The Cover Drive

This blogger may be viewed as a frenetic cricket fan looking at how often the subject matter is cricket on this blog. I am yet to explore the exact reason behind that. May be, there is a cricketing brain which is somehow surviving the slower bouncers of debits and credits, short pitch stuff of ever increasing productivity and precise yorkers of enterprise risk management. While these are typical weapons of a bowler in the cricket, the batsmen do not mind trying something out of the blue.

Take the switch hit for instance. Back in 1990s, this term would have implied hitting the switch of one of those floodlights. Or take Dil-scoop for that matter. A layman would be easily forgiven for even trying to decipher this term. It will need some absorbing following of cricket to know that Dil stands for T. Dilshan (Sri Lanka Captain at the moment) who has mastered the scoop shot right past the wicket keeper off the fast bowlers. Indian cricket followers may find easy to understand the helicopter shot. Thanks to the immense popularity of Mr. MSD who plays this shot like it was never played before.

Now that I have already mentioned something that the batsmen try out of the blue, it is the bowlers whose innovations look more compact in the game of cricket. The terms such as the carrom ball, the wrong’un etc. may well still need in-depth knowledge of cricket but they make slightly more sense as compared to the shots mentioned above purely because of the pose (while playing them) that will leave Sir Bradman shout from the grave.

That brings me back the memories of good old days of cricket coaching when coaches used to ask us to come on the front foot, take a long stride outside the crease, offer full face of the bat and caress the out-swinging ball between extra cover and mid-off. Just imagine playing an inside out lofted cover drive in place of a switch hit or playing a hook shot getting on top of the 150 Kmph ball instead of a dil-scoop. For that matter, imagine the beauty of using your wrists to play those lovely flicks off your pads towards square leg and not indulging in the chopper shot. Does not that sound "wow"!

As my cricketing brain continues to survive slower bouncers, short pitch deliveries and yorkers, I am happy to play those lovely drives, flicks, hooks, pulls and cuts that remain there forever in the memory. I may well be slow in scoring the runs but it will please the eyes of cricketing Gods and they will be the first ones to tip their hat on those shots and offer long lasting rhythmic claps somewhere from the heavens!

नयी एक ऊर्जा, नयी हर दिशा

मानव, संसार में अद्वितीय तेरी क्षमता है,
इश्वर ने तुझे दी अनोखी बुध्हिमता है,
क्षितिज के उस पार तक पहुची है तेरी कल्पना,
चाँद तारे तक गाते तेरी गुणवत्ता है,

जीता इस युग में सब कुछ तुने, चाह था जो भी,
फिर क्यों उत्तेजना की आंधी तेरे मन में समाती,
क्यों बर्बर लोभ है धन दौलत सोने-चाँदी की,
क्यों यह दहशत यह आतंक मानवता को मिटाने की,

अमन की छवि चंद किताबो में छिप ना जाए,
परोपकारिता हर फटते बम से झुलस ना जाए,
मित्रता फेसबुक के पन्नो तक सिमित ना रह जाए,
अपनेपन का साक्षात् माध्यम कही लुप्त ना हो जाए,

काय काप उठती है परिवर्तन के इस दौर में,
साँसे सहम जाती है, भयानक इस सोच से,
एक नयी ऊर्जा, नयी सुबह की आशा है बन्दे को,
जब गले लगाएगा मानव, फिर से इस प्रकृति को इन परिंदों को...

Corporate Corruption

Letter “C” seems to be riding high these days in India. Confrontation of Corruption by the Common Class of a Classical Character in line with Constitutional Charter! The waves are running high and the results have been unprecedented. As a matter of fact, it is the word "corruption" from which no part of the vast society is untouched in direct or indirect way. Hence, there was this whole euphoria and at times overly energetic responses from all the parties involved in past two weeks.

No doubt, the initiatives are being taken in the right direction (may be a little late). However, it remains to be concluded whether these initiatives will suffice in eradicating the letter “C” Completely. It is a humongous task to even think of all possible forms of corruption – leave alone its eradication. One of such form of corruption is the malpractices exercised by the corporate houses or even medium size entrepreneurial businesses in order to maximize the wealth.

It is not 'only' the politicians who are responsible for the wide-spread corruption. Businessmen see it in their every right to bribe the person of authority to ask for a favour. Big companies find it appropriate to manipulate financial records to mislead an investor's decisions. Investors do not leave any stone unturned to solicit insider information to engage in stock trading. Employees do their bit in colluding with external or internal parties to skim off company’s assets and monies. Are these not a form of corruption? Absolutely. Yes.

This is a form of a corruption which seems directly proportional to the number of transactions that take place within the business community. Ironically though, it is not the risk related to the volume of transactions that occupies the center stage in audit committee meetings. In fact, the risk that is most relevant is the risk of business continuity, risk of investor disinterest, risk of unproductive cash on the balance sheet or risk of underachieved business targets. And this is where the focus comes in the way of dealing in most ethical manner. Enough corruption still exists at various levels in the entire business cycle which relates to these risks. In theory, this constitutes a part of enterprise risk management (ERM).

Yet, we witness corporate scandals of big or small form not so infrequently. I wonder can ERM be most effective when the intent itself is questionable. Can any professional body design a way to curb those malicious intents? Probably no. The pre-requisite then is to conduct the business with utmost integrity and arm’s length way. Alas but true, the fight against corruption has a long way to go! There is a need to institutionalize anti-corrupt practices in daily affairs – in mind, body and soul.

Happy Independence Day!

Here is an occasion that speaks volumes of a country which is so vastly beautiful. Every part of her is diversified yet so elegant. Every river flowing through her is sacred yet so melodious. Every words of wisdom crowning her to glory is powerful yet so sweet. I pay a grand salute to the very existence of this country and the people who make it even more exciting and merrier. Happy Independence Day!

Playing for The National Pride?

A lot has been written and talked about India’s dismal performance in England in the ongoing battle of supremacy in the test cricket. For some reasons, it deserved to be talked about. It ought to have been abhorred by an ardent cricket fan especially after reading the tally i.e. 2-0 in England’s favour at the half way stage of the series.

There is no hidden truth about the fact that fast seaming, swinging and bouncy wickets are where India is not able to dominate the world of cricket (read test cricket). Though they have been improving their records overseas in the last decade, there is always a possibility that we might lose a test series in South Africa, Australia and England (England being least possible). At the heart of every Indian cricket fan, there is always this fear. Fear may come true, but a fan does not hope that fear to be most horrendous. Probably, this is what has happened over the past fortnight.

Honestly, we never did enough to be no. 1 for a long time and winning test matches overseas in patches has not helped either. Unless you win a series 2-0 or 3-0, you may not be branded the champions of test cricket. However, team India has done enough to be in top three for a long time and every expectation of them beating England in England is absolutely valid. It is still valid. Valid when you look into history and when you look into the capabilities of our stalwarts.

So what has gone wrong? Almost everything and media has touched upon all these factors in details. If I had to pick few factors, I would definitely question the schedule, players’ fees and relevance of IPL (Injury-prone League or Incredible Paisa League). Barely a week into celebration of that historical night, all our players came back to play IPL – mind you, none of these senior or not so senior players missed a single game. Gautam and Zaheer played till the last despite sustaining injuries. Viru played each game, waited until Daredevils were knocked out finally and then proceeded for an important shoulder surgery. Who cares if there are a series of international cricket to be played on hard turf?

More on the technique front, it is easy to put the front foot out of the line and smack the ball over the long on or mid-wicket boundary on the flattest of Indian tracks. The same swashbucklers were (are) targeted on every part of upper body from time to time and still, they care a zilch. There is no coach to train how to take the bat and body out of the line of a rising delivery. There is no board to create a good sustainable and technically rich talent pool and develop a cricket system which can protect the likes of Badrinath, Wasim Jaffer and Cheteshwar Pujara and assure them of a berth in test squad. It is a real shame that on the one hand players like Yusuf Pathan, his brother Irfan and Robin Uthappa are being paid millions of US dollars in IPL and on the other hand, we are struggling to find an able replacement of Sourav Ganguly at no. 6 in the test team.

There was a time when The National Pride used to drive billions of us to play for the country. Is it still going to be the same?

An evening at Marina Bay

It may sound strange to people who have known me in the past 5 years or so. Having done all kinds of travel across cities, states and countries, you may wonder that this is the first time that I made it to the Lion City. I am not sure if lions ever lived here, but the liveliness of the city roars like a lion. Cosmopolitan nature of Singapore is quite unique in its own way, although slightly dominated by Chinese culture.

The first thing that caught my attention once inside the city was Marina Bay Sands. The attraction was enough for a first timer like me to plan an evening stroll on one of lazy weekend day. So here I was on top of the complex at the SkyPark gazing the view of the wonderful city. Beautiful indeed! As I started the stroll towards the Fullerton Hotel after measuring the length and breadth of the MBS complex, I noticed a queue of photographers alongside the bay as if some big event was about to happen. It was a pleasant surprise to know that every Singaporean is gearing up hard for the upcoming National Day celebrations.

And this was a Saturday, hence a dress rehearsal for the big event i.e. 9 August. Suddenly, the activities started and wow! What an immense joy to watch something which came as a big celebration package. Tanks, military choppers and parachutes – everything was within startling distance from the eyes. Entire atmosphere seemed to celebrate the mood of nationalism and why not! Huge buildup of the crowd said it all. Not to forget the fireworks at the end was unforgettable. I imagine if this was the rehearsal, how wonderful will be the D-day!

The day ended with a comment made by one of my colleague from a city called Goya in Argentina – “They know how to live and enjoy life. They know how to make people happy." I knew a little bit of Argentina from him and his wife who is from Santa Fe. All and all, it was a very nice evening to remember!