Comment

Why penalize only Ganguly?

by Elmo Rodrigopulle

The International Cricket Council when framing rules and regulations, must see that these rules and regulations do not make a mockery of the game and themselves.

If this is not so how can one explain the banning or suspending of Indian captain Sourav Ganguly for six matches for slow over rates in the fourth one-day international against Pakistan.

If Ganguly is guilty, then too should be the team and above all the Indian Cricket Board. Ganguly was not bowling the 50 overs to be found guilty. Cricket is a team game and it is unacceptable to see the rest of the team members doing nothing to clear their skipper.

Ganguly must be wondering why he ever led a team that is not supportive of him when everyone is blaming it on him.

Chris Broad the match referee who did right when he reported Muttiah Muralitheran for bowling the doosra, has of late had a tendency to run into controversy.

Broad, the former England left handed opener would not have been faulted had he veered away from the set rules and imposed a fine on Ganguly and not suspend him for six matches which could probably mean the end of his career.

And it would be sad for Ganguly, the game and India if that was to happen. Broad should have been more severe with the Indian Cricket Board. It should have been the bounden duty of the Board to have control over Ganguly and taken action. Broad should have slapped a greater fine on the Indian Board.

True, Broad was only doing his job, acting according to set rules. But it would have been much nicer had he allowed Ganguly to play and not stall his trade. True that the game is greater than the player. But then it can also be argued that the game would not be attractive without the player.

The ICC must seriously rethink the suspension rule.

What a series

The India-Pakistan Test and the one-day series have provided thrill a minute cricket and congratulations to the two Cricket Boards for going through the series hurdling all obstacles.

When this tour was originally mooted, several were the objections. But to the credit of the two boards it must be said that they proved that the game's the thing.

The Three Tests and the six one-dayers have run to packed houses which speaks volumes for the spectator interest in India. Had the series been played in Pakistan, the spectator support would have been the same.

Afridi bashing

While Shewag has been the master blaster for India, Afridi went even better and sent everyone into raptures blasting the second fastest century in one-day cricket. He bashed the fastest century in 37 deliveries against Sri Lanka in Kenya and it was just after the Lankans won the World Cup, and I was there watching the Afridi fireworks. His century on Friday was studded with 9 sixes and 10 fours. It was flawless and what a century it was!

Lankans helpless

It is said that if a match cannot be won, then every effort must be made to see that it is not lost.

Sadly the Lankan cricketers were ignorant of this and it was sad to see the manner in which they capitulated and conceded the Test to the New Zealanders by innings.

As usual the cricketers would have a shipload of excuses to offer. To reiterate, no excuses however good are acceptable when playing in the big league. There is no point in flogging a dead horse.

But it would be appropriate to ask the authorities as to why they agreed to play two tests at this time of the year in Kiwiland when conditions are certainly not conducive for cricket.

The Kiwis are sans some of their best players and it was shame on the Lankans that they could not only beat the Kiwis, but the shame was even greater considering that they succumbed by innings.

The Kiwis must be laughing.