The Cricket World Cup of 2007 has been very disappointing for the two most populous and possibly most fanatic cricket loving countries — India and Pakistan. Both of them are eliminated (India is almost eliminated barring a miracle) in the first round. Pakistan’s coach, Bob Woolmer, has been murdered.
I can imagine the mood, disappointment, and frustration about India being in this situation in Indian population. Cricket is really the only sport that has national following — and does it have following? Cricket is a passion among masses in India.
Being still a cricket-follower and a cricket-lover, I am also disappointed by the performance at the World Cup, but I must say that based on the performance of the team in the last two years I did not expect it to do too much better. I was thinking that we will collapse in the next round. Bangladesh’s young players had different idea, however.Â
At this point, the only thing I can do is to hope that the culture of Indian Cricket changes. What India needs is a fresh look the profession of Sports. Most Sports now are professionally organized activity that rely on identification, training, and building of talented players with total disregard to politics. When professional politicians govern Sports, there is something wrong.Â