Holding the spirits high

Well I had stated in one of my recent posts regarding the world cup being unofficially declared with the initial games being played between weaker teams and strong ones that does not evoke much interest among viewers. But, at the same time, one has to appreciate the ICC for coming out with such a plan that would keep the spirits of the game high with hardly any room for a fowl play like it has happened in the past. One can imagine Pakistan losing the last game to Bangladesh in the 1999 world cup after they had won matches against New Zealand, Australia and West Indies.

That loss to Pakistan hardly made any difference to the world cup with no team carrying any points forward to the super six stages. But, one match that really mattered was the one between South Africa and Zimbabwe which South Africa intentionally lost in an attempt to eliminate England which was much deserving than Zimbabwe. It is agreed that there is no scientific reason for my statement but, one can imagine the reason with India losing to Zimbabwe in the mast minute by 4 runs. That was also the reason why India failed to reach the semis of the 1999 world cup.

So was the case in the 2003 world cup with Sri Lanka losing to Kenya for reasons assumed that Kenya had gained 4 points from a walkover game against the Kiwis after the latter turned down to tour the country and Kenya had wins against Bangladesh and Canada. This deprived West Indies and South Africa from reaching the super sixes and New Zealand from reaching the semis. A match gifted from Zimbabwe to Kenya saw Kenya reach the semis as well which was unfair. This led to the ICC come out with a different in 2007 with teams divided into 4 groups, with 4 teams in each group.

As a result, any such tricks by teams would mean the end of the team doing it. But, that was a failure with India and Pakistan crashing out from the tournament after they lost to Bangladesh and Ireland respectively owing to overconfidence. But, the current format gives teams a 2^nd chance so that the top four would reach the quarter finals. Once again, any team that tries to act smart will have to pay the price by being the victim itself before making life miserable for any other team. An optimum chance here lies in the fact that even if a team wins against weak oppositions, a place is guaranteed in the quarter finals.

So, with the first 10 days reserved for weaker teams, the best idea for fans who'd have come here to see the world cup would be to visit Tourist Places in India.

Something fishy in the tri series

Well if the ongoing triangular series involving India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe is considered, there can be something fishy smelt with much unexpected results happening. The latest development in this regard is the win of Zimbabwe over Sri Lanka no matter by which margin. And the margin wa also unexpected in case someone wants to give it a thought. This is rarely possible in case of Zimbabwe who can't even think of beating Bangladesh be it at home or outside. On the other side also, Zimbabwe are seen beating India rather convincingly not once but twice in the encounters they have faced.

This can partially be assumed to be the result of the Indian selectors resting most all of their players with an intention of giving the young legs a chance and also senior players rest before the big game in the Asia cup would begin. But still there were the likes of Suresh Raina, Rohith Sharma and Zaheer Khan among the list who could have saved face for India atleast against Zimbabwe though not against Sri Lanka. But, the funny side of the tournament happened to be the fact that India managed to win a game against Sri Lanka which is comparatively stronger than Zimbabwe but lose to Zimbabwe.

Moreover, Sri Lanka lose their last encounter to Zimbabwe by eight wickets which makes people think in the other way. One thing which can justify the Sri Lankans' attitude is that since they had already made it to the finals and they would have taken this match against Zimbabwe less seriously one can suppose. The scorecard suggests that the Sri Lankans were not deprived of any of their players owing to rest with Dilshan, Kapugedra and Samaraweera still being in the squad for this to happen. It would not be a surprise in case Sri Lanka lose the finals to give Zimbabwe their maiden triangular series victory.

Though the match was inconsequential, Sri Lanka should have won it in case people's thinking should not swing towards the bad side. The finals of the tournament will no doubt be won by Sri Lanka but, if the ongoing developments are given a close look at, things are not clear whether there is any ful play involved or not. The only hope would be the fact that there would hardly be anyone who would have his bet on either of the team for the series is not a well sought after one. But, this should not and cannot be considered to be the reason to be a fair play when results go unexpected with a lot of difference inbetween.

Was the resting of players justified?

I can still remember the way India lost the second one dayer to Bangladesh in 2005 when the then captain Rahul Dravid decided to rest most of the experienced players by underestimating the Bangladeshi players and paid the price for the same by losing the match by 11 runs. In fact that was India's first ever defeat at the hands of Bangladesh. And now once again, the Indian selectors did the same mistake by resting all the players who are experienced thinking that it can bring out the best out of the youngsters. As a result of this, once again India paid the price.

India not only lost their final match against Sri Lanka but also lost two matches rather unexpectedly to Zimbabwe, the team against which a victory was assumed before hand by the Indians and failed to make it to the finals of the tri nation tournament. Until now, team India was ill fated when they used to enter the finals of a multi nation tournament and lose there. But now, they have failed to get past the league stage itself. All thanks to the selectors who not only gave the youngsters a chance but also gave Zimbabwe a chance to enter the finals of the tri nation tournament which it rarely deserves.

Despite not deserving to be there, Zimbabwe was seen in the super sixes of two world cups in 1999 and 2003. Anyways, with that being secondary, the matter of the hour is that the BCCI did nothing good by resting the seniors starting from Sachin Tendulkar to Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The team should have seen atleast a few of the experienced lads making it to the squad like yuvraj Singh, who would be making it to the playing XI after a long time snce he has battled injuries off late. So would have been the case with Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag for whom this could have been a refresher series after their absence recently.

Following the series under discussion, there is a mega event scheduled with India taking on Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Asia cup which happens once in every two years since it was decided in 2008. With the BCCI resting the experienced players, there is every possibility that the Asia cup may turn a nightmare for both the players as well as the BCCI in case India lose to either if the strong teams or not to be surprised, even Bangladesh. Added to this would be the T20 world cup ghost that would continue to haunt the Indian team wherever they go until they find a breakthrough.