The MediaWizard’s Blog | mwzd.com

So the Indian contigent, powered by a strident Dhoni and his young team, has won the T20 World Cup. So it’s My T20! Or at least I think so, I guess like millions of other Indians.

Actually it’s not very surprising that India, with it’s foundation in gully cricket, mohalla cricket and bylane cricket would do well in a competition such as this. Am sure most of the Boys in Blue would have at least some experience in the aforesaid ‘formats’ of regularly played Indian Cricket.

Sorry to say it but I predicted India’s first round exit from the World Cup sometime back. I’ve been on a vacation and not really keeping track of what happened, only got to know that my dire prediction came true on the flight back. Was with some gujarati pals who seem to think that both India and Pakistan were paid off, most of the top players performed worse than some school cricket teams, pathetic.

An extreme reaction to the shocking exits, just like stoning players houses (forgot that you were kissing the ground they walked on just a few days back?!!) but not entirely unexpected. We Indians do seem to be extreme when it comes to cricket. I always felt that we put too much of our national pride in a privately run team of individuals who are more interested in individual performances, endorsements and money they can make from them, than the game itself. While some, like Sachin & Dravid, probably deserve it, most are just flash in the pan performers. And some don’t even deserve to be in it.

Now Zee has announced a new cricket league. Another money making racket or a new way for corporate India to get involved with sport, only time will tell. But if they can even provide a platform to deserving people who don’t make it to the team just because of regional politics (and other petty considerations) within the selection committe, this will be a good initiative in the long run.

Since none of my advice was followed I assume that the powers that be don’t read my blog (or probably any other for that matter). Sad, so sad. As it is our performance in sports worldwide is pathetic, we don’t even matter in the Asian games, leave alone the Olympics! Now I guess the average Indian sports fan will also have to give up on cricket.

What next? Gulli danda? or Kho Kho (kabbaddi)? I guess we will be the best till some small country with a population of 20,000 people beats us at them too.

The Indian Cricket team is in the pits,

Tendlya scores an average score per innings that Parthiv Patel could achieve.

Rahul ‘The Wall’ seems to have hit one.

Sehwag lost it completely.

So is it all lost? Is there no way forward? What should be done?

While I don’t claim to have any more cricketing knowledge than the average fan, here is my list of TOP things that need to be done RIGHT NOW to prevent a first round exit from the World Cup 2007.

1. FIRE Guru Greg [GG]. And no, I don’t mean shoot him, just send him packing.
2. Get Kapil Dev as the team coach.
3. Get Saurav back as Non Playing Captain.
4. Implement performance pay - IMMEDIATELY.
5. Drop players from the team on three successive non performances.

This will have the following immediate effects on the team :

Rahul can concentrate only on his batting, instead of wondering what GG is upto.

Saurav can assist the team, while keeping his detractors quiet for the time being.

Sachin will concentrate on his cricket, instead of his endorsement revenues, as they might dry up is he is dropped from the team. After all, why make an exception for anyone? No is really indispensable, specially if they don’t or can’t perform.

Kapil Dev is more likely to ensure Pathan and all the other bowlers concentrate on bowling, Rahul and the other batsmen concentrate on batting and the general upbeat mood of the entire team having gotten rid of firangi deadweight will ensure better results.

Considering I’m not fanatical about cricket, this blog sure is turning into a commentary on it, so till my recommendations are followed I shall refrain from :

• Watching Cricket
• Reading about Cricket
• Writing about Cricket
• Buying Products Endorsed by Cricketers

Actually, come to think of it, with the current performance of the team I wouldn’t be surprised to see that most of the brands drop these guys till they actually start being adulated by the fans.