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Playing for pride

There's a lot of wrong in a world where the politics of war spills over on to a game touted as the gentleman's game. And when some of the men in white (and sometimes in brighter colours) seem intent on painting the others black, then the rationale of playing the game can be questioned.

And it is not in the attempt at tarnishing that one necessarily finds such politics manifested. Oftentimes, the circumstances and timing of an action can create a perception of the motive, rather than the motive itself. I am of course, referring to the allegations made by the Pakistan team after India's first win in the tour, and an emphatic one at that. That it was made all the more satisfactory by the fact that it was over their neighbours, is not one that can be denied, although a win over any nation would have been like manna from heaven, at this stage.

Nonetheless, as it stands, it was a win over Pakistan, so let it be written and so let it be said. Wonderful. All's well, one thinks, since both teams had a victory over the other, so politically too, the situation was under control. And just when one thought that, and was about to catch a few winks of sleep, one was rudely shaken awake by some tremors.

All's not well. Quickly rethought that one, as it became abundantly clear that it was rife in the city, that it had been alleged, that the Indian captain was guilty of a trick, mastered herewith by those that alleged. Strange, the ways of the world, that the accusation was at a man who relies on mostly his bat, and on occasion the ball, and always on his mind, could use his fingers (and nails) thus.

Also strange, that the team that makes those allegations have just come out of a controversy about the selfsame issue.

Maybe the act is within the realms of possibility, if one takes an objective view, not considering the person who is to have performed this action. But put Sachin Tendulkar in the picture, and it would jar. Even his worst critic (and there are a few) would have a problem putting a highish probability on the truth behind this accusation.

But, my intent is not to play the angel's advocate. I was more inclined to highlight the reasons why these things happened. Why did Sachin bother to retort to Shoaib's riling? Never done that before, not even to McGrath's antics. Why are tempers rising, frustrations bubbling and words being exchanged?

Is it a result of two teams trying to recoup a semblance of respectability in a country which hasn't seen their best yet? Or are they victims of a larger issue? National pride, which surfaces even on an innocuous battlefield, the cricket grounds.

Two teams. Bound by larger than life issues. Play the game. Fight to win. And fight on the field. Carry this off the field, and allow extraneous factors to prompt actions, reactions and such, then we're not talking cricket, or any sport. We're talking in a language, which I wouldn't like my child to hear or understand.

The Spare Crib/Abhilasha Khaitan