by Minos
8 Feb 2014
So it seems that the ICC’s perestroika-troika have managed to garner the ¾ majority required to ram its “more-inclusive” structure down the collective throat of the rest of the cricketing world. (One has to say though that the spirit of glasnost is conspicuous by its absence.)
This leaves whiny Sri Lanka and Pakistan the only remaining voices of dissent on the ICC’s Round Table of Full Members. Not much has been said so far about Cricket South Africa’s unexpected volte-face, but things have turned out more or less as I had predicted a few days ago.
On the 1st of July 2014 His Imperial Majesty, Emperor N Srinivasan the First, Sovereign of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, and Sovereign of the Imperial Order of the Financial Crown Jewel of Indian Sport (to name but two of his many imperial titles) shall be elevated to the exalted status of ICC Chairperson. This is an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-encompassing position, and we would all do well to respectfully acknowledge this indisputable fact: Ave Caesar! Morituri te salutant.
His loyal satraps, too, receive high honours. Lord Great Chamberlain Wally Edwards is appointed Chairperson of the newly formed Executive Committee, and Lord High Elocutioner Giles Clarke retains his post as Chairperson of the ICC’s Finance & Commercial Affairs Committee.
And the bellyaching rhetoric will swell to even greater crescendos. Not least in the lands of the two dissenting voices. But honestly, I have had enough of these sanctimonious windbags. Most especially one Mr Zaka Ashraf.
I really had expected the insitutional (i.e. representatives of the respective boards) objectors to express a high degree of concern for the game in general. Instead Mr Ashraf (whose sole qualification for running Pakistan’s cricket affairs seems to be his not very impressive moustache) (i.e. not much qualified) seemed only really to be concerned with “what is in the interests of our country or cricket.”
That is, no doubt, something the head of any national board for a given sport should focus on. But damn! If the only thing any board is concerned about is its own status and financial well-being (remember, Bangladesh’s only concern was its Test status)... well hell! That’s what India and its expensively-leashed puppy dogs, Australia and England, are doing. So why the self-righteous posturing?
Enough, I say! We must accept that this 21st Century world of ours has given itself over completely to the inexorable forces of greed, consumerism and commercial exploitation. WE have given oursleves over!
So just let ’em get on with it!
Cricket is dead I say. Long live cricket...
Long live cricket, I need it every night
Long live cricket, come on and join the line
Long live cricket, be it dead or alive
I will say, however, that there have been some heartening expressions of dissent from beyond the cricketing establishment. Many former cricketers and administrators have weighed in with plausible and eloquent statements. Many, of course, have not, and the one I am most disappointed with is Shri Sachin Tendulkar ji. Sachin is a member of India’s upper house of parliament, the Rajya Sabha. He was recently awarded the Bharat Ratna – the first sportsperson ever to be thus honoured. (Interestingly, despite his demigod status in India, the influential, fundamentalist BJP have objected to this latter award being conferred on Tendulkar.)
Now Sachin is not a political animal, and I have always respected him for it. But having accepted a role in his country’s highest legislative body as well as receiving it’s highest civilian honour, I would humbly opine that he needs to display some statesmanlike qualities, at least in expressing an opinion on issues that have far-reaching consequences for the sport he has devoted most of his life to.
In India’s official “Order of Precedence” protocol list a Bharat Ratna awardee ranks just below the Chief Justice of India and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and at par with Union Cabinet Ministers and State Chief Ministers. Thus it would seem our Sachin (for he really is “our” Sachin, at least for die-hard cricket fans the world over) is a pretty big kahuna in the socio-political sphere.
Sachin, I look forward to hearing you express yourself on the topic I have been ranting about.
Whether it’s for or against.
8 Feb 2014
So it seems that the ICC’s perestroika-troika have managed to garner the ¾ majority required to ram its “more-inclusive” structure down the collective throat of the rest of the cricketing world. (One has to say though that the spirit of glasnost is conspicuous by its absence.)
This leaves whiny Sri Lanka and Pakistan the only remaining voices of dissent on the ICC’s Round Table of Full Members. Not much has been said so far about Cricket South Africa’s unexpected volte-face, but things have turned out more or less as I had predicted a few days ago.
On the 1st of July 2014 His Imperial Majesty, Emperor N Srinivasan the First, Sovereign of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, and Sovereign of the Imperial Order of the Financial Crown Jewel of Indian Sport (to name but two of his many imperial titles) shall be elevated to the exalted status of ICC Chairperson. This is an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-encompassing position, and we would all do well to respectfully acknowledge this indisputable fact: Ave Caesar! Morituri te salutant.
His loyal satraps, too, receive high honours. Lord Great Chamberlain Wally Edwards is appointed Chairperson of the newly formed Executive Committee, and Lord High Elocutioner Giles Clarke retains his post as Chairperson of the ICC’s Finance & Commercial Affairs Committee.
And the bellyaching rhetoric will swell to even greater crescendos. Not least in the lands of the two dissenting voices. But honestly, I have had enough of these sanctimonious windbags. Most especially one Mr Zaka Ashraf.
I really had expected the insitutional (i.e. representatives of the respective boards) objectors to express a high degree of concern for the game in general. Instead Mr Ashraf (whose sole qualification for running Pakistan’s cricket affairs seems to be his not very impressive moustache) (i.e. not much qualified) seemed only really to be concerned with “what is in the interests of our country or cricket.”
That is, no doubt, something the head of any national board for a given sport should focus on. But damn! If the only thing any board is concerned about is its own status and financial well-being (remember, Bangladesh’s only concern was its Test status)... well hell! That’s what India and its expensively-leashed puppy dogs, Australia and England, are doing. So why the self-righteous posturing?
Enough, I say! We must accept that this 21st Century world of ours has given itself over completely to the inexorable forces of greed, consumerism and commercial exploitation. WE have given oursleves over!
So just let ’em get on with it!
Cricket is dead I say. Long live cricket...
Long live cricket, I need it every night
Long live cricket, come on and join the line
Long live cricket, be it dead or alive
I will say, however, that there have been some heartening expressions of dissent from beyond the cricketing establishment. Many former cricketers and administrators have weighed in with plausible and eloquent statements. Many, of course, have not, and the one I am most disappointed with is Shri Sachin Tendulkar ji. Sachin is a member of India’s upper house of parliament, the Rajya Sabha. He was recently awarded the Bharat Ratna – the first sportsperson ever to be thus honoured. (Interestingly, despite his demigod status in India, the influential, fundamentalist BJP have objected to this latter award being conferred on Tendulkar.)
Now Sachin is not a political animal, and I have always respected him for it. But having accepted a role in his country’s highest legislative body as well as receiving it’s highest civilian honour, I would humbly opine that he needs to display some statesmanlike qualities, at least in expressing an opinion on issues that have far-reaching consequences for the sport he has devoted most of his life to.
In India’s official “Order of Precedence” protocol list a Bharat Ratna awardee ranks just below the Chief Justice of India and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and at par with Union Cabinet Ministers and State Chief Ministers. Thus it would seem our Sachin (for he really is “our” Sachin, at least for die-hard cricket fans the world over) is a pretty big kahuna in the socio-political sphere.
Sachin, I look forward to hearing you express yourself on the topic I have been ranting about.
Whether it’s for or against.
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