Jhakas | Sanjay Jha
As India celebrated their most gigantic Test triumph against a struggling Bangladesh, there was additional incremental reason for jubilation other than the convincing whitewash. Sachin Tendulkar announced that he was pulling out of the farcical sequel of the Afro-Asian ODI duel in June. Tendulkar’s decision to give the striped pajama version of the inter-continental conflict a contemptuous miss is symptomatic of the prevalent malaise in international cricket.
Even as a short-sighted if not altogether blind BCCI rubbished Rahul Dravid’s humble request to scissor excess cricket, the BCCI is in rapid fourth gear mode to maximize revenue from every conceivable source. And the way things are going, they may even recommend an India-Pakistan match in troubled Baghdad, if some desperate sponsor believed it could attract global attention from Asians of all hues. The other trapeze event happened in nearby Abu Dhabi between Pakistan and Sri Lanka amidst sweltering desert storms, within days of the World Cup closure. Of course, the ICC strongly backs all these meaningless forays into Neverland because the TV channels have to somehow recover the moolah sunk in, what is turning out to be, treacherous investments. Continue reading below
Sachin Tendulkar would have realized the priceless treasure it is to score two successive centuries in Test cricket after a long dry drought, which gives him momentarily a slight head-start over a fast approaching Ricky Ponting in the rear-view mirror. Tendulkar , as I have repeatedly reiterated, must have realized the sheer futility of playing bizarre ODI cricket with rookie youngsters , being experimented with callous disdain by a buffoonish bunch of selectors who are obeying BCCI diktats with whimpering ,wallowing self-pity. The so-called “ rest” was perhaps a blessing in no-disguise. The forced recuperation , I am sure, gave Sachin time for deep introspection. The pull-out of the Afro-Asia Cup is a well thought-out, premeditated plan to plough himself into serious Test cricket in the final stages of his brilliant career. I won’t be surprised if Tendulkar announces a complete retirement from ODI cricket; after all, he is fully aware that there is no motivation left . the World Cup will never adorn his crowded shelf .
The Afro-Asia Cup was made hastily “official” by ICC, which in my opinion, is the most incompetent international sports administrative body in the world. The left hand is not aware that the right hand has been amputated, and vice versa. And the ODI tournament was created for pure commercial exploitation, damn common-sense, logic, and player burn-out.
Sachin Tendulkar has dealt a deadly lethal blow to both ICC and BCCI through a master-stroke , pun intended. The ICC has been told to take its prized “official property” and go fly a kite. And as for the BCCI, the 37 Test ton icon (in whose absence TRP ratings nose-dive) has sent an unalloyed message; go learn how to fly a kite.
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