Friday, February 09, 2007

Keep off Azhar now

Looks like Nagpur police were fearing layoffs. The city was so crime-free that they found a prey in the young West Indian, Marlon Samuels. "South Indian nahin, North Indian nahin, East Indian nahin, West Indian hai woh. Harey yaar woh toh Mumbaikar hi hai."

Now every other cricket writer will suddenly remember Hansie Cronje or Azhar. Let me tell them something. Keep off Azhar. He might not have been the best to play for India - coming after Sunny and followed soon by Sachin, Saurav and Rahul, but he certainly was vital during the gap. His exploits in domestic cricket and his three consecutive test tons on debut for India, are testimony enough. He was the first Indian to dive for stopping a cricket ball, in an era where the rest of our heroes were happy to escort it to the ropes. Fitness and agility were his trademark. He led India through some bad times and emerged as the most successful Indian captain before Saurav surpassed him. For him to be denied his well deserved ten thousand one day runs and hundredth test cap is severe punishment.

Whether match-fixing is real or not, whether he was involved or not, there can be no debate that he was a great cricketer. And if he had let out some information regarding the playing eleven or the toss and his batting or bowling line-up , that I don't consider match-fixing. Match-fixing is an allegation which would fit only someone who influences the result of a game by making obvious choices to turn the game. You and I would be equally gullible, if we were to get the kind of offers from the Sheikhs of Dubai for tipping on who will start or not.

Now leave him alone. And dear police officers, please try to solve the Noida killing case that has put the entire nation in shock, rather than chasing budding cricketers in the hotel rooms from city to city.

Let Ajju and Bijju live happily hereafter.

10 comments:

Ajay said...

hmm...finally found an Azhar fan..i am too...
his batting was magic, simply put..not Sachin not Rahul not Ganguly can create that...the problem is many r influenced by his notorious role that they forget to credit him for his cricket..i felt bad for him when he was stranded at 99 caps..
we do not know what happened exactly with match-fixing but i still feel he slipped up..u and i wudb gullible, yes..but u and i r not wearing the Indian Captain blazer..donning that requires some off-field qualities which i doubt Azhar had any..

APAM NAPAT said...

I am not a fan. I am a Azhar fanatic. I have a bent back trying to imitate Azhar's style while fielding. I don't know if any Indian captain was selected based on integrity inspite of temptations.

Ajay said...

captain selection isnt based on integrity inspite of temptations..captains have to conduct themselves like one..and not be a bad example...
and this from an equally fanatic man who cried when he fell lbw at 199 to a SL bowler..

APAM NAPAT said...

it was to Ravi Ratnayake. They shd be good leaders alright. But this is Kali Yugam. name any political group/ industry where you find ethical leaders. It is talent that decides leadership in today's world. Ethics are questioned only after you get caught. don't u think so?

Ajay said...

oh yes....i rem..there were 2 ratneyekes (romesh was the other)at that time...this one was the bearded guy who was bit of an allrounder too if i am rite..
well prob waht u say is rite, we dont live in a perfect world...even in a perfect world azhar wud still be a flawed genius...

APAM NAPAT said...

Azhar was a soft and well mannered guy before he became victim to the guile of the Sheikhs of Sharjah. So it was not a character rather a slip from integrity blown outa proportions in a cricket crazy nation.

D LordLabak said...

Missed reading this post. A good one. I was a BIG Azhar fan. yeah, have to say WAS coz I got pissed when he said he was targeted because he was a muslim. That hit fans like me hard. But I would pay anything to watch that flick of the wrist or the save at the slips.

APAM NAPAT said...

Deepa,
Azhar did say that but he apologised immediately. I pardoned him considering his emotional plight at that time. Wd you do the same for my sake :-)

Anonymous said...

Sheikhs of Sharjah, Rajesh, you must be the most ignorant indian to come of the India, what about the Indian Bookies who were caught red handed fixing the matches and bribing the young crickets who were so silly to accept the money for little gain. This includes Indian Players as well.

APAM NAPAT said...

Anon,
You just picked that word from the comment? Sad