Update: A longer post on this topic on the other blog.
In a few hours, we would all know if the ban on Harbhajan Singh has been revoked by Judge Hansen, the appeals commissioner. The Hindustan Times may not exactly be exaggerating when its recent headline screamed that the world cricket is at stake.
One must say that it is apparent from even a cursory reading of Mike Proctor’s decision that he banned Harbhajan Singh for three matches without any audio or visual proof. Nevertheless, I am a little disappointed that the senior officers of Indian board have talked in terms of calling off the tour if Bhajii is not cleared of the racism charges. It is one thing to stand by your player; it is another to hold the entire system to ransom and virtually demand a favorable verdict. India chose to go through the appeal process; if it had no faith in ICC, it should have called the team back right after the Sydney test. (As some had advocated.)
I have no problems with the Indian cricket board using its financial muscle to wrest control of the game. However, power can be exercised in more subtle manner without appearing to be a petulant child bent on throwing a tantrum if his favorite toy is denied. To give just one example, don’t sign up those Australian cricketers who ”don’t play in the spirit of the game” for the lucrative Indian premier league. Money talks and it talks big. When was the last time one saw Bret Lee badmouthing an Indian player? Perhaps he is just a nice guy. Or perhaps the endorsement deal with Indian companies help keeps his anger in check. Exercise that power!
And stop acting like a victim. At least not all the time. India is too strong for that.
Filed under: Cricket
Bhajji exonerated of racial abuse. But seems like the Indians had chartered a plane to fly them back if the charges werent removed !! Thats not done.
All this drama has only served to make me even more convinced that the team should have been recalled right away. That might even have been projected as a principled stand. Now we are stuck with yet another needless compromise worked out by people who are thoroughly unqualified to do their jobs. Quite sad.
There is one unintended silver lining though.. while the muscle-flexing was rather inappropriate at this stage (it should have been done much earlier), it does demonstrate that BCCI can flex those biceps even if it doesn’t get the timing right. In future, this might act as a deterrent for those who have been taking too many liberties against Indian players.
On a related note.. I wouldn’t lose sleep over people who are cribbing about BCCI’s show of power. It is a fact that the powerless always crib about the powerful. It has always been so, and it will always be the same. Having said that, some semblance of dignity and presence of mind is indeed expected from BCCI, which seems to be lacking right now.
Till a few years ago.. England and Australia used to have an effing veto power at ICC. BCCI hasn’t yet resorted to that kind of obscenities thankfully.
Bongo, Vivek,
I agree. Its too late and its too much. Its probably driven by the Indian media.
Btw, I wasn’t around to write a rebuttal but as I told the cerebral Mr Pai, I disagreed with your (and his) contention that the tour should be canceled.
Quentin Crisp, English author, quite crisply quoted
“You should treat all disasters as if they were trivialities but never treat a triviality as if it were a disaster”
Raising epic like battles on such a trivial incident between humans who indulged in some pleasant sounding profane words in the heat of grossly overrated, over appreciated and over glorified game like Cricket, reflects the state of “deliberate, intentional ignorance of Critical issues”
Even glamorous brain SRK fell as a victim for this game – create Blockbusterish money bags out of Hockey, drive them in Cricket.
*Free the World from Obnoxiously resplendent Overindulgence” and wasting highly revered Cerebral juices on such should instantly be corrected.
Rohit,
tried posting a comment on your related post on your other blog, but to no avail, hence posting it here.
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I’m a bit appalled at the dramatic lengths to which this debate has been taken! After all, this was nothing but a common street gaali lost in translation on the poor Aussies. Absolutely nothing more!
“it is ridiculous to suggest that Indians are not capable of racism when the evidence clearly suggests otherwise.”
I think it is ridiculous to equate the Indian tendency of regional and caste biases with racism. For that matter, instances of white women tourists getting molested by horny Indian males too does not prove anything of this sort! Racism like South Africas apartheid or whatever that existed in the US is not present in the Indian psyche at all!
“What was the need for India to resort to such blatant blackmailing when a neutral authority was adjudicating on the case”
Well, weren’t messers Bucknor and Co supposed to be neutral as well? Don’t we know what happened? Do you think that if India had not resorted to “such blatant blackmailing”, the outcome of this sorry episode would have been the same as it eventually turned out to be?
“the much talked about ”confident new Indian” must also realize the dividing line between bravery and braggadocio; between confidence and cockiness.”
On the contrary to what is being suggested, the Indian side came across as mature and well behaved in its approach towards this issue. Anil Kumble’s behaviour was exemplary and even Aussie writers had noticed that Ponting was looking bad in comparison with Kumble. And after the Indian withdrawal of charges against Hogg, the Aussies ought to have reciprocated suitably. Unfortunately, the above post does not do justice to either the Indian team, its captain or the BCCI!… or for that matter, Indians as a society, I’m sorry to say!
Where’s Ray Dixon??
Grrr…WordPress needs to fix its emoticons and allow consecutive emoticons to render properly.
Confused,
About canceling the tour.. it’s okay.. you are allowed to be wrong sometimes