Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Forget World Cup

I don't understand our obsession with the World Cup. It is just one among many championships. When we won the World Cup in 1983 by beating the mighty West Indies, we too were underdogs. We should accept the Bangladesh victory against India in the same spirit. The behaviour of cricket fans differs from day to day. The fans who burnt effigies of players would have built temples for them had India advanced to the Super Eight. We need to treat cricket as a game, not as a matter of life and death.

R. Saravana Kumar,
Chennai

We should put the World Cup experience behind us. Our immediate concern should be to form a motivated, committed, able and young team of cricket players.

G. Radhakrishnan,
Belgaum

No one is a born winner or loser. Our players need to imbibe the winning habit. They should play as a team. Changing the coach will not bring the desired result unless the players are ready to learn.

C.M. Jose Manjaly Chakku,
Ganjam

In cricket, we fail because of over-expectations, in hockey, because of lack of encouragement, and in some other sport, because of lack of training facilities and support. How come no one agrees that we lack commitment? That regional loyalties, behind-the-scenes pressures, and other such factors lead to our dismal show on every occasion? Officials in charge of affairs in hockey, cricket, or any other sport blame the coaches, groundsmen, and playing conditions but refuse to step down accepting responsibility for the poor show.

We have great performers but not a committed team that plays to bring glory to the country. So why rave and rant when we fail?

R. Gopal,
Chennai

Those projecting cricketers as infallible superstars are to blame first; only then should cricketers be held accountable.

Mohammad Rafeeq Ahmed,
Chennai

I have no doubt that Team India would have achieved great heights had the players been treated as mortals and not gods, and given some space. With the kind of pressure the cricket crazy nation brings on them, I feel the players should be commended for surviving and still producing some good results.

Y. Parameswaran Menon,
Thrissur

To save Indian cricket, do the following: Stop giving undue media importance to it; stop buying articles endorsed by cricket `stars'; and reduce the match fee of players.

Koshy Ninan,
Tiruvalla

Perhaps with India's debacle in the World Cup, the focus will shift to test cricket that is devoid of pressure-cooker situations and frenzied betting generated by ODIs. Even better, maybe athletics and neglected sports such as hockey and basketball will finally get the attention they deserve.

Anand Khurana,
Agra

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