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| Saturday, 31 January 2004 |
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New cricket powerhouse Asia? Saadi Thaufeeq The fact that India and Pakistan are to resume Test cricket ties once again after a lapse of 15 years should see the epicenter of world cricket shifting, perhaps irrevocably from England and Australia to Asia. The change of heart could not have come at a much opportune moment. The Indians are as fanatical about their cricket as the English are at soccer. They are far more numerous and their team is on the verge of being the best in the world following their heady success in Australia recently. As innovative and invigorating as the Australians have been, the main reason for Test cricket being restored to its former glory is the rise of India. They possess a middle-order batting so talented that it may thrust the team to being the best in the world. The forthcoming Test and one-day series against Pakistan will attract a global television audience that will far exceed expectations. The fact that the series is taking place is good enough reason to predict a boom. Take for instance the population of India which is in excess of one billion. When the world's best batsman in contemporary cricket Sachin Tendulkar bats against Shoaib Akhtar, arguably the world's fastest bowler the television audience in India alone will exceed the combined population of Europe. After their batting exploits in Australia it is not only Tendulkar that the Indian and global audience want to see, but the likes of Rahul Dravid, the man of the Test series, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag. India's emergence as a global economic force and their rise to becoming the world's pre-eminent cricket nation has projected this worldwide image. Just imagine what the reaction might be if India defeated Pakistan after their Australian success? If that happened the world's most populous continent will, for the first time provide the powerhouse for a global game. A rare praise Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) gets more brickbats than praise these days. But the manner in which they handled the VIPs from overseas during the recently concluded tour here by England has brought forth acclaim. The hierarchy of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and other leading county clubs whose officials were present for the matches along with their wives have praised the warmth and hospitality they were given during their stay in Sri Lanka during the series. SLC guest relation's officer Errol Seneviratne has received letters of praise from ECB chairman David Morgan, MCC president Charles Fry, MCC secretary and chief executive Roger Knight, Surrey County CC president Brian Downing, Surrey County CC chairman Michael Soper, and Hampshire County CC coach Alan Wright. With the Australians due next month, the SLC tour organizing committee headed by A.J.M. Muzzammil and comprising Ravin Wickremaratne, Roshan Abeysinghe, S. Dawoodbhoy, Sunil Mohotty, Priyantha Soysa, Hiranth Fernando and Roland Perera will once again have their hands full with the VIPs and past cricketing greats who will be gracing the occasion for the one-day and Test series. Among those expected to arrive are the top brass of Cricket Australia chairman Bob Merriman and his wife, and directors Bob Horsell and Jack Clarke. Australian chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns will arrive for the one-day international series and co-national selector Allan Border, the former Australian captain for the Test series. Apart from them there is also former Test cricketers Doug Walters and Peter Philpott arriving from the New South Wales Cricket Association and Merv Hughes, who is heading a group of 40 Australian tour supporters. Philpott as you may recall was one-time coach of the Sri Lanka team during its infancy as a Test-playing nation in the eighties. Shortcomings One hopes that SLC has learnt from past mistakes. As much as the tour organising committee received plaudits there were also a few grey areas where they need to brush up to make the spectators, especially those from abroad as comfortable as possible when they are witnessing a match. One area, which needs to be addressed immediately, is the public toilet facilities. Mobile toilets were provided during the England series. All well and good. But where they erred was that these toilets were not often cleaned and regulated by responsible persons. As a result the stench emanating from the lack of such action became unbearable at times. Not only the gents but also the ladies found it difficult to make use of the facilities. On top of it, some food stalls were located closer to these toilets, which made it impossible for the spectators to consume food. SLC should also take serious note of providing facilities to wheelchair spectators. Sad to say none of the grounds where international matches are played in Sri Lanka have the facility for a wheelchair spectator to relieve him/herself without the assistance of others. Cricket is a game watched by spectators from all walks of life and such shortcomings should not deprive them from coming to the grounds. The sport needs their support as well for its development. |
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