FIFA plays with geography. Some countries that are part of Asia are considered part of Europe. Some countries not part of Asia are considered part of Asia. Considering Australia and New Zealand as part of Asia deprived two Asian countries of their chance to participate in the World Cup. One could have been India.
Category: Sports and Games
IPL controversies
IPL was started to crush ICL. BCCI used its clout to get ICC ban players taking part in ICL. ICL had players from different countries. It was unfair to ban players taking part in ICL.
IPL got franchisees and sponsors. Players were auctioned. ICL suffered loss and disappeared.
Media gave good coverage to IPL. The telecast of matches was in the evening or at night. The matches provided entertainment and an alternative for movies and TV serials. People were fed up of K serials and they watched IPL.
Pakistan Cricket Board and cricketers
On 10/3/2010 PCB imposed bans and fines on seven cricketers: Mohammed Yusuf, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naved, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal. This followed Pakistan’s disastrous tour of Australia. During the tour Pakistan’s performance was poor and it appeared some players did their level best to lose the matches.
Was there match-fixing? ICC anti-corruption unit was present during the tour but that doesn’t mean much.
Did the players lose the matches because they did not like each other? Was there groupism? Whatever be the reasons the players had to be disciplined and PCB acted.
India out of Hockey World Cup 2010
On 28/2/2010 when India defeated Pakistan 4-1 in a league match of Hockey World Cup 2010 there was hope that India will win the cup. After the match tournament director suspended Shivendra for three matches for injury to a Pakistani player. Shivendra had not received any red, yellow or green card from the referee. After appeal the suspension was reduced to two matches.
England had defeated Australia. Indians were hoping for a victory against Australia. Australia defeated India 5-2.
Film and the city
On 12/2/2010 the film My name is Khan opened for show in a few theatres at noon in Bombay. After two hours more theatres had opened and by night it was business as usual.
The film’s release was hanging in balance for the past two weeks. Shiv Sena had demanded apology from Shah Rukh Khan for his statement that Pakistani players should have been selected for IPL 3. If no apology they will not allow the film to be shown in Bombay. They had also said Bombay belongs to Marathi people and had criticised anyone who said Bombay belongs to all Indians. They had dared Rahul Gandhi to visit Bombay. If he came he will be shown black flags. Rahul Gandhi visited Bombay and travelled by local trains. Black flag demonstrators were arrested. Next day Shah Rukh Khan returned from abroad. He was given security from airport to home. Shiv Sena was dejected and would have given up the boycott. Sharad Pawar visited Bal Thackeray and that gave a boost to Shiv Sena which renewed the threat to boycott the film. They sent letters to theatre owners not to show the film.
India Loses Nagpur Test
India lost Nagpur Test by an Innings and 6 runs on 9/2/2010, fourth day of the Test. India’s Test ranking is No. 1 and South Africa’s No. 2.
As per original tour programme South Africa was to play seven ODIs. India defeated Sri Lanka in Tests at the end of 2009 and attained No. 1 ranking in Tests. India wanted a change in the series to retain its No. 1 status and the series was changed to two Tests and five ODIs.
IPL and Pakistan
Lalit Modi, IPL Commissioner, said teams did not select any Pakistan player and only one player from Australia was selected. Team owners said they were not convinced of the availability of Pakistani players for the entire season or they had some other players in mind and such things. It was clear it was decided beforehand not to bid for Pakistani players. Pakistani players had faced visa problems in December 2009. That was the foretaste of things to come. If Pakistani players were not to be selected they should not have been included in the list.
Donald George Bradman is the greatest batsman
Batsmen are for scoring runs. They have to be judged by the runs they score. Donald George Bradman is the greatest batsman.
Congratulations Abhinav Bindra
On 11/8/2008 Abhinav Bindra won gold medal in 10m air rifle shooting in Beijing Olympics. He became the first Indian to win a gold medal in an individual event in Olympics. India had won gold medal in hockey eight times. K. Jadhav, Leander Paes and Karnam Malleswari had won bronze medals. Rajyavardhan Singh had won…
Sania Mirza and Bangalore Open
Sania Mirza’s decision to skip Bangalore Open in March and not to play in India has evoked different reactions. It is her choice not to play in India and it has to be respected. Her decision was on the basis of advice of Globosport which is her managing agent. The advice was given as whenever…