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In a move that has sent shivers down the cricketing world, BCCI’s Chief Administrative Officer, Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, announced that BCCI has called off all its future tours, unless ICC rectifies injustice done to Indian batting maestro, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.
Sachin walks off after dismissal
ICC released its latest “all time great” rankings in which the Indian batting maestro figures 26th and 12th on the Test and ODI rankings, respectively. Reacting to the news, Navjyot Singh Sidhu, the former cricketer turned entertainer, alleged that this is just another proof of the racist attitude of ICC.
“It’s an open and shut case of racism against players from the sub-continent. Quite simple”, he insisted, talking to KandaBatata reporter. When questioned on Sangakkara making it to top 10 he said:
“One egg doesn’t an omelet maketh. It just means that the hen needs attention. Any monkey can come up with lists, but a monkey is best utilized by a madari, and not the other way round. Pull the purse strings, and the monkey will dance”
Andrew Symonds, the controversial Australian cricketer, and a fishing enthusiast, reportedly has taken offense at Sidhu’s comments.
“It’s clear to everyone who Sidhu is calling a monkey”, he told Australian TV channel, after another. “I’m consulting my lawyers about the possibility of legal action”
Meanwhile other cricketing greats, like Gavaskar, seemed little reluctant to talk on the issue. When asked what he thinks about the alleged injustice done to the Indian cricketing maestro he replied:
“You’ve to understand that lists are always going to be arbitrary. Let’s make no mistake about it. I mean I’ve featured in tens of lists, from anywhere between 1 and 10. It was a little shocking to see myself at 20, but, that the nature of lists”, he explained. When the reporter said, a little apologetically, he was asking about Sachin, Gavaskar added irritatedly that “I believe I have already answered the question”
ICC said that they have not received any formal intimation from BCCI about the cancellation of any tour, and that they cannot comment on alleged public statements to media, unless they have a “direct” communication or complaint from the said board. But, they insisted, that no country will be allowed to hold the game to ransom, and that they, just as in the past, will not bend to unreasonable demands.
Sources close to BCCI officials reveal that BCCI just wants to get an extra round of IPL organized in the latter half of the year, and is trying to corner ICC into a position where they can get a better bargain. However, KandaBatata never publishes unconfirmed or speculative news. Stay tuned for the updates.
Harbhajan Singh has demanded an apology from Matthew Hayden over his remarks on an Australian radio show. Hayden reportedly called the Indian off-spinner an “obnoxious weed”. Harbhajan has insisted that the remark has racial overtones to it, and that he is sure Hayden wants to insult his long hair.
Singh, who is no stranger to controversies, was recently involved in another racism row, only that time it was as an alleged offender. Last year, he had appeared in a fashion show without his turban, an action which had caused a lot of anger in the Sikh community. Harbhajan insists that Hayden “was attacking my Sikh roots, and finds my long hair abonoxious”.
When our reporter brought to his notice Andrew Symond’s long hair, which Hayden seems to have no problem with, Harbhajan said that he has been instructed not to say a single word about Andrew Symond’s without clearance from BCCI’s legal counsel.
“Woh to mujhe uski taraf dekhne se bhi mana kar rahe hai” (they’re even forbidding me from looking at him), he added.
However he remained adamant, that this was an attack on all Sikh community, not just himself. He said that lot of white countries see Sikh immigrants as a weed. And it is this white supremacist attitude that is the reason behind Hayden’s latest attack.
Since this was an off the field exchange, he said, he does not plan to involve ICC in this, however he said, he is considering legal action.
When asked, if he thinks there can be another reason for the remarks, he said, “Oh sure. Maybe he’s just jealous of my long hair”.
The Australian ace batsman has refused to comment and dismissed the charges as juvenile.
“I didn’t even know he has long hair under the turban. I always thought it’s all empty there beneath it”.
Although Australian cricketers have extended support to their teammate, in private, they’re expressing displeasure over the remarks. “Matthew is close to retirement, so he is getting senile”, said a teammate, on the condition of anonymity. “God knows we cannot afford another controversy at this time”. It’s unclear if by “this time” he meant the upcoming finals, or the upcoming IPL season.
BCCI president Sharad Pawar announced on Tuesday that talks are on with Steve Waugh, the former Australian captain, to hire him as the sledging coach for team India. This sudden move has come in the aftermath of the Sydney ODI which India lost. Ishant Sharm, India’s rising star, was fined fifteen percent of match-fee, after a showdown with Andrew Symonds.
Indian Captain, Dhoni, has reportedly asked for a sledging coach, as he believes that Indians need to learn the art from the great aussies.
“It’s an art and they are good at it, but the Indians will learn soon”, was his comment on the Ishant Sharma affair.
Meanwhile, back home, there was a controversy regarding the need for a foreign “sledging coach”. A well known TV commentator and former player reportedly slammed the BCCI for insulting the pride of nation.
“When it comes to sledging, there is no shortage of local expertise. Look at our parliament, no further. This is like a drawing dirty water from the sea, when your septic tanks is overflowing into the garden”
Experts debated on the news-channels over whether Ajay Jadeja should have been given the job, instead. Jadeja, who was involved in a match-fixing controversy, and later got cleared from the charges, was known for gamesmanship, as he liked to call it.
“I’ve nothing against sledging”, he commented on NDTV. “Look, grown-ups will use abusive language. It’s only kids who need to be told not to use it”
Sunil Gavaskar has refused to comment on the move, saying it’s beneath his dignity, while Ravi Shastri has praised the move.
“The Aussies”, he said, “will soon get the taste of their own medicine, and what’s more — the medicine will be prepared by their own star pharmacist”
The man in the spotlight, Steave Waugh, is reportedly unclear of what the role would entail.
“I’m yet to hear anybody tell me what a sledge is,” he said, when asked if he was ready to take up the job.
India’s batting maestro, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, has been dropped from the India’s ODI team, for the rest of the Australian series and upcoming series against Pakistan. The shocking announcement happened after India’s crushing defeat against Australia in the fifth ODI. Tendulkar, aged 34, was the highest scorer in Indian innings in which only four batsmen reached double figures. Tendulkar scored 47 in what could possibly be his last ODI on Indian soil.
Talking to a group of reporters, in a press conference, Dilip Vengsarkar, the Cheif selector for BCCI, cited Sachin’s consistency as the reason for his exclusion from the team.
“When Sachin plays, no other player performs. Look at Twenty-Twenty tournament. There was no Sachin, and Indians batted brilliantly. Everyone need to take responsibility in Cricket, as it is a team game. With Sachin in the team, however, other players think that they do not need to perform”
Indian team’s manager Lalchand Rajput later reacted to Vengsarkar’s announcement, saying that it is unfair on the other senior players. He felt that even Ganguly and Dravid should be dropped by the same logic.
“I think it’s a wrong decision to single out Sachin as consistent performer, when we have Ganguly performing equally consistently, and Dravid has been excellent in England, too”
Sachin Tendulkar, when questioned, replied that he respects the selector’s decision.
“I’ve always had a great respect for Vengsarkar Saar”, he said, “And I’m sure he knows what works for the team. After all, this is not an individual game like Tennis or Golf”
Inside sources say that he was quite relived, that he will not have to cut down on his ads because of the string of ODIs in next few months. A close friend, on the condition of anonymity, said that the feeling in Sachin’s camp was that this unceremonious exit will actually help him get a lot of public sympathy, and help expand his advertisement portfolio.
Meanwhile, highly trusted sources revealed that Ganguly and Dravid are planning to take BCCI to court for ruining their reputation.
“It’s like, it doesn’t matter whether we’re in team or not! At least, with Sachin, people expect us to lose. But no one seems to expect anything out of us!”, Ganguly supposedly told a close friend.
Australia leads the series 3-1, after the win — a position from which they cannot lose the series. When asked for comments, Ponting said that he is impressed by the BCCI’s actions, and that they will have to really think hard about their team composition, now that Sachin is not playing. He is really upset that after spending hours and hours studying the maestro’s batting in slow motion, it’s disappointing that they won’t be playing against him after all.
“But it’s a challenge that our team is prepared for”, he said, “We’re not a number one team in both the adult forms of the game for no reason”.
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