Games that cricketers play!

THIS refers to the article — "World Cup Mind Games" by L.H. Naqvi (May 9).

After going through the article, one wonders as to what this ‘World Cup’ is all about?

Is it an international sports competition or a psychological word war wherein dirty tricks are being employed to inject a false sense of superiority in the opponents. Stories are being planted to mislead the competing teams about the medical fitness of participating ace players. How does all this appear to sport lovers like me? Certainly an un-sportsman like act.

What has happened to our sportsman-spirit? As per the author, it is all being done to bring about a "white revolution" in cricket and cause confusion in the ranks of coloured cricketers. The success of such unethical moves is highly suspect. A professionally superior team is bound to win — no matter how much any major team tries to mislead it through these so-called "mind games".

India was fully justified in not showing the full range of its fire power before the crucial World Cup as mentioned in this article. But a suggestion that if a team deliberately chooses to appear weak and disorganised, it will manage to force the enemy to lower its guards appears misplaced.

This one-day world championship is the supreme forum for participating cricketers to reveal their character and individuality and each one of them (irrespective of the teams they belong to) shall hopefully measure up to this expectation. I pray that the players on parade in this World Cup will contribute to propel the game of cricket worldwide into a golden age. Playing "mind games" to fool the rivals — does not fit in this high ideal.

ONKAR CHOPRA
Delhi

II

With the cricketing sides all over the world having improved immensely in the shorter version of the game, each one of them has started fearing the others considerably. They try to distract and divert the normal attention and focus of the opposing sides. This was not the case prior to the 1996 World Cup. In 1996, the Sri Lankans brought about a revolution in the art of playing one-day cricket with pinch hitting and brisk scoring. Later on countries like India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan (with New Zealand, England and Zimbabwe also not far behind) immediately followed suit. Now the shorter version of the game has become very tough physically and mentally. That is how attention diverting tactics have come into play.

ISAAC DAVID
Jalandhar

Redefining republic

The views expressed by Sai R. Vaidyanathan in "Time to redefine the republic" (May 2), regarding the setting up of a nominated government at the Centre are not practicable.

One cannot expect the lamb and the lion to drink water at same time and that too at the same place. Similarly, to think of Congress ministers working under a BJP candidate as PM or even vice versa does not make any sense in today’s circumstances. Lampooning forms a major part of every political party’s poll campaign and if the Opposition does not exist then against whom will the political parties rest the onus of all mishappenings?

In the Indian context, with a large repertoire of callow politicians, the answer lies in the renaissance of the common man. We can only wait and wish that one day the common man will awaken from the slumber and will recognise the importance of his vote and that day will be the last day of all these political pranksters.

ANSHUL GUPTA
Sai (Alampur)

II

We are not short of golden principles of good governance because India has the lengthiest ever written Constitution. Besides, epics on morality have been provided by our gurus from time to time. Unfortunately, the spirit to follow and enforce such rules is missing. Howsoever good the golden rules may be, our leaders are shrewd enough to find loopholes for their own advantages. Unless such aggressiveness towards misappropriations is contained, no suggestion or rule can change the plight of an average citizen.

A major percentage of public, due to illiteracy, is unable to understand the games leaders play but there still is the educated lot which prefers to encash on the prevailing confusion. Unless sincere citizens activate themselves and their tribe increases, any suggestion would be futile.

M.P.S. CHADHA
Chandigarh

III

The era of hung Parliament is going to last long. The country can not afford elections so frequently. Minimum fixed tenure of the Government has to be fixed under the Constitution. If, after going through the exercise of forming a stable government, the President fails, he should be empowered to invite the leader of the largest party in the house to form the government. Other parties may or may not support the Government. Issue based support or opposition should be offered by the parties as per their respective agendas. Such a government shall not have to face any confidence or no-confidence motion for a fixed tenure/term. In this way, the Government may also be able to show its credibility of governance before the people. Governments of short tenures, even if they have strong and able leaders, are ineffective and powerless.

Parties should field competent, able, educated and dignified candidates with a clean image.

R.P. MALHOTRA
Panchkula