Shell-shocked Indian cricket fans also blackened the posters of their cricket stars to express their simmering fury. The sophisticated of the lot expressed their anger through scathing comments in the media declaring Team India as a bunch of over paid, non performing cricketers. The World Cup could not have witnessed more drama than this. Earlier, the death of Bob Woolmer, the coach of Pakistan Cricket team, under suspicious circumstances -- post the defeat of Pakistan at the hands of the minnows, Ireland -- shocked the cricket world. Reports suggest Bob Woolmer was strangulated in his hotel room.
These developments show that cricket is no more a gentleman's game. The amount of enthusiasm, bordering on insanity, the game generates is simply mind blowing. More importantly, the game creates a great deal of pressure in the minds of those who matter in cricket. Whether one is a cricketer or a coach -- if he fails to live up to people's expectations -- he is most likely to face the rage of angry cricket fans and cricket administrators.
It's too well known how heads roll when a team loses an important cricket series or a tournament. How, apart from burning the effigies of the players, hate mails are sent, and protests marches organised by the angry fans. And, how some fans even go to the extent of targeting cricketers' house when the concerned cricketers fail to perform when it matters the most.
Just for record, fuming mobs -- post India's humiliating defeats in the ongoing World Cup -- targeted Jaheer Khan's and M S Dhoni's properties, as these cricketers had failed to perform as expected.
This fervour for the game reaches a great height when it involves foreign coaches. Certainly, coaches from abroad generate extreme reactions -- mostly negative -- whenever something goes wrong. The reason being: their foreign origin and their failure to live up to high expectations. Whether it is Greg Chappell (India), Tom Moody (Sri Lanka), Dav Whatmore (Bangladesh), or Bob Woolmer (Pakistan) -- all foreign coaches have, at one or the other time, been at the receiving end of the disgruntled elements.
Though the cricket coaches from abroad may bring a high degree of professionalism and fresh ideas with them. And, though they many even go on to eventually enhance the collective performance of the teams concerned over a period of time, they are often hauled over the coals.
From accusations of blatant racism, to charging unreasonably hefty fees, from not knowing the cricket culture of the particular cricket nation, to not being able to win matches for the country -- they face all types of hurtful criticisms from the fervent cricket fans and others.
For illustration, take the case of the Indian cricket coach -- Greg Chappell! He has often been the centre of public ire, though mostly for the wrong reasons. Chappell's so-called experiments with the composition of the Indian team have repeatedly been severely criticised by many in India. His effigies are regularly burnt and hostile columns written in the press by those who opine he is a curse for the Indian team.
Hence, it's little wonder that for the exit of Team India from this edition of World Cup, Chappell is being squarely blamed. And, his contract with the BCCI, as the coach of the Indian cricket team, is not likely to be renewed. If Greg Chappell survived for so long -- all the while remaining fully focussed on the Indian team -- full credit must go to him.
When Saurav Ganguly was shown the door -- allegedly at the behest of Chappell -- entire Bengali community erupted. And, Chappell became the most hated man for the Bengalis. No one cared a damn if he was justified in his alleged actions against their favourite 'son of Bengal'. All they cared was the interest of the Southpaw.
This is not to suggest Greg did not have any 'hidden agenda' of sorts against Ganguly. He may have. But, isn't also true that Dada was dropped only when he became a sort of 'unwanted baggage' for the Team India for continuously performing badly?
Similarly, when Bob Woolmer expressed his open displeasures against the fiery Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar by calling him names, as suggested in the media, that earned him the title of a racist, wasn't he fully right? It's an open secret that Shoaib is a highly undisciplined cricketer -- who cares two hoots for discipline and team interests, even on the eve of crucial matches.
Still, Woolmer was severely criticised by many that included the former coach of the Pakistan team, Javed Miandad, for being a racist and an outsider "who didn't understand the cricket culture of Pakistan".
Indeed, coaching cricket teams from the Indian subcontinent isn't an easy job. And, nothing can beat the passion that cricket generates in this part of the world. Had poor Bob been alive, he would have said the same thing.
But, in cricket crazy nations like India and Pakistan -- where cricket is more of a religion than a mere sport -- what else can be expected.
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About the Author
A freelance journalist who writes extensively for various magazines and websites.
