Category: Sports and Games

After Commonwealth Games

Posted on by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Delhi Commonwealth Games are over. Congratulations to athletes who won medals. Condolences to athletes who did not win.

Now the following needs to be done.

India should quit Commonwealth.

There should be investigation into corruption in 70,000 crore rupees spent for Commonwealth Games. There are reports that CAG, CBI, CVC, ED, IT department and some committees will investigate the corruption. We have to wait and see what happens. The proof of pudding is in eating. It is said that CPWD, PWD, DDA and MCD are not co-operating with CVC. CVC himself is under cloud for corruption. BJP had opposed his appointment and boycotted his swearing-in. In stamp paper scam the amount came down from 37,000 crore rupees to 3,000 crore rupees. The investigation had come across names of politicians who made money from the scam. Nothing happened to them. Most investigations end up in cover-ups.
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Commonwealth Games falling apart

Posted on by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Commonwealth Games are falling apart.

Commonwealth Games Village are filthy. Electrical appliances are unsafe. Doors do not close. Bathrooms fixtures do not work. Stray dogs and faeces are everywhere. Canada, New Zealand, England, Scotland and Wales delegates have told their athletes will not stay in the Village. They want hotel accommodation. Foot over bridge at Jawaharlal Nehru has collapsed and 23 labourers injured.

The mayor of the Village blamed MCD for the dogs. It was mayor’s responsibility to see that the Village was safe and secure.

Jaipal Reddy, Urban Development Minister and in-charge of the Games, said the bridge collapse is a minor incident. For him lives of labourers do not matter. The bridge was not for athletes or officials. Delhi’s PWD minister said the bridge is not necessary and it does not matter if the bridge is not ready for the Games. People can use the road.

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ICC and Pakistan

Posted on by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

ICC suspended Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir on 3/10/2010. Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London Wajid Shamsul Hasan said Indian bookies had framed Pakistani cricketers and blamed Sharad Pawar for suspension. Mohammad Asif’s former girlfriend Veena Malik had blamed Indian photographer Dheeraj Dixit for involvement in match-fixing.

Some Pakistanis see conspiracy in the sting operation by News of the World. They should see Pakistan’s record of inexplicable losses over the years. There have been inquires, sometimes action taken against players for sometime, but most of the times players were back in the team. In 1999 Pakistan lost to Bangladesh in World Cup and Wasim Akram said “We are happy to lose to our brothers.”

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Match fixing and spot fixing

Posted on by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Pakistani cricketers are in news for match-fixing and spot-fixing. That should not surprise. The way Pakistan had lost some matches was an indication that something was wrong.

Pakistanis have been caught but it is foolish to say only Pakistanis were involved in match-fixing and spot-fixing. Many matches involving different countries raise questions and sometimes the role of umpires needs to be probed. What is passed off as umpiring error could be match-fixing. It could have been going on since the last millennium.

When Sachin Tendulkar was to lead the Indian team to Australia one BCCI official predicted that India would lose the Test series 0-3 and that series witnessed many umpiring errors and India lost the series 0-3.

When Anil Kumble was captain and India toured Sri Lanka there was decision review system. The decisions went in favour of Sri Lankans though TV replays showed that Sri Lankan batsmen who were correctly ruled out by field umpires were ruled not out by the umpire on decision review system. After that series India did not want decision review system. Recently in an ODI Dharmasena’s three decisions were against India. Some felt India should have opted for decision review system. They were naive. All three decisions after review would have been against India.

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No Ball Controversy

Posted on by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Suraj Randiv bowling a no ball resulted in Virender Sehwag not getting a century and remaining not out on 99. Controversy followed. Suraj Randiv apologised to Virender Sehwag. Sri Lanka Cricket Board fined Suraj Randiv and suspended him for one match and fined Tilakaratne Dilshan for telling Suraj Randiv to bowl a no ball. Captain Kumara Sangakkara was warned to see that such incidents do not happen.

Many people talk of sportsman spirit but Virender Sehwag had kicked the ball beyond the boundary to deprive Hashim Amla the strike. Teams play to win matches. Bowlers don’t make it easy for the batsman unless the match is fixed.

People presume Virender Sehwag would have hit a century because he hit the ball beyond boundary and it would have been a six if the match had not been over due to no ball. That is probability and not certainty. Virender Sehwag could have been out bowled, or caught and bowled, or LBW, or hit wicket or stumped. In a Test he had been out stumped.

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BCCI, cricketers and rest

Posted on by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

With cricket being played throughout the year players getting injured is more frequent. Some cricketers want matches to be reduced so that they can have rest. BCCI has signed contracts and it will lose money if it cancels matches.

Very few players represent India in Tests, ODIs and T20. BCCI is ready to give rest to players who want. When Anil Kumble was Test captain and Sri Lanka series was played Mahendra Singh Dhoni had rest.

The tri-series involving India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka ends on 28/8/2010. Champions League in South Africa is from 10/9/2010 to 26/9/2010. India versus Australia series is from 1/10/2010 to 24/10/2010. India versus New Zealand series is from 4/11/2010 to 10/12/2010. India versus South Africa series is from 16/12/2010 to 23/1/2011. ODI World Cup begins on 19/2/2011.

India can have many teams. The players who play in Champions League can be rested for Australia series. When India plays home series it can have three teams: One for Tests, one for ODIs and one for T20. Players in one team will not be in other two teams. India is ranked no. 1 in Tests so the best players will be in Test team. For ODIs and T20 we can even have multiple teams with local teams representing India. If an ODI is in Nagpur, Vidarbha team can become India Team. If a T20 is in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh team can become India Team. Test players will not be part of local teams. Let us not worry about performance because India recently i.e., on 10/8/2010, lost to New Zealand by 200 runs and had at one time lost to Sri Lanka by 245 runs. For local players it is once in a life time opportunity and they will do their best and we may unearth talent. With matches being played all over the country players from different parts will get their turn. BCCI does not have to spend money on travel of players.

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Commonwealth Games and Corruption

Posted on by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Commonwealth Games in news for all the wrong reasons and corruption is a major reason. Some want the show to go on and any action against corruption be taken later on after the games are over. Conducting games is a matter of national pride and Suresh Kalmadi can not be replaced at this stage.

Now we know why the expenses for Commonwealth Games constantly increased. There is corruption in procurement of many items like umbrellas, doormats, toilet papers, fire extinguishers and so on. Corruption was suspected but the magnitude was not known. All expenses are said to have been approved by Secretary of Urban Development Ministry. Venues are not ready and it is doubtful whether they will be ready on time. The cost of renovation of a stadium has proved to be more than building a new stadium. There is report of child labour in the construction of venues. Death of 48 labourers did not make much news and was mentioned in passing. For some of the mess in Delhi, Congress blames MCD controlled by BJP.

Three Organising Committee officials are suspended. One of them, T. S. Darbari, had been named as the recipient of 28 lakh rupees ring by a man caught by Kochi customs some months back. Corruption in Baton relay is public knowledge. Anil Khanna, treasurer, resigned and A. K. Mattoo took over. A. K. Mattoo was in news as the head of Hockey India when hockey players had gone on strike demanding the payment of their dues.

Too bad if Suresh Kalmadi can not be replaced with 58 days to go for the games. It seems other IOA officials are good for nothing.

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FIFA and Technology

Posted on by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Football World Cup 2010 has seen many wrong decisions. Previous Football World Cups also had wrong decisions. FIFA had refused to use technology to correct referee’s mistakes and that has caused injustice to many players and teams. Goals are allowed or disallowed wrongly, red cards are shown when no foul is committed, penalty kick is awarded when a player falls without anyone touching him.

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France out of Football World Cup 2010

Posted on by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

France did not deserve to be in Football World Cup 2010. They qualified due to hand goal by Henry Thierry and Ireland was cheated its rightful place. FIFA does not use TV footage and correct wrong decisions by referees. Ireland had to pay for referee’s mistake.

France made news during World Cup for all the wrong reasons. One player, Nicolas Anelka, had to be sent back for indiscipline. Players refused to train. Director resigned. French coach Raymond Domenech refused to shake hands with South Africa’s coach Carlos Albert Parreira. France drew 0-0 with Uruguay, lost 0-2 to Mexico and 1-2 to South Africa.

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