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MPs and cricket

The Indian cricket team's recent drubbing at Durban has evoked a tremendous hue and cry, especially among our Members of Parliament who are extremely concerned about national honour. I wish to remind them that it is only because of politics and favouritism at all levels that the state of Indian cricket is what it is.

Our representatives would do well to take care of their constituencies and leave cricket alone. As for our cricketers, we hope they realise their responsibilities and win matches at least for the sake of our MPs who are extremely concerned.

J. Srinivasan,
Dindigul, T.N.

When the nation is facing challenges on almost every front, our leaders found it fit to discuss the least important issue in Parliament. Will winning or losing in cricket make any difference to the nation? Most of the players have killed the spirit of the game. There have even been allegations of match-fixing in the past. What is most appalling is the decision to send Selection Committee chief Dilip Vengsarkar to South Africa to `communicate' the nation's reaction to the defeat. Cricket seems to have become a religion, which is unfortunate.

Farhan Jalal,
Hyderabad

I am not amused by the fervour with which our MPs denounced our cricket team. I am amazed they can focus on a mere game at the expense of their legitimate duties for which they are paid handsomely. Why not put the MPs on performance-based pay to start with?

T.C. Narayan,
Bangalore

One-day cricket is a gamble. Often, the most fancied team loses. Can we not treat the debacle in Durban as one of those things?

Need Parliament bother with such a minor issue when the nation is facing more serious problems? Though our philosophies counsel us to treat success and failure alike, we lose our heads both in success and defeat.

T. Santhanam,
Chennai

When will our MPs learn not to misuse people's money? When there are pressing issues such as farmers' suicides, it hurts to find them making a noise over the cricket team's performance. They seem to feel more ashamed at the defeat of India than the death of farmers. The media are equally to blame. The attention cricket gets in the media makes people forget the real issues.

B.K. Singh,
Rudrapur, Uttaranchal

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