Here comes the world cup again

Fifteen years on, the world cup tournament returns to India. The game has not changed much irrespective of several experiments being instituted over the past decade. Yes, there have been several additions in the law book of the game – free hits, additional runs for run scored on wide and no-balls, power-plays, review systems, mandatory ball change after 34 overs, hawk-eye etc.

It is a known fact that first fifteen overs proved decisive in 1996 all the way till the finals – an experiment for which Romesh Kaluwitharana and Sanath Jayasuriya became national heroes. Talking about 2011 world cup, I do not see too much of experiments working in anyone’s favour. Perhaps, the game has evolved so much so that there are counterplans ready for every strategy possible on the field. I reckon option to take power-plays (both batting as well as bowling) – at the right time would be the key this time around. Skippers need to counteract real time and there lies the beauty of this mind game. Skippers will play pivotal role in taking their side home and players will need to apply themselves properly before going berserk. There are only two teams who seem ready for all this at this point. Hence, my bet will be on an India Sri Lanka final.

Just 4 days into the tournament, there is a huge debate over participation of minnows in the world cup which is evident from their crushing defeats at the hand of test playing nations. Ponting and Vettori have already advocated the idea of reducing the number of participating teams. For me though, that is not a point of debate. In the world cup football too, at least 4 or 5 groups are dominated by two teams who select themselves for the next round just by composition of the group. Since ICC wants to encourage the popularity of cricket, it will be all the more good if there are more tournaments involving these minnows.

Point of debate for me is actually the format of 2011 world cup tournament. Unless minnows cause few upsets (seems impossible at this juncture), this format is absolutely rubbish. Gravity of this 43 days extravaganza will be observed in final week only and rest becomes a record keeping exercise till then. India and Pakistan were eliminated in first round in 2007 and there is a need to keep the interest for longer period – point taken. But the format of 2007 was also rubbish (worst of the lot). One would hardly imagine a world cup with three teams each in a group. Super six formats in 1999 and 2003 were quite good stuffs and something on the similar lines could have been devised.

Having said this, the champion will be the one who will play consistently throughout the tournament with the exception of South Africa. To win the world cup, they need to play more inconsistently rather than consistently. After all, the tag of "chokers" does not serve them well.

What is the right way

If something is not so great with the people charged with governance in India in the recent times (recent times?), it has to be rampant corruption which seems to have engulfed the entire political system. It is a pity that connotation of accountability implies abundance of wealth for self and relatives which ought to be amassed in most illegal and inappropriate fashion. Here geography does not matter. Corruption is equitably existent in all the corners of the country.

Billions of my countrymen including me work hard round the clock to earn daily breads. Several of us work throughout the life to realize the dream of owning a decent home. Several of us spend whole life eating two meals a day and organizing family outing once a month. This may seem mundane but this is a lot which is still better off. This lot is better off for they are able to earn so much so that they can pay substantial portion of their income to government as tax. Similarly, several business houses pay substantial sum out of their profits to the coffers of Indian treasury.

For what? To run the country, uplift the living standards of poor people and provide opportunity for tremendous economic growth. This was my understanding when I used to go to school and college. Alas! They run the country (not sure whether they run the country or their own ulterior motives) in the most detrimental way. Alas! They uplift the living standards of poor people by offering no benefits. For each rupee of benefits offered, a thousand is deposited in some foreign banks (Who said Mauritius is only a holiday spot). Alas! They provide opportunity for tremendous growth to people who can provide similar or better growth avenues in return (totally unwarranted and totally illegal).

I wonder when these guys will perform their duties the right way. Their business is to serve the country in most selfless fashion. Every business prospers on the foundations of accountability, productivity, sustainability and code of ethics. These foundations are existent in every great success story which one get to hear about. These foundations are existent in every great leader as they develop their babies into big adults. I scratch my head in little anxiety as to where will our own chosen people take us. Towards prosperity or back to slavery?

A dream towards contentment

In each phase of life, we harbour dreams which are supposed to lead to a great deal of happiness. Once accomplished, it does offer a great deal of happiness and acts as an analgesic for all the pain experienced during the course. However, the game of dreams does not end there. I have not yet figured out how this could end for it keeps life running in right spirits and sacred faith. But, then why does there exist misery, why there are feelings of hatred and anger, why does patience go for a toss many a times.

Perhaps, the dream to chase these items was never on the cards. Someone was running after a degree, the other one was running after money and yet another one was running after power. This post may be read in conjunction with the first post on this blog. Indeed, a dream to chase degree, money and power are essential and we must do that. However, doing this alone may not lead to contentment. A dream to contentment means greater involvement of society in pursuit of real happiness. There has not been a single person in the world who has accomplished real heights of contentment without touching and inspiring lives of many other people.

In my mind, I think that the road to contentment is also a dream where you put aside your self-interest and replace it with collective interests. It is a dream about which our ex-president APJ Abdul Kalam often speaks about. Readers who have read his book “The Wings of Fire” could relate to where I am coming from. It is hard thinking that ways where life seems unfair most of the times. It is not easy when you live inside a political periphery for most of the times be it society, be it colony or be it profession. But there is one thing which is not tough. A dream towards contentment Today and an unwavering focus towards this dream all along the way. If it is within imagination, it can be reached also for we the people have made the world what it is Today.

Dream for it does not cost anything. If you lose, you will be more powerful. If you win, your dreams will be more powerful. There is a song from hindi Movie "Lagaan" which keeps coming to my mind as I sign off Today.