PAGE WISE MAY 2007 - Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle

Prabhjot Singh, Secretary General , Sports Wing, GGSSC
The confirmation by Jamaican police that indeed
Pakistani coach Bob Woolmer was murdered sent shock
waves across the sport of cricket plunging the game and
its lovers into deep despair. The glaze of the showpiece
event, the ICC World Cup, was taken off with this tragic
end of one of the crickets most loved coaches. The
nexus of the underworld and match-fixers is quite
disturbing for the sake of games future and credibility
in general. The match fixing saga had already dented
the gentlemen games glory and further adding insult to
injury, this murder will create a hole in the games
integrity which would be hard to fill. Inquest into
Woolmer's murder should not be delayed & hopefully
the man gets justice & burial, long overdue quickly.
Analyzing Team India's situation after the
humiliating exit from the World Cup, one feels it is
similar to that of England's Football Team. For both
every World Cup brings with it hope, expectation and
eventually despair. The lack of killer instinct,
complacency and they being under achievers on the
biggest stage of them all alongside the notion that
member that make up the team are bigger than the
team itself is quite disturbing. One thing is confirmed
that the Team India are a great batting line-up on paper,
full of great individual players, with fat records.
Unfortunately, when it comes to combining as a team &
playing in a pressure situation, they are found wanting.
The bowling on its part did the job they were asked to
but uninspiring & lack of self belief among the batsman
was very disturbing. Once again, Sachin fell short on
the big stage when performance was crucial to succeed.
As in English football, the cricket in India has incessant
media hype where players are proclaimed gods after
half a decent performance. People and media love to
live on past glory-1983 to India and 1966 for England.
Both went to the World Cups with teams that they said
were best placed to go all the way, while England
limped to the last eight in Germany, Indians could last
only three matches at the World Cup in Caribbean. To
top up both had rather high-profile coaches to boost off.
This comparison is only to analyze the less substance
and high hype which has dogged both the teams in
different sports. It is now for the BCCI, Board of Cricket
Control in India, to resurrect its house in order to come
up with policies which can give some reasonable hope
to the fans. The board cannot absolve themselves of this
loss by putting the whole blame on the players.
After nearly a week of intense speculation and
rumor after wilder rumor, charges, counter-chargers
and general madness, D-Day, stock taking meet at
May 2007
Mumbai, turned out to be somewhat of a damp squib.
Sure, if sponsorship deals, advertising and other such
things are affecting the players performance, a rational
solution must be found. The meeting to take stock of
India's shock defeat brought out some very important
decisions. The decision to ask Ravi Shastri to manage
the team for Bangladesh tour is a good sign, but this
should be a long term step and not a short term one.
Appointing of paid selectors, abolishing zonal system of
selection and appointing a backup team of bowling and
fielding coach along side Ravi being given the role of
manager are right steps towards over hauling the
rotting cricket structure in India.
Talking about the exploits on the field, the jinx on
the host of World Cup Cricket continued when Lara's
and West Indian dreams were shattered as they lost and
went out of the race to claim the title. The semifinal
stage is all set with Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
and South Africa reaching the last four. Lasith Malinga
getting four wickets in four consecutive balls was
highlight in the second stage along side the tigers of
Bangladesh beating the strong South African and later
capitulating them selves against the Irish for a surprise
loss. The form of Sri Lanka and New Zealand is good as
they prepare for the semis by taking on the might of
Australia who on their part are playing superbly and
their stranglehold on the World Cup for the
unprecedented hat-trick seems to get stronger by the
match. Similarly South Africa peaking at the right
moment poses serious threat to Australian dream.
At last, turning towards Punjab and its heroes one
remembered the hero of 1954 Asian Games
Sd.Parduman Singh with heart-felt sorrow on his
demise owing to prolonged illness. He will not only be
remembered for winning the most medals by any male
athlete for India in the Asian Games, but also the grit &
determination he displayed in achieving that glory.
During his career, he won three gold, one silver and
bronze at the three Asian Games (1954-64) that he
participated in, making Shot-put and Discuss throw his
own events. "He's the best-ever Indian athlete I've come
across in life. The six feet tall man commanded respect
from everybody and the entire athletic community
fondly called him Dada, the elder brother", said his coathlete
Milkha Singh, the living legend of Indian Sports,
putting Parduman Singh's stature and achievement in
correct perspective. It is now up to the present day
athletes to emulate the greatness of the man and keep
his memory alive with distinguished performances.
Certainly Ronjan Singh Sodhi winning a bronze at
World Cup of shooting in double trap event is a good
sign. Also the future seems bright with Sukhvir Singh,
who won the inaugural 'Cricket Star', a nation wide
cricket talent hunt show and is all set to play for
Leicestershire, the way Sachin once did in the English
County Cricket. One hopes this young lad becomes a
torch bearer for the youth of Punjab by bringing glory to
the state and country alike.
nwnk FyrI Fih peI imtI sMdw kotu ] BIqir coru bhwilAw Kotu vy jIAw Kotu ]
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