Andrew Symonds was he called monkey by Harbhajan?
Andrew Symonds says yes he was called, whereas Harbhajan denies.
Inconclusive, since except Andrew Symonds no one knows that. Neutral.

What evidence is there regarding the abuse?
Sure, the video shows them (Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh) having a friendly chat, and there was no anger on Andrew Symond’s face. The video is the only evidence as nobody could have heard the personal friendly discussion they were having. Sachin Tendulkar denies it while Matthew Hayden says he heard it. So, it’s one’s word against another. So no evidence. Neutral.

Is monkey a racial abuse?
Mostly, No! Well it matter about what we think about our forefathers - monkeys. I think here we would need a dictionary of racist words since a lot of words are confusing. Is Gay a racist word? What is racist? Is bastard (uttered by Brad Hogg for the Captain Anil Kumble) racist? Well, one thing is certain. Monkey may be abusive to some extent, but ranks way below Bastard and F***er. Thumbs Down.

Is there a resemblance between Andrew Symonds and Hanuman - the monkey God?
Hanuman is the monkey God, and the paint on the face of Andrew Symonds strikingly resembles the way Indians drew their God. And that said, the image that comes to every Indian’s mind on seeing these images is the same. You check out these images yourself and decide. So, it is same as calling Inzamam an “Aloo” potato, or Harbhajan a “Turbanator” - hats off to Inzamam and Harbhajan since they grin and bear it! Thumbs Up.

Is the punishment justified?
Well, since there is no evidence of an abuse, and there is a debate on the word being a racial abuse, a maximum of verbal reprimand or a 10% match fees is the maximum they could have gone just to send a strong message. Racial abuse is a strong charge, and surely different from abuse, and cannot be made without strong evidence. Thumbs Down.

Are the issues (of bad umpiring decisions and racial abuse charge) linked?
Well they are getting linked by media and the crowds. A lot of people see it as a attention diverting tactic which is expected to move the focus from the bad umpiring to the racial abuse event, at least temporarily till the hurt of being cheated settles down. Bad tactic. Thumbs Down.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Be the First One to Tell this Story to others:

A Gag Order has been put in place for Indian Selectors barring them from going to press with their views. Also, there is a restriction on selectors touring abroad with teams. Seems that the BCCI is right this time

The Gag order on Selectors: The Gag order restricting them to write in media or give interviews is correct since utterances by individual selectors can be misconstrued as the opinion of selectors as a team. Secondly, selectors have a duty to create an unbiased team selection and BCCI has the first right to know their opinion and also the decision on whether their opinion can be made public rests entirely on BCCI in the present framework of things . Thumbs Up.

Ban on Selectors touring abroad: The Gag order also has a note on selectors touring abroad. This is also a good step since selectors can do better by keeping a check on the domestic players to spot talent. The international matches are well covered and dissected and also with live coverage there is absolutely no use to watch it live whether for selectors or for fans. In fact the note should also have covered the frequent selector meeting as well as very short appointments of players (for 1-2 matches). Also, the selectors recently had separate meetings for every decision. Thumbs Up.

Protest by Selectors: Protest by Selectors regarding this Gag order being targeted at a certain selector Vengsarkar is very narrow thinking by other selectors. The Gag order is a very professional option available with the BCCI under whose contract, the selectors work. Thumbs Down.

Vengsarkar’s protest: The initial outburst by selectors is unwarranted. Thumbs Down.

Team Selection: The BCCI can do well to release a selection report after each selection announcement so that the process is clear. BCCI has an excellent opportunity to create transparency and hence accountability for selectors. BCCI is not transparent at the moment. Thumbs Down.

Selection of Coaches: The point to note here is that the same system should apply to BCCI when announcing coaches. The system should be transparent and impersonal. Track record should be most important. We lost couple of good coaches due to the terribly lopsided and biased style of functioning of BCCI. Whether Ranatunga likes his earlier coach or not should be immaterial. Whether the coach is a friend of Gavaskar in need of a break should also not matter. If the coach has performed and has given results, that should be all what matters. Let there be an open call for coaches with a specific submission date of CV and a presentation date. BCCI is not transparent right now. Thumbs Down.

Coach Selection Optional: Finally let us decide whether we need a coach at this level or not. As earlier mentioned in this blog, the need of the hour is a strategist and not a coach. And strategist may or may not be a cricket player. Various strategists can be given different teams to work with and the best performing strategist can be given an opportunity to work with the Indian Team. Neutral.

Indian Team: This brings me to the all important question – Whether there’s an Indian Team! Earlier utterances by BCCI about their being a private body brings me to the question, whether ICL or any other Cricket Organization can file for affiliation with ICC? If ICC refuses can another body be formed and a parallel tournament organized? Basically, in case of T20 ICC had hurriedly organized a World Cup, just to obviate this possibility. But the ghost of options would always haunt them. ODI came as an option through a 3rd party. T20 could also have gone the same way. There have been Double wicket tournaments earlier in Hong Kong. Surely, the organizations not party to ICC would come up with new ideas and re-invent the game to take it outside the purview of ICC and the coming years are going to be fun to watch. Thumbs Up.

Non-Selection of ICL players into the Indian Team: Though not a declared option, BCCI has hinted at keeping out players involved in the ICL league from being selected into the Indian Team. It is illegal and even funny that players can play in the english league and be selected, but a local tournament organizer cannot have players participate in their tournaments. The best option with BCCI is to accommodate players as per their performance in whichever tournament they decide to play and even have selectors look up players from various leagues. Let the field not become a contractual and legal quagmire. Thumbs Down.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Be the First One to Tell this Story to others:

1. Greg Chappell mentions that some Senior Players of India had formed a clique/ mafia that controlled cricket and kept deserving talent out
Seems much like any other sports or corporate. Has a tinge of truth in it. He possibly hinted at Sachin who has not played any great innings for a long time, and should have hanged his boots by now. Thumbs Up. That Greg didn’t have this courage when he was the coach. Thumbs Down.

2. Sachin Tendulkar hits back emotionally mentioning that he’s distressed at the remarks. And has reiterated that his committment to the country not be questioned.
Sachin is true about his commitment to the country not being questioned. However, I as a cricket fan would also say that my committment is unquestionable - that doesn’t qualify me to play. I have to perform on the stage and that’s all what counts. Opps! Seems Sachin has missed this ball too. Thumbs Down.

3. Greg Chappell Resigns
A combination of a few reasons or possibilities are:

The start of ICL (Indian Cricket League) may have sprung him an opportunity which he doesn’t want to miss. He did hint that he’d be continuing his association with Indian Cricket.
The death of Bob Woolmer. Surely, this would be an the back of his mind.
The possibility of maybe coaching another international team (maybe Australia or Pakistan)
Tired of inability to manage the cliques within the Indian Team. Since a large part of his success depends on his ability to keep moving people, the Rocks (Sachin, Sehwag, Dravid and Ganguly) are coming in his way!

Neutral

4. Sachin says that Juniors are encouraged in the Indian Team
Anil Kumble came out in support of Sachin. However, Javagal Srinath’s sharing of some earlier memories with Anil Kumble when both of them debuted make good reading. Srinath said, they were looking forward to getting a lot from the Seniors, but were disappointed, talks a lot about the Player’s camarederie that Sachin talks about. Seems sad but true that there is a dog eat dog world out there. Thumbs Down.

5. The Exit of Sachin, Sehwag and all non-performing assets would spell disaster
Well we thought the same when Gavaskar went. I believe there are even more talented yougsters waiting in the wings. People who have already broken Sachin and Kambli’s partnership records. Boys who have scored higher than anyone earlier. And they won’t take time to sink their teeth in fast. They’d have the fire burning bright inside them (fire which has been doused by achievements in Sachin, and Sehwag). Good Bye Sachin Thumbs Up.

6. Sachin has done a lot for Indian Cricket.
Nowhere I am disputing Sachin’s tall achievements, however we are looking at today and tommorrow. Sachin’s place now is in the Hall of Fame and that’s where he should go right now!

Cricket tommorrow is going to be much different. Much like hockey or football, where you remember games but can’t remember the complete team which played. There would be more players and less stars in the teams which have to succeed. You need heavy rotation in players to win.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Be the First One to Tell this Story to others: