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Staying on course for the Cup

Even the best of the teams can have an off day and that doesn't reflect its potential

Records have been shattered, emotions have swung between despair and ecstasy and the fact about tragic death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer. If the preliminary phase of World Cup 2007 was expected to be a smooth transition for the `big guns' to the `Super Eight' stage, it was not to be.

In fact, the unfancied Ireland (some even questioned its very participation), playing in its first World Cup, delivered the knockout blow to 1992 champions Pakistan.

It will be naïve to attribute the demise of Woolmer only to that particular morale-shattering loss. But the timing of the tragedy cannot be ignored. The most unfortunate incident ever to happen in any World Cup - of a coach passing away - might well trigger a debate as whether the huge expectations, again created by anyone who is someone in cricket and amongst the cross-section of a cricketing nation - are actually justified. The tendency to over-react to everything - be it a loss, however disgraceful, to a minnow or an emphatic win against an equally underrated team - has become the order of the day for a variety of reasons. The passion and excitement generated around a mega event like a World Cup cricket championship is something incomparable.

Thus, when Bangladesh upset India, the whole focus was on the defeat of Rahul Dravid's team but not on the efficacy displayed by the neighbours.

Forgotten fact

To stress that Bangladesh is capable of scoring the odd sensational win is stating the obvious. They had meted out a similar treatment to Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup and later even to Australia. What is being conveniently forgotten is the fact that it is the youthful exuberance of Tamin Iqbal, whose audacious assault on the Indian fast bowlers could have made even a Sanath Jayasuriya proud, Saqibul Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in batting and the splendid spell by Mashrafe Mortaza, who stuck to the basics in helpful conditions, which got the better of the `Big Brother'. This batting trio had a combined experience of 35 games compared to the Indian batting line-up which has three greats - Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly who have scored together more than 30,000 runs in one-dayers.

Deserve credit

But does this mean a statement on the cricketing ability of these great superstars of Indian cricket? It all boils down to who shines on the given day and the team that has consistent performers will go on to win the championship. The Indian cricket fans have every right to feel disappointed at the loss for the manner in which the team lost the World Cup opener to invite huge pressure and serious doubts in terms of qualifying for the Super Eight. But in the same breath, the Bangladeshis deserve credit for their third win in World Cup.

Remember how India, then the underdogs, at least in one-day cricket, demolished Clive Lloyd's team in the 1983 final to script an epic chapter? What is imperative is to wait in an event like World Cup for at least a couple of matches before passing a final judgement.

From the Indian perspective, can it be denied that it is minnows like Bermuda, who provided the silver lining after a gloomy start? For they helped India record the highest-ever score in World Cup ever and also the out-of-form Virender Sehwag to make some sort of a statement of his reputation with his first century after two years in one-dayers. And if this ton helps him eventually to rediscover his striking prowess, then will Bermuda be sinned if India pull off an improbable in this World Cup with Sehwag firing on all cylinders in the remaining matches.

Huge theatre

Any World Cup is a huge theatre, which reduces the extraordinary to ordinary and vice versa. All that is required is to be patient and hail the champions even while making a critical assessment of the losers but in a more dignified manner. What is that we are going to convey by the contrasting pictures of fans offering prayers in temples and the next day, after a humiliating loss, conduct mock parade of the same cricketers on the streets or even attacking the cricketer's properties. A more sober and mature analysis of a win or a loss is a welcome sign.

V. V. SUBRAHMANYAM

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