Mr. Lavakare has succintly summed up what is wrong with our cricketers. To call our cricketers world-class is blasphemous. They are a mediocre bunch, who excel occasionally.One can safely conclude that none of the players can legitimately find a place in the World XI, on the basis of their current form. Like someone has aptly put, our ad-drugged players lack focus and discipline, which explains their awful performance. As rightly suggested by Mr. Lavakare they should play free for a year to compensate for their lack-lustre performance. Also, the Board should stop pampering our players and can indeed consider suspending their contracts, as the Pakistan Board has done for their players. This team - particularly the seniors - behave and function as a Trade Union obviously instigated by some senior ex-cricketers. Further, the Board should suspend all tours for a year and make the players play compulsorily in domestic matches. The domestic system should be drastically ravamped by including atleast two teams from each state/zone and more players from under 19 should be allowed to participate in these events so that many youngsters who are languishing without patronage can come to the fore. Overseas players too can be included in these teams. The Board should utilise the funds in providing better infra-structural and training facilities and to make domestic circuit more competitive and attractive, instead of pampering a handful of players. Continued support for players like Sachin from different quarters particularly from ex and present players reminds me an anecdote on Ford Cars. It seems a gentleman bought a new Ford Car from the show-room and drove for about 50 k.m., when the car suddenly stopped. When he opened the bonnet, to his surprise, he found no engine. Startled, he contacted the work-shop of the Company and narrated the incident. When asked how the car could run without an engine, he was informed that it ran only on the reputation of the brand. Do we still need players who are there only on their reputation and not because of their performance? Mr. Kumble has reportedly said that the public should appreciate the sacrifice made by these players and not overly criticise them. One fails to understand the nature of sacrifice made by these players. Assuming that they have have indeed sacrificed for the sake of the country, are they not more than compensated by hefty payments? And, when the players have gleefully accepted all the accolades, awards, felicitations, media glare, why shirk if criticism comes their way?
