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E-mail from readers the world over
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 18:09:02 -0400 I cannot understand why Lele is not standing up for an Indian player. Harbhajan is extremely talented and NEEDS an atmosphere where he can develop his inherent potential. I must say the Board for Control of Cricket in India under Lele is far from being there for him. I am a diehard fan of the Indian cricket team and know our team is probably the most talented in the world. Then, why should we tolerate such incompetence from the selection board? Nishant Suri
Date sent: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 02:48:11 +0530 Why is it that time and again we cricket lovers of India have to go through the agony and frustration of watching one wretched sycophant hold the entire cricketing fraternity of this country to ransom? Who is this Lele? Who has given him such absolute powers? Can nothing be done? Can't we, the lovers of the game, do anything at all to remove him from office? Tell us Prem, how many more times do we just sit and watch him destroy Indian cricket, ruin entire careers that these youngsters have painfully built up, just by the flick of his pen? Why does Indian cricket still rely on the whims and fancies of such politicians in spite of having the services of some of the game's greatest players ever? If the actions of this man can cause me to become so agitated, I can imagine the feelings of the players whose careers have been ruined because of the machinations of this man. I'm sure most of us would like to take some kind of action against this kind of blackmail, and it is people like you, Prem, who can tell us what can be done. This person has to be removed from office... he has thrown around his weight for too long, against the wishes of an entire nation. The Harbhajan Singh episode is but just one of the many injustices he has done to Indian cricket. Lead the way, Prem, and we are there to put him in his place. Subhadeep Paul
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 09:22:01 PDT The points you have made are right. Is the ICC and BCCI taking the nation of one billion cricket watchers and followers for a ride? When are we going to show some spine? Or is it that by nature we Indians are spineless cowards. These kind of things happen in politics, education, jobs and everything we deal with. Does everyone in the governing position have this kind of a sycophantic approach that was shown by Lele? We just have not learnt to stand for ourselves with honour and integrity after 51 years of Independence, collectively as well as alone. Please keep up the good work. Sajan Alapat
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 10:48:18 -0500 I am disgusted at the utter spinelessness of the BCCI in supporting the players. After having crucified a resurgent Rajesh Chauhan at the behest of some biased ICC referees, it has now moved to destroy one of the most promising budding careers in Indian cricket. We are probably the only cricketing nation to lick the boots of the abrasive ICC brass and gladly sacrifice our players at the altar. Who the hell are the ICC referees to complain about bowlers' action anyway? If they have an opinion about the action, why did they not call up the umpires with whom they have direct communication lines? Why didn't they speak with the umpires to watch his action closely and no-ball him if such an action was merited? What is the point of slandering a player in their private reports? Of all the people, the BCCI has bowed to the diktats of Ranjan Madugalle! Nothing can be more ludicrous than this. Why not just ask the gentleman to advise his own Board to correct the actions of Dharmasena and Muralidharan which are still under the cloud? When Sri Lanka still does not deem it necessary to drop either player or even arrange "coaches" to help them correct their action, why should we be so considerate about Mr Madugalle's comments? The only plausible explanation for this disgraceful capitulation by the BCCI is the presence of Dalmiya in the ICC. It is time we recall this man from the top position in cricket. Far from benefiting Indian cricket in any way, he has caused incalculable harm to it. Before we lose more players to satiate his ambition, we should demand that he put in his papers and return to India. Clearly, Dalmiya has failed to take a stand against the discriminatory attitude of the cricket administration wherein Saurav Ganguly's gentle remonstration is considered worthy of fines and suspension, but Donald spewing venom openly on the field is not. Sunil Dev making a suggestion is pulled up and fined, but David Lloyd openly questioning Muralidharan's action is condoned. What kind of a notion of fair play is that? Why the hell should Indians be proud of having such a spineless man at the top of a racist cricketing bureaucracy? I am ashamed of such a man! All this reminds me of Sunil Gavaskar's constant refrain that we Indians totally lack self-respect. While kow-towing to unreasonable demands of visiting teams for five-star hotels, airline bookings etc., we make no attempt at demanding similar consideration from them. While we criticise Gavaskar for making a big issue of being held up at the gates of Lords, we fail to think how Boycott might react if similarly treated at the Wankhede. It is time we gave up this slave mentality. After all, we have been a free nation and none the worse for it -- for well over 50 years now! Sandeep Shouche
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 12:58:14 CDT Approximately nine months ago, during the height of the Chauhan scandal I asked whether we could "sue" both the BCCI and ICC. You published the letter but the response was muted. Here again I am listing items that can help us form a "unified-front" and hopefully bring back the glorious days of Indian cricket. Remove Lele and his cronies and put ICC in its place. After what happened to Harbhajan Singh and Khurasia, both the BCCI and ICC should be held accountable for the following items:
1. Maligning a cricketer without much evidence (sue both parties)
I (and many other avid followers of cricket) can most probably find lots of other reasons why we can take them to a court of law, but for now the above should do. If Rediff cannot use its home page to gather support for the above mentioned cause, then we can use our personal Web sites (www.taran.net or www.arindam.com) for "Cricket -- 2K and Beyond". Things that could be done to get this ''unified-front'' going are:
1. Create a forum for "Cricket -- 2K and Beyond".
Taran
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 10:10:54 -0400 What you said is very true. Why does the BCCI not back its bowlers and instil confidence in them than doing otherwise. Dalmiya, "Our own Dalmiya" (I remember Lele saying this some time back) is just yet another human being to hold the most coveted seat in the ICC! What is the use of BCCI having funds when they are going to again destroy many more youngster's careers. Time and again "the selectors" have been proving they are nothing but a bunch of jokers who are very faithful to their regional sahibs. Any other country would laugh at us for the way the BCCI manages (mismanages?) This Suresh Kalmadi is another interesting character. Like any other politician, he is just jobless and wants some issue to hog the limelight. He's got cricket this time. Isn't it true that all individuals are innocent unless proven guilty? But the BCCI is different. If anyone says an Indian bowler is chucking, they will also join in. Well, cricket in India will not improve unless these jokers at the helm of affairs are chucked out.
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 11:34:36 -0400 I can understand your sympathy towards Harbhajan Singh. Even I am not happy with whatever happened. But your suggestion of including him in the team even after the ICC asked the BCCI not to, just to see if the umpires can dare to call him can be described at best as "ludicrous". It just doesn't make sense. If the Indian selection board does not honour the ICC directives of which an Indian is the president (I don't sympathise in any way with people like "Jagmohan" or "Lele"), what example will this set for other cricketing bodies? If you want to stand behind your best player (read "off spinner"), send a protest letter or urge the ICC to get the thing cleared at the earliest and make them apologise if the guy is judged as having a legitimate bowling action, but include him in the team just because he may not have to play at all? Ah ah... probably someone from outside who doesn't care about reputation or consequences can only consider doing this.
Ravi Krishna
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 09:02:03 -0400 Nice spiel -- is it possible to get a letter written to the ICC (copy to the BCCI) detailing the facts and the rules they supposedly abide by? We could collect a bunch of folks from the Net supporting the letter and send it both by e-mail and snail mail. Anyway, great reporting. Thoroughly enjoy your reporting. Shree Nath
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 12:22:13 -0400 I have video recordings of most of the ODI and tests played during the last five years. I had a careful look at both Muralitharan and Harbhajan. Although I don't claim to be an expert, I felt that Murali's action was very suspect and that of Harbhajan wasn't. They have some resemblance in the manner of their usage of the wrists but Harbhajan does not throw. Murali is getting away with it because the SL board supports him and he is supposed to have some kind of a natural arm defect. If the latter is an excuse to allow throwing then perhaps some others should consider injuring themselves and then start throwing! I know I am being facetious. It is sad to see the spineless attitude of the BCCI. But then is it surprising? I am also shocked to see the inclusion of Laxman in spite of his recent poor showing. What is inexplicable is that he was dropped when he was playing well (WI) and picked when his form is suspect. Obviously Yadav and Azhar have clout in the selection process. I would appreciate knowing as to when if at all Kambli will be back in action? Ven Hari
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 16:42:42 -0400 My blood is boiling after reading your article. Thanks for bringing into light all the facts involved in this issue. I hope someone in BCCI reads this article and takes remedial action. Can someone initiate a public interest litigation against these boards, which does not spare even a 'half-chance' to compromise the interest of Indian cricket? Please follow up on this issue and keep us Rediff readers' posted. Many thanks to you and Rediff. R G Srinivasan
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 17:35:20 -0700 I am a regular reader of the Rediff Cricket section. There are two articles -- one on the team selection to Dakha and the other on Suresh Kalmadi by Harsha Bhogle. Both are excellent articles. I feel that we should somehow get these out in newspapers in India -- Times Of India, Indian Express etc. Very few people have Net access in India and these messages reach only a select few of which most are outside India. Publishing these locally would definitely make some difference. I am not sure how that can be done, but thought I should voice my ideas. Giriraj Vengurlekar
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 20:06:39 -0500 Prem, one basic question: who can possibly oversee the BCCI? I mean, even if it is totally free from controls, cannot someone demand transparency? What are PILs for?
Subhajyoti Bandyopadhyay
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 19:22:05 -0600 I read all these thought-provoking articles from you, Harsha and others and wonder if these reach the selection committee's eyes or ears! We may all just be beating the drums with no one to hear us. We are a large bunch here in USA and UK, and we also sometimes discuss these cricket matters over the phone (our interests drive us)! and our main information sources are Internet sites, mainly Rediff. So we wonder, do you reach the selection committee and BCCI at all? Mohit, Arun and other friends
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 22:29:42 -0400 I have read your articles on the selection of the team to Dhaka. I agree with you 200%! The dropping of Bajju and re-re-reselection of Laxman makes no sense to me or any other person at all. We can sit and criticise the selectors, but are these stupid selectors hearing anything? There are so many stars in Ranji cricket, Amol Mazumdar, Khurasiya, Wasim Jaffer etc etc... the list goes on.... do you think these guys will EVER be given a chance to play for India? I don't think so! I think Bajju was going to be an essential player for India in Dhaka and Sharjah, but I think our hopes have been shattered with his non inclusion. What a pity! Suresh
Date sent: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 08:08:18 -0700 Can I ask one question? What happened to Ajit Wadekar? Is this not the same person who harped and cried foul when he was the coach of the Indian team, and now after becoming a selector has completely become the same person, he once opposed. Talk about double standards. Sunil How Readers reacted to Varsha Bhosle's last column How Readers reacted to Pritish Nandy's earlier columns
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