Comment

by Elmo Rodrigopulle

What would be Lara's fate?

WILL Brian Lara who led the West Indies until the sponsorship fiasco forced him out of the team, suffer the same fate of Zimbabwean skipper Heath Streak?

Lara had the courage to stand by his conviction. He did not want to let down his sponsors and the end result was that he had to pull out of the current series.

While it is hoped that saner counsel would prevail and the sponsorship fiasco settled to the satisfaction of all, one cannot see Lara being given the captaincy again, considering the magnificent effort of Shivnarine Chanderpaul on debut as captain.

There were cries for the removal of Lara as captain after West Indies cricket kept suffering defeat after defeat and also Lara failing to make the big runs expected from him.

But luck looked his way when his team came back from the jaws of defeat to snatch victory in the final of the ICC Champions trophy final in England against England.

But now that Chanderpaul has accustomed himself well in his new role cementing it with a magnificent double hundred, even if Lara is brought back, it would be interesting to see whether the Windies selectors would dump Chanderpaul for Lara.

Former Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak made a meek comeback, but the selectors did right in persevering with Tatend. Taibu who led the Zimbabweans in difficult times.

Lara, now that he has captained would be well advised to make his presence felt in the team and concentrate on making runs. Shedding the captaincy should see him free to regain his scoring potential.

Inzamam snubs critics

Inzamam Ul Haq, the Pakistani skipper cocked a snook at his detractors with a stellar performance. Both as captain and batsman in the final Test against arch rival India.

After recovering to draw the First Test, the Pakistanis surrendered the second Test and when everything seemed lost, fought back like tigers in the final Test to rub the Indians in the dust.

Inzamam made his 100th Test a dream one, blasting a big score of 187 and then leading from the front, with clever bowling changes, tight field placings and exemplary movements on the field.

His over enthusiasm, where he took on the umpires made him cop a one test ban. But that would not deter Inzamam. That he managed to win the final test and square the series was what mattered most to him and now that he has done that, must be great relief and joy, not only to him, his team but all his countrymen.

Ganguly down

Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly must be hoping that the turf would open up and swallow him.

At the moment he must be going through hell. He has failed miserably with the bat in the ongoing series against Pakistan, and as a result his captaincy too has plummeted.

As usual his critics are baying for his removal. One can't blame the critics. The only way Ganguly could silence his critics is by performing, scoring runs and getting his team on the winning trail.

Every great batsman goes through a slump and it is no different with Ganguly. But in India, like in Pakistan cricket is religion and winning is everything. Not to score and also win is to earn the wrath. And Ganguly is getting it full blast.

Usually a big scoring and stylish batsman, it was unbelievable the way he was dismissed in the final innings of the Test that India lost. He was bowled by a vicious spinner from Afridi that turned right angles from the rough and then in the first one-dayer was bowled round his legs first ball by Naveed.

Indian selectors would do well not to go hard on Ganguly. Soon his poor form would end.