It is a tragedy that cricket should claim a life of a gentleman and a coach. I subscribe to the view that the huge and irrational expectations of cricket fans in the sub-continent only added to the immense pressure that Bob was obviously under. The Media too has to take a share of the blame for creating unreasonable hype. The role of the Media, especially the electronic (TV) in generating unreasonable expectations in the minds of public, few of which even know the game, much less comment upon, cannot be discounted. It is a myth that cricket is a religion in the sub-continent. The only thing that matters to the so-called cricket fans is the national team. Cricket at the domestic level is hardly followed with any interest by the public or the Media. For instance, can you name the 15 who represented your State/province in the National Championship? I bet you cannot. So, forget all this talk about cricket being a religion. We in the sub-continent know nothing about any sport nor do we have the maturity to treat sport as just a recreational activity. In other words, we in the sub-continent are poor losers and worse winners, ones who convert cricketers into Gods and yet, defile them the very next moment. Poor Bob was a victim of such jingoistic following that knows no bounds. I wonder whether the public and the Media will learn anything from this tragedy that is not just of Pakistan's but the entire cricketing world. Amen!
