prestigious tournament.

As for the Aussie cricketers, they seem to be adopting double standards. In the 1996 World Cup hosted by Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, they forfeited a match in Colombo on Government advice after a bombing in Colombo. But this time round they are reluctant to heed government advice.

Whatever is finally said and done, the game's the thing and it must go on. Sport must not be allowed to be spoilt by politics.

Channel Nine succumb

It was Kerry Packer who gave night cricket to the world. Not only that he also brought more money to the players, the administrators and the respective Cricket Boards.

But having done all that good work, it is sad to note that Packer's Channel Nine sporting TV channel failing to stand by one of their admired and efficient cricket commentators and see that he played his innings in describing the World Cup action in South Africa.

We are referring to that stormy petrel, former Aussie skipper Ian Chappel who gave much enjoyment to spectators when he was at the wicket.

The ICC especially Malcolm Speed had objected to Chappel playing for the Channel Nine team in SA. Channel Nine instead of fighting for Chappel, meekly succumbed to the ICC leaving a poor taste.

The reason for Chappel's ouster apparently is the piece he wrote for the 'Hindustan Times' when the 'ambush marketing' scene was on during the ICC Mini World Cup played here. What Chappel wrote was reproduced in the Daily News of September 13, in an article by this writer titled: ICC on the way to losing credibility'.

The piece that Chappel wrote went like this 'It is appropriate to point out that Mr. Speed has earned a substantial income and enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle in recent times courtesy of the skill and entertainment value of the players. ICC's lucrative sponsorship deals were made possible on the basis of considerable skills of international cricketers and not, as the ICC would have us believe, its brilliant negotiations'.

Repeat of '99 World Cup final

Australia and Pakistan will meet in a repeat of the '99 final when they play tomorrow. In that final, Pakistan surrendered meekly like lambs, but promise a nail-bitter this time round.

The two fastest men in the fast bowling scene will be in action in Brett Lee and 'Rawalpindi Express' Shoaib Akhtar. Their confrontation will be worth watching. The game too will be a no quarter asked or given one.

Our money is on either Pakistan or India winning the Cup, provided they pool their individual brilliance and play as a team.

As for the Lankans batting time bomb Sanath Jayasuriya must explode in every game as he did against the Kiwis if they are to bring home the Cup.

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