Is it ok that a man died?

I've realised that noone seems to talk about Bob Woolmer's murder any more. MURDER! Doesn’t that word just scream out at you? Yet its off the radar…or so it seems. Does that mean it was ok? Does it mean it wasn’t a big deal? Till a week after the incident there was some news or the other about it…though all very haphazard…making you wonder how such crappy investigation was going on for such a high profile case. But now there's nothing! I watch an Indian news channel fairly regularly and it seems like every 3rd program on it has some discussion regarding where Indian cricket will head next. Yet, not once is the tragedy of Bob Woolmer mentioned. How can something like that be forgotten? Shouldn’t people try to find the reason behind it? It was MURDER! In the name of a game! And yet all people are back to talking about is how Bangladesh managed to beat South Africa. I'm not trying to take anything away from them here (well done to them of course!). Was just using it as an example. Why is noone even giving out news about whats happening with the investigation? He was strangled they said. We were shocked. Then they said 'wait. Maybe he was poisoned'…and then what? NOTHING! Should I join the conspiracy theorists and say the police is being manipulated by the ICC. I choose not to so far. But it saddens me to think that people have forgotten that a man lost his life…and just continue to watch the tournament pretending nothing ever happened.

Time to move on from cricket

The indian team has lost. Do I care? Well I did for the first few hours after it happened…but then now I can honestly say I don’t. Watching them play, you could see that they just didn’t want it enough. After the loss to bangladesh every person I know critisised the team to no end while I stood firmly by them saying 'they had a bad day. That’s it'…but that really isn't it! They deserved to lose the two games that they lost because they played badly. Nearly every one of them! And yes for a moment I will jump on the now popular 'bash-tendulkar' wagon because the entire country for more than a decade has been obsessed with the man. I was watching a show on NDTV that was analyzing India's exit from the world cup and 3 out of every 4 callers was asking the hosts, Siddhu and Jadeja what the future of tendulkar was. Not indian cricket…but Tendulkar!! I mean really?! I have stopped turning on NDTV now because all they do is use the same crappy words to describe india's exit. What's the point of all this talk. Its over! Move on! And think of it this way…the way they played…had they managed to make it to the super 8, what is the guarantee that they would have won any of the games apart from Ireland perhaps (if even that I can hear some of you think!). So maybe this is better than being humiliated 5 times over? Cuz seriously, there's no way they can beat South Africa, Australia or New Zealand the way they're playing at the moment!

Anyway, at the end of the day, its just a game. And I don’t know when people will start to realise that. Ok they played badly, ok they deserve to be questioned about the way they went about their task. But burning effigies? Throwing stones at their homes? What kind of crap is that? Do people in India and Pakistan really have nothing better to do with their time?

And I heard on the news today that a man in India committed suicide because he bet a large amount of money on the India-Bangladesh game. Another death in the name of cricket.

And of course, who can forget the biggest news in cricket at the moment? Bob Woolmer murdered. Whatever the reason may be…it had something to do with cricket. A GAME!! Which caused a person's death! You would think people would learn a lesson to not take the game itself as seriously. But here they are making a national issue out of a team's loss at a GAME! Do they even realise the sort of coverage all that gets outside the country. The way burning effigies and destroying property is portrayed by the western media? What does that say about India? I’m embarrased when I watch the news here. When will they grow up?

On a slightly more positive note...I'm not trying to say that supporting sport is bad. Its great to feel pride in your team/country. But just take it with a pinch of salt please! As for me...I will still watch the world cup. And support my number two team...they thankfully have been doing well so far. Go Black Caps :)

Its not just about the cricket

Sadly India lost to Bangladesh. I mourned their loss but still refuse to give up on them, and am hoping for the best. Another shocking result followed on the same day. First India lost to Bangladesh and then even more surprisingly, Pakistan lost to Ireland. And in the process got knocked out of the world cup. Cricket sure is a funny game!

As if that wasn’t enough, today's sports news were filled with news even more shocking and noone was talking about cricket. Bob Woolmer, Pakistan's cricket coach of a long time had a heart attack and passed away. At the age of 58 with no history of heart disease. How ironic that just yesterday the papers were filled with stories of how he is going to have a difficult time ahead, with Pakistan being eliminated in the first round of the world cup, and how he will be answerable to a lot of people. Who would have thought that fate had something entirely different in store. So forget mourning cricket losses. I guess life has taught us to not get too caught up in trivial issues. Here's a silent prayer for Bob Woolmer and his family. May they find peace.

And a note to me: Its not just cricket. Life is a funny game.

And AGAIN!!!!

The black caps did it agaaaaaaaaaain!! and they outdid their previous effort this time. (Though I'm a little bummed...wish I had gone down to Hamilton too...I can no longer say I watched the best game that NZ ever played)! hehe

I just couldnt believe it last night. Chasing 346 against Australia!! Absolutely stunning!

Was sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time. The game was so so close and I do feel sorry for Michael Hussey. First time captain and this is what he has to go through. A series whitewash. Australia's first ever in God knows how many years. And now Gilchrist says 'We didnt want this tour'...is that some sort of an excuse? I'm not going to be one of those people who have started to write off australia...i'm sure they will be back with a vengence at the world cup but imagine the sort of confidence this and the previous series (which england won) has given the rest of the world. That the invincible Aussies can be beaten! I know that this series they weren't full strength. But they nearly were in the last series.

And what's with Australia failing over and over again to defend big scores?? Biggest example of that would be the South Africa game of course...i dont think anything would compare to that! Bu the last two games the kiwis played really were unbelievable!

I'm always happy when the aussies lose...but yesterday I was really rooting for New Zealand...the way they were playing they deserve to win and they deserved the whitewash! I really am becoming a fan of the black caps! :)

What a game!

Watched the best cricket match I’ve ever seen yesterday (in person!). What a game! I’m not such a huuuuge supporter of the Black Caps (the NZ cricket team)…as in I do support them of course but not a diehard fan (that status is solely for supporting the indian team!). So through the initial phases of the match yesterday against Australia, I was fairly neutral. Enjoying the batting of both sides and just happy to be watching a game I love. But probably about half way through the New Zealand innings watching the way they were batting I just got caught up in the atmosphere (and what atmosphere it was…the stadium almost full with kiwi supporters of course with a few aussies here and there) and was cheering with the best of them. My voice is a bit hoarse now from all the yelling and screaming, but Boy was it worth it! The Black Caps won…chased 337 with an over and five wickets to spare and the aussies were left to lick their wounds. A series defeat yet again! And losing their top spot in the rankings for the first time ever. Could anything be better? New Zealand wins and the Aussies lose. Just a PERFECT Sunday! Go Black Caps! :)