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| SPORTS TRIBUNE | Saturday, April 28, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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Role of men in white coats High suicide rate among British cricketers TEEING-OFF |
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Afro-Asian Games: an avoidable drama THE Afro-Asian Games is finally on. It was “no” for a week after Uma Bharati, Union Sports Minister, was reported to have said that “we can organise the Afro-Asian Games but cannot organise the organising committee” following a curt “two-liner” to the Indian Olympic Association, issuing a directive to defer the Games. The Government directive sent shock waves in the IOA and the rank and file of the sports fraternity. Both the IOA and Uma Bharati stood their ground, the exchanges blaming each other continued till the issue was taken to the Prime Minister by Suresh Kalmadi, the IOA President. Uma Bharati too left it to the Prime Minister. And then came the news that the Prime Minister had cleared the Games. Was all this drama necessary? Why was it taken to the Prime Minister if, in the end, the difference of opinion was on trivialities? Yes, on the face of it, rivalry between personalities was very negligible if the issue at stake was of national importance. No one will deny that the Afro-Asian Games was more important than both the IOA and the Sports Minister(y). Uma Bharati mentioned ego problems affecting the constitution of the organising committee though after the Prime Minister intervention she has denied that the organising committee was any problem. She never did name the persons concerned though both Suresh Kalmadi and Vijay Kumar Malhotra, by coming out with statements on the issue have more or less identified themselves. Both are political heavyweights though professing different ideologies. Both have denied the projected differences but Malhotra has been quoted as referring to the Asian Games when he as a BJP man was replaced at the head of the organisation by a Congressman, the party in power then. Then too, if one remembers, the Prime Minister’s office was involved in giving the clearance for the Games. The disclaimer by both Kalmadi and Malhotra only goes to conform the obvious. Perhaps it was once again a BJP-non BJP confrontation, something that should not have happened, something that should not have posed as an obstacle the Games. After the PM’s o k to the project Uma Bharati is on record saying that she will do the job but it was a difficult one, particularly the work relating to the upgrading and revamping of the facilities in the stadiums. She is of course right. Much needs to be done to bring the infrastructure to the required level. Time indeed is short. But the question is why was not a start made in this field much earlier. The government had okayed the multi-event project and having done so was it not the duty of the concerned authorities to get the work started on the infrastructure. The Finance Minister in his budget set aside Rs 20 crore for the Games. He did it only because the government had granted permission for the Games. Why then did the Sports Ministry dawdle and dithered instead of issuing orders to the Sports Authority of India to get the work on the infrastructure started? The work on the infrastructure had nothing whatsoever to do with the constitution of the oranising committee which according to Uma Bharati was a difficult process. Why then the delay? That the synthetic surface at the Nehru Stadium needed to be changed was not a secret. Uma Bharati admits that she called P.T.Usha for a verdict on the surfaces. Usha is certainly not an expert on the technical aspect and anyone, even a non-athlete could have told her that the athletics tract at the Nehru Stadium needed to be replaced. The same is true of the hockey turf at the National Stadium. That needs a new face and it should have been provided for one by now. Why wait for the formation of an organising committee. There are so many obvious things to be done at the available stadiums, all built for the Asian Games of 1982 in New Delhi. The bucket seats have to be replaced, the bathrooms require the whole works, including a thorough fumigation, something which should have been done every week if not every day, irrespective of whether a major event is held or not. Cleanliness is something which appears to be alien to India particularly when it concerns upkeep of sports stadiums. Ask the players, officials and spectators who came for the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. They all carried something of India with them when they left, including the stench from the bathrooms. The Indian Olympic Association is also to be blamed for not repeatedly reminding the government of the urgency of the work on the infrastructure. Mr Suresh Kalmadi is a high profile personality, given to extravaganza in opening ceremonies. If only he had taken the trouble to point to the government to get ahead with the infrastructure instead of giving everyone reasons for presenting the participating athletes incomplete works in Delhi when they arrive for the Games in November. If people like Kalmadi, Randhir Singh and others had taken the initiative, at least in persuading the government in this respect much of the problems now faced by the organisers would have not existed. The fault is on both sides, whatever the reasons. The success of the Games depends considerably on how the two sides get along with each other. Malhotra has opted out of the organising committee to be formed, In his own way he has contributed considerably to the sports scenario in the country, particularly in archery. Kalmadi has been lording it over athletics in India and is now also the head of the Asian body. Both have a lot in stake apart from their political future in ensuring that the Games are a success. If one remembers correctly the Asian Games too went through a period of uncertainty before the Prime Minister stepped in. Those Games were, by and large, a major success. The Afro-Asian Games too can be made into a big success if the two parties concerned forget their differences. Now that the Prime Minister himself has intervened to save the games perhaps he may take a personal interest in ensuring that everything is readied in time for the Games. |
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Role of men in white coats THE just concluded Ranji Trophy final between Baroda and Railways has once again brought to sharp focus the role of the men in white coats, who have been painted as partisan by the losing side, Railways. Railways have made no secret of their displeasure about the number of umpiring decisions which went against them at crucial moments of the match and eventually dashed their hopes of a maiden Ranji Trophy title. As a matter of fact a few days earlier Railways had immensely benefited from partisan umpiring witnessed at SAS Nagar in their semi-final clash against the formidable Punjab team. At that time everybody present at the match talked about the deliberate effort of umpires to stonewall Punjab’s victory bid, but the Punjab officials kept the grouse to themselves. It is a sad commentary on the state of affairs of the game and it is for the lure of money through lucrative postings in tests and one-dayers that the umpires are playing to the tunes of their masters. In this case it is the lobby which gives them the postings. In the case of Baroda it was board secretary J.Y. Lele and in the case of Punjab it was the lobby which wanted to get even with PCA President I.S. Bindra, which was able to use the men in white coats to work to their advantage. Partisan umpiring had its roots in Pakistan and the earliest incident that comes to mind is that of Pakistani umpire Idris Beg in the early fifties who was manhandled by the English team during their tour of Pakistan. The incident was widely reported in the media at that time and there was no sympathy for the umpire because of his blatant partisan behaviour although the rouging up was not appreciated. One can understand the extent of the provocation which made the supposedly gentlemen from England to indulge in such a boorish behaviour. The complaint of partisan decisions in favour of the home side continued over the year and then the ICC came up with the concept of neutral umpires as also third umpires to help arrive at more accurate decisions. But still this menace has not been done away with. The recently concluded English tour of Sri Lanka will be more remembered for bad umpiring than any other cricketing record. There are, however, world renowned and respected umpires like Dicky Bird, Venkataraghvan, David Shephard and Steve Buckner in whom all teams have faith. However, there are many umpires in each country who are known for helping their home sides in many crunch situations. Their acts of commission are so obvious that they have become branded. It is just a matter of raising the index finger which would engineer the exit of a budding cricketer and may at times be the end of the road for him because in these days of fierce competition it is hard to regain lost ground of a missed opportunity. It is in this context that the need for honest and efficient men in white coats is felt all the more. The ruckus raised by Railways about the bad umpiring in the finals of the National Cricket Tournament must be thoroughly probed and corrective measures initiated. The faith of the players in the honesty and efficiency of the umpires must be restored if this gentleman’s game has to prosper and survive. The integrity of the players had taken a severe beating during the match fixing scandal and now it the integrity of the umpires which is being questioned. The BCCI must act fast and effectively in this regard. |
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High suicide rate among British cricketers ENGLISH cricketers are almost twice as likely to commit suicide as the average British male and have a suicide rate higher than players of any other sport, according to an international study. Sussex and Somerset counties whose sweeping grounds have spawned scores of great players including Ted Dexter and current Test bowler Andy Caddick, have the highest suicide rates in the country, according to David Frith, author of Silence of the Heart, an investigation into the phenomenon. The findings have disturbed Britain’s cricketing world and pose the question of whether cricket attracts vulnerable people or whether the game has a unique capacity to destabilise its players. “Cricket has this dreadful, hidden burden,” said Frith, one of Britain’s best-known cricket writers and a former editor of Wisden Cricket Monthly. “It must now answer the very serious question of whether it gradually transforms unwary cricket-loving boys into brooding, insecure and ultimately self-destructive men.” The suicide rate among British men is 1.07 per cent, but according to Frith’s research, the rate among cricketers here is 1.77 per cent — making them 75 per cent more likely to take their own life. But the game’s toll overseas is even higher. In South Africa 4.12 per cent of players take their own lives. In New Zealand the rate is 3.92 per cent and in Australia 2.75 per cent. “There is a relative consolation from knowing that Britain’s rate is below that of other countries but the worry is that in general, cricket’s casualty rate is way above the general average,” said Frith. Frith believes that, instead of susceptible people being attracted to the game, cricket puts a strain on nerves that can be as destructive as the post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by war veterans. “It is the uncertainty, day in and day out, that plays a sinister beat on the cricketer’s soul,” he said. “Golfers, footballers, tennis players and boxers all have an assurance that they have a chance to recover from early defeat in the game but cricket embodies uncertainty on the grand scale and on a relentless daily basis. “The nature of cricket is such that it tears at the nerves. Half-hearted cricketers are extremely rare. This game gets a grip on people such as only religious fanatics might recognise. “There is a compulsive nature to the game and an inherent uncertainty which could damage the soul.” The majority of the suicides over the past 30 years took place in the eighties and nineties, with the fewest in the sixties, and were of players aged between 40 and 49 who had been forced into retirement. Famous cricket suicides include A.E. Stoddart, the most glamorous cricketer of the 1880s and captain of England from 1894, who shot himself in 1915 after his career ended; Albert Shrewsbury, the finest professional batsman of his day; and William Scotton. Stoddart and Shrewsbury walked out to open the batting for England on July 17, 1893, passing another suicide-to-be, Australia’s Billy Bruce, days after the funeral of Scotton, who had killed himself at his home near Lord’s cricket ground in London. David Bairstow, the burly, life-loving Yorkshire captain, killed himself in 1998 aged 46, joining sporting heroes Sid Barnes and Jack Iverson. Hansie Cronje, the shamed South African captain, has said he came close to committing suicide after the match-fixing scandal broke. Frith believes the recent increase in recorded suicides could be the result of a waning in the stigma surrounding the act and a new willingness to identify it as cause of death. “Logic insists that there must be many other suicides still unrevealed,” he said. “And many that will always remain so.” The solution, he believes, is for former players to stay connected with the game through broadcasting, umpiring or coaching, after they have retired. Mike Brearley, the former England captain, is not sure cricket is to blame for the heavy toll it takes on the lives of its players. “The uncertainty of cricket is not always glorious or exciting; it can be disillusioning and anxiety-creating,” he said. “And then, after their career is over, many ex-cricketers feel they have been lured into prostituting their name to fit in with the starstruck desires of others. “These men lose their authenticity and that humiliation, which contrasts dramatically with the excitement and successes that went before, can be terrible. “But it is not cricket which causes suicide: people kill themselves for reasons that are internal to themselves and their histories.”
By arrangement with The Observer |
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TEEING-OFF THE Indian Golf Union (IGU), operating from the world’s second oldest institution Royal Calcutta Gold Club (RCGC), has of late shown signs of decay instead of gaining in stature and popularity. Its functions have caused more discontentment and anguish than happiness even among its ardent supporters. The IGU’s recent handling of the junior golfers programme has caused an enormous dismay among renowned golfers and promoters of the game. Juniors, particularly promising ones, are the future of the country. They deserve judicious handling, befitting facilities, encouragement and, above all, fair and unbiased selection. Golf is an individual discipline in which merit, skill and performance of amateur players, particularly junior players, should be the yardstick for selection of boys and girls to wear India’s colours for the international competitions. But unfortunately it has not been the case this year because parents (fathers, mothers, uncles and aunties) have been coopted to select players. One official of the IGU, once a renowned golfer himself, is playing havoc with the selection procedure. As a result of the IGU’s malfunctioning, other affiliated units are also flouting age-old selection rules. Except at Calcutta, the youngster of the Calcutta-based official’s son performed pathetically in the five ‘categorised’ tournaments from October to December. Originally, and in essentiality, Indian team was to be picked on the basis of performance in these tournaments. But since this boy could not be chosen on the strength of his display in the competitions, the entire selection procedure was altered. The five council-member IGU is locked in a court case, filed by the Army club. But its junior committee caused shock and also disappointment when it announced that the Indian team for the Asia Pacific Tournament at Sarawak (Malaysia) from May 2 would be chosen on the basis of 72-hole trials, which were open to many known and unknown juniors. Just to ‘smuggle’ one youngster, the entire mode of selection was altered. While one youngster has been given out-of-turn favour just because of his father’s clout in the IGU, another deserving youngster from Delhi, Manav Jaini, has been unceremoniously pushed out. He had performed superbly in the five ‘categorised’ tournaments and he should have been an automatic choice on the basis of his performance in these competitions. Instead of grooming him young, he has been throttled young. In the five tournaments, Jaini (junior) secured 119 points. He was second on the merit list. Yet he has been sidelined on the plea that he did not perform well enough in the trials, which were held without providing sufficient time to the top participants. The exclusion of Jaini needed scrutiny. What was most shocking was that the berth was ‘bestowed’ upon the youngster, with merely 36 points. This was just because he happened to be son of the chairman of the selection committee. Should the father be a selector or chairman of selection committee if his ward was one of the candidates for the selection? For the selection of players, particularly junior players, the selectors have to be honest. They have not only to be honest but they must appear to be honest. For the Asia Pacific selection of the team, the selectors have erred and they owe an explanation to the golfing public. Complaints against IGU’s favouritism have been lodged with Sports Minister Uma Bharati. The Department of Sports has also been apprised of the facts and figures. The government must move in the matter so that youngsters possessing skill and merit like Jaini are not pushed out of teams by units, dominated by vested interests. Matters regarding age manipulations have also been raised by parents, promoters and dispassionate officials. The age of a youngster has been changed from August 26, 1988 to August 26, 1986. Why? What is the cause for the change? It is learnt that the IGU will soon have a room at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium where a majority of other national bodies have their headquarters. The IGU has been in the grip of a few persons. It should be broad-based so that golf is promoted in right earnestness. The game is greater than the individuals and youngsters must be treated with care and attention. Once again Indian women did not perform to their potential in the Queen Sirikit Cup. This once again showed that they lacked in big match temperament. |
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Courtney Walsh’s decision to retire shocking West Indies’ bowler and the world’s highest Test wicket-taker Courtney Walsh’s decision to retire from international cricket came as a shock. Though every good innings comes to an end, Walsh will always be remembered for his gentlemanly conduct. The incident during a tense match with Pakistan in the 1987 Reliance World Cup will always be an example for all future cricketers. Walsh, who still could have played for a couple of seasons more, has finally bid farewell after a glorious service to his country over a span of 17 years. I wish Courtney Walsh all the best in his future assignments. SATVIK GUPTA SAS Nagar Baroda’s win Congratulations to the Baroda cricket team for winning the prestigious Charminar Challenge Ranji Trophy, the symbol of supremacy in national cricket, after a gap of 44 years beating Railways by 21 runs. The turning point was Satyajit’s valuable knock of 141 runs. Baroda bowler Zaheer Khan, who picked five wickets, bowled superbly. MANDEEP SIKKA Ludhiana Sharjah meet The organisers of the tournament at Sharjah who were shocked at the decision of Indian Government in not allowing our team to participate were able to organise an excellent show by including New Zealand at the eleventh hour. The reasonable number of spectators present throughout the tournament also proved that contests between teams other than India and Pakistan are also crowd pullers. Instead of complaining to the International Cricket Council it is high time the organisers of the CBFS for the Indian team from playing in Sharjah for the next five years. This will be a strict message for all cricket-playing nations to fulfil their international commitments. If the Indian hockey team can play against Pakistan at Dhaka, then why make cricket an exception? MANAN GUPTA Kapurthala Kudos to Irina Kudos to Chandigarh lass Irina Brar for emerging as the Sri Lanka Open ladies amateur golf champion on her first visit to the island. She has again proved that skill, hardwork and willingness can be transformed in to success at any age. The role model for the would-be-players won the Queen Sirikit Cup with flying colours and brought laurels to the country and the city. Harsukh MaNjeet Mandi Gobindgarh |
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