India vs Pakistan: Virtual war

The venue: The Wanderers, Johannesburg. The occasion: The World Twenty20 final. The scene: The post-match press conference. Half an hour after India and Pakistan have wound up another satisfying cricket potboiler — three packed hours of compelling twists, suspenseful turns, a nerve-wracking finish and an India win — Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik is asked an enigmatic question by an Indian journalist: “Are you more happy that Pakistan made the final or more sad that you lost to India again in a World Cup?” Malik shoots back: “Aap movie bana rahe ho (are you making a movie)?”

The packed room bursts into laughter but the question isn’t as out of place as the sarcastic retort suggests. The reporter persists, and Malik gives in: “Definitely I’m happier that we made the final. India-Pakistan is just another game. That is the way players have always approached it. We have a job to do on the field.”

For the millions watching, though, it often hasn’t been that simple. Cricket between the two countries has always been associated with jingoism, yet it has made for some of the greatest on-field encounters the sport has provided.

Unfortunately, there have been many disconcerting incidents at grounds and political relations have all too often impacted spectators. But there’s still no better barometer for changing cultural processes than a fierce Indo-Pak cricket match. And gradually, attitudes appear to be evolving.

It’s remarkable how, post-Kargil, and following India’s ice-breaking 2004 tour to Pakistan, a soothing of public antipathy has helped Indo-Pak cricket grow. For example, Test matches now produce more results. Hanif Mohammad’s assertion that many matches had been drawn in the past (notably the dreary 1954-55 and 1960-61 series) because players were afraid to lose doesn’t hold ground anymore.

On the spectator front, passions have cooled but the appeal has increased. The excitement in both countries during the T20 final was unparalleled in recent memory. But Malik’s controversial statement after the game thanking all Muslims for supporting Pakistan didn’t generate as much public frenzy in India as it could have a decade back. This time, thankfully, the issue died the early death it merited. So on this tour, there’s no ‘Tebbitt test’, or should we say ‘Thackeray test’, for anyone: cricket might be the winner.

There were signs last time too. On Pakistan’s previous visit here in 2005, during the fifth ODI in April, a section of the Green Park crowd in Kanpur was needlessly raising anti-Pakistan slogans, and flinging chappals at a special enclosure for spectators from across the border.

Suddenly, Shahid Afridi, who eventually scored a 46-ball 102, decided to launch a furious onslaught. A flurry of fours and some booming sixes later, the same section was applauding, the hooting had stopped, the focus had shifted back to the game. It didn’t matter that Afridi was taking the game away from India. It was a knock too good to miss.

These are the sort of incidents which make India-Pakistan matches special. Players seem to raise their game, and spectators their attention spans. Everyone has their own ‘aha’ moment etched into memory: It could be Javed Miandad’s last ball six at Sharjah, it could be Tendulkar’s upper cut off Shoaib Akhtar for six at the Centurion World Cup game, it could be Hrishikesh Kanitkar’s winning run at Dhaka or Sunil Gavaskar’s mesmerising knock on a devil of a turner at Bangalore in his last Test.

Pakistan fans, of course, have more to choose from: for the best part of a rivalry dating back to 1952, they have dominated.

As another series looms, it’s cricket’s time to break down the wall again.

PM meets hockey team, shares memories

After the Cricket players, it was the turn of hockey players to meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence on Wednesday.

“Lads, I have done it too,” was the message from the PM as he met the Indian hockey team and recalled his time on the field.

The Indian hockey team, which won the Asia Cup in Chennai last month, led by skipper Parabodh Tirkey, was meeting the Prime Minister, after they were felicitated along with the T20 team by the President on Tuesday.

Hockey players have been protesting against what they say is the step motherly treatment given to the sport. There was an outcry from various quarters about the hockey team’s success being overlooked in the face of the Indian Twenty20 team’s World Cup triumph.

The national coach Joaquim Carvalho had said that the hockey players were being dealt with in an unfair manner.

The Prime Minister has now promised them all support.

The hockey team, along with the Twenty20 team, was felicitated by the President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday.

I don’t fear any bowler: Uthappa

MUMBAI: With his bundle of big energy Robin Uthappa provided the new Team India with the gilt edge at the World Twenty20 and also in the recent clash against the Australians. His positive approach and awesome abilities have impressed everyone. The stocky and robust Uthappa seems here to stay with promises to deliver more and big in future. 

Excerpts:

We’ve seen a new Robin Uthappa post the Caribbean World Cup. What has brought about the big change?

I am a lot more open-minded now and that has worked for me. It has helped me use the opportunities that have come along. I’ve always said that I’d bat anywhere in the order if required, and I was again open to that idea. For me, the wont to do it was there and it has really worked.

Where do you draw all your positive energies from?

It’s just the way I am. I’m a very positive person. The fact that I’ve got a bunch of youngsters with me in the team also really makes the difference. I really enjoy the fact that I play with some very good colleagues, people who call spade a spade and who are honest. Also, from my faith. I am a believer in the Lord and I believe he’s got a purpose for everybody. And my purpose is to play for the country to the best of abilities. It’s a real good feeling.

You’ve played some good knocks of late but haven’t gone on to score big. Any worries on that count?

You do feel bad when you fail to get a big score. But, I enjoy the fact that I could contribute to the team and make the difference. That is what really matters. To score valuable 30 or 40 runs is also important as it could change the course of the game. A hundred is equally important and I am now looking to consolidate, score big. I believe in my abilities. Big scores will come.

Where did you learn playing the walking shot?

It’s something that I’ve actually picked up from Aussie opener Matthew Hayden, with my own little additions and subtractions to it. It works well for me. Basically, I visualise what I need to do. Even while preparing to play a shot, I see it in my head first. I only play it when I realise I can do it. I don’t practise these shots, it’s played more on confidence.

Do you fear any bowler?

Nobody in particular. But I find South Africa’s Mornie Morkel good. He’s sharp. I am yet to come across someone who’s exceedingly good.

Sunil Gavaskar feels you should bat up the order. What’s your take?

I have no complaints. In fact, I love playing the new ball. I firmly believe that there is no better place to bat than right at the top in any form of the game.

How difficult is it to shift from Twenty20 to One-Dayers?

Not much but going back is the big problem. Your muscle memory goes awry. You just keep going after the bowling and forget that you need to be calculative.

Are you yearning for a place in the Test team?

Yes. Very much. That is something that I really want to do and hopefully I will play well in the future and get there. In fact, most of my runs in domestic cricket have come in the longer version of the game. It suits the kind of player I am.

People are talking about some flaws in your batting?

A lot of people have been talking about my big initial movement and playing across, something that I have being trying to correct over the years. But things are in my control and I’m trying to iron it. I am doing my best to ensure that the bad habits don’t come back.

You have played under Rahul Dravid and now MS Dhoni. How different is their captaincy?

Both are very good and there’s not much difference between them. But their approach has been different. Dhoni’s ability to remain so cool and confident in any pressure situation makes him different. Who would give the ball to Joginder Sharma in the last over of the final. Also, the confidence Dhoni showed in RP Singh after he was hit for four overs in Mumbai (against Australia). In comparison, Dravid is a lot more composed and copybook in approach. I guess, Dhoni has his own style of doing things.

What has brought about the big difference in this Indian team?

Most of us have a similar approach. We have also played together at the junior levels. All of us have the on-your-face kind of attitude. It is that confidence which we’ve carried along into the team and maybe it’s showing.

Do the juniors find it difficult to get along with the seniors?

There is nothing like senior and junior in this team. This is the best phase of Indian cricket. Everything is so wonderful. I can put an arm around a Yuvi or a Bhajji and talk to them. It’s really really nice to have people like Sachin Tendulkar and others also around, who care for the youngsters.

Do you think there is a need for a chief coach?

A coach would surely make some difference. Strategies will be different, we can have more team meetings and the fringe players would be kept ready.

Isn’t too much of ODI/T20 cricket tiring?

It could be tiring. The body doesn’t have much time to recover, sometimes your mind also needs time to recover. Then you need to be strong to play so much cricket and you need to exercise to gain strength. I guess good space between games is good.

Will there be less pressure playing Pakistan than Australia?

Pressure will be pretty much the same. India-Pak always sees high-intensity games. But we are quite high on confidence at the moment. We made Australia quite uncomfortable. This is not the Indian side of the old. We aim to carry the same zeal forward and hopefully win the series, both ODIs and Tests.

Loots Bosman rejects ICL contract

Loots Bosman, the South African opener, has rejected a deal with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), and instead signed with the Indian Premier League (IPL), the ICC-sanctioned Twenty20 tournament.

“It was a tough decision. I still have the ICL contract. It’s difficult having a contract in front of you. It makes it tough to say no,” Bosman told Die Volksblad, a Bloemfontein-based newspaper.

The ICL was reportedly prepared to increase their initial offering of 2.3 million rand (approx US $350,000) for a two-year commitment after they learned of Bosman’s negotiations with the IPL. “I could have delayed my decision and dragged out the process. At the end of the day it’s still my decision. I also decided what was in the best interests of my wife Mandisa and our four-year-old daughter, Khanyi.”

Bosman said wanting to return to the domestic fold influenced his decision – the South African board has imposed bans on players who signed with the ICL, a move which will affect Lance Klusener and Nicky Boje. He becomes the seventh South African to join the IPL, increasing the strength of foreign players to 44. The US$2 million tournament starts on April 2008.

He could make his comeback to domestic cricket for the Eagles’ four-day match against the Titans starting on November 8, after completing a one-match suspension for his outburst against Mickey Arthur, the national coach. Bosman missed out on the ICC World Twenty20, as Arthur wasn’t convinced about his fitness.

Australia likely to bid for 2018 World Cup – official

BRISBANE, Australia (Reuters) – Australia are likely to bid to host the 2018 World Cup following FIFA’s decision to scrap its rotation policy, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief executive Ben Buckley said Australia was “very serious” about bidding for the 2018 World Cup now that it was open to countries outside of North America.

“We flagged our intention to bid for the World Cup at the earliest possible opportunity and we are delighted that the FIFA executive committee has decided to abandon the rotation policy,” Buckley said.

“That will give us the opportunity to bid for and hopefully be successful in securing the right to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“So whilst we will be competing with European-based nations and nations from all over the world, we think this will be a better system and a better opportunity for us.”

Buckley said the FFA had undertaken preliminary work looking at potential stadiums and the financial feasibility of hosting the World Cup. FIFA’s executive committee voted unanimously on Monday to ditch its policy of rotating the World Cup between the six continental confederations.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said a final decision on the hosting of the 2018 event would likely be taken in 2011.

Germany awarded 2011 women’s World Cup

ZURICH, Oct 30 (Reuters) – Germany have been named as the hosts of the 2011 women’s World Cup, beating off a rival bid from Canada.

The decision was announced by FIFA president Sepp Blatter following a meeting of the organisation’s executive committee on Tuesday.

Germany have won the last two women’s World Cup finals.

Their winning bid comes just one year after the country hosted the 2006 men’s World Cup and ends a 16-year wait for Europe to stage the women’s version.

“We are very proud and grateful for this distinction of being able to organise the 2011 women’s World Cup after hosting the 2006 World Cup,” German football association president Theo Zwanziger said following the announcement.

“A lot of progress has already been made in women’s football and we promise not of course to imitate the 2006 World Cup but to organise a World Cup characterised by respect and fair play.”

Using the motto “Welcome back”, the German bid team relied heavily on their successful staging of the men’s event in their final presentation to the executive committee.

Assisted by players Birgit Prinz and Fatmira Bajramaj, the bidders also emphasised the pedigree of the German national team.

The bid envisages the use of 12 stadiums, including the Berlin and Frankfurt grounds used in 2006.

German men’s team coach Joachim Loew said on the DFB Web site (www.dfb.de): “I’m convinced the World Cup in Germany will be a great party, just like in the summer of 2006.

“The good atmosphere across the nation will help the German team complete the hat-trick of world titles.” (additional reporting by Kevin Fylan in Berlin)