BCCI has refused to send cricket teams to Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou in November 2010. Men will have a cricket series with New Zealand at that time. Women do not have any series but BCCI has not agreed to send women’s team also.
Some have called BCCI’s decision a national disgrace. Some say BCCI has put money before medals. Some suggest BCCI could send its B team. BCCI does not agree. In 1998 it sent two teams; one to Kuala Lumpur for Commonwealth Games, another to a series in Toronto. Both teams lost. Recently India’s B team in Zimbabwe lost two ODIs to Zimbabwe. Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of IOA, said he knew BCCI would not send cricket team to Commonwealth Games and therefore he did not include cricket in Commonwealth Games.
May be money is more important for BCCI and some cricketers than awards and Asian Games medals. Two cricketers did not think much of Padma Shri awards.
Some say it is not about money. BCCI is not agreeable to the whereabouts clause of World Anti-Doping Agency.
Someone said it is good if BCCI does not send a team. Cricketers get attention at all times. This time other athletes will get attention.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have agreed to send teams to Asian Games. Afghanistan, China and Oman cricket teams will play in Asian Games.
Sports ministry can select two teams. For men’s team cricketers who retired in recent years and those who are not likely to play in New Zealand series can be selected. Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Rohan Gavaskar, David Johnson, Noel Coward and such players can be in the team. There is no problem in selecting women’s team as they do not have any series at the time.
Link to e-book King – a novel: http://go4quiz.com/vincent/king
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Tag: Asian Games 2010
Sania Mirza getting married
When TV channels announced that Sania Mirza was getting married to Shoaib Malik there was disbelief. There was no report of her being seen together with Shoaib Malik. Sania Mirza had not said anything.
Next day Sania Mirza confirmed the news. After marriage they will live in Dubai which is second home to her. It is three hours flight from Dubai to Hyderabad.
That led to various reactions. What should have remained a personal and family matter became a political issue. In Pakistan there was joy and people danced. In India some groups opposed Sania Mirza marrying a Pakistani. Some said Sania Mirza should not represent India.
Then came a twist in the tale with the report that Shoaib Malik was married to Ayesha Siddiqi. Ayesha Siddiqi, her father and mother said the marriage was by telephone and they produced the nikahnama which did not have registration number and date. Shoaib Malik’s brother-in-law questioned the validity of nikahnama. Ayesha Siddiqi’s family wanted divorce. Shoaib Malik’s brother-in-law claimed Shoaib was duped by Ayesha during internet chats by showing Maha’s photograph as her photograph. Ayesha Siddiqi’s family sent a notice to Shoaib Malik and Shoaib Malik’s family engaged a lawyer in Delhi. As on 5/4/2010 there is an FIR against Shoaib Malik in Hyderabad. There was report of his passport being confiscated or impounded. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister asked its High Commissioner in Delhi to intervene in Shoaib’s case. After that came report that Shoaib’s passport is not confiscated or impounded but taken for scrutiny.
Sania Mirza does not need a certificate in patriotism by people who get offended when someone says I am an Indian and any Indian can live anywhere in India. It is for AITA to decide depending on Sania Mirza’s fitness and form. She has expressed her willingness to represent India in Commonwealth Games 2010, Asian Games 2010 and Olympics 2012.
TV channels should show responsibility in covering the news. They should not show or interview people who belong to the lunatic fringe and oppose the marriage and threaten that they will not allow Sania Mirza to play in India. Without publicity they are zero.
India should ban marriage on telephone.
Link to e-book King – a novel: http://go4quiz.com/vincent/king
Link to e-book Pope – a novel: http://go4quiz.com/vincent/pope