No Preparation To Speak Of

The inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup will be kicked off on September 11. And India will be featuring in the final one-dayer of the ongoing Natwest series against England on September 07. It is astonishing to note that there is hardly any scope for practice and training for the mega event. The BCCI should be aware that putting out-of-form perishing stars like Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan in the team led by first-time captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is far from enough for making a mark at the world event. The officially recognized apex body of Indian cricket seems to be too busy in tackling the Indian Cricket League. The lack of professionalism on the part of the administrators is appalling. Prior to the first Twenty20 World Cup, India has played only one such game at the international level, where, of course, it emphatically overpowered the Proteas. India never recognized the importance of one-dayers and went to the 1975, as also the 1979, Prudential Cups virtually unprepared. Thirty years hence, the Board has become richer manifold, but its professionalism seems to be cooling its heels. Personal tussles against the likes of Jagmohan Dalmiya and Subhash Chandra, seem to top the priority list of BCCI. No less disgusting is the comment from veteran Sehwag, who was reported to have remarked at the inauguration of flood light facilities of a Kolkata cricket coaching centre, that Twenty20 is pure entertainment ahead of serious cricket. More refreshing and closer to ideal is the attitude of young Robin Uthappa, who observed after his match-winning knock at the penultimate Natwest ODI that he has been practicing innovative shots for the Twenty20 World Cup, even though such disclosures in front of the television camera for the world and the opposition cricket managers to watch, may not be regarded as something utterly professional and wise.