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Cricket, the game as we know it, is changing at a faster pace than ever before. But have all of these changes been to the benefit of the game? Or are we seeing a mudding of the waters that was once called the gentleman's game? The DRS (decision review system) was introduced in 2009 and 2011 for test and ODI (one day international) matches respectively. The ICC (International Cricket Council) first made the system mandatory, then later opted for optional use i.e. both teams had to agree for the system to be used. Effectively a massive veto card. Currently all countries bar India make use of the system when playing each other. It is said that Sachin Tendulkar make a number of wrong calls when the system was first introduced, and India has since given DRS a thumbs down for every series. They are not convinced that the system works 100%. This is the country that has one of the biggest pool of engineers, software developers, programmers and IT experts in the world. This is the country with the cheapest and successful first attempt at a Mars mission. Surely, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), could have improved the system if it so wished. Rightly or wrongly, other team supporters will always throw the bad umpiring decisions into the same ring as match-fixing, when tight games are won/lost. Without the ICC putting it's foot down, the game stands to lose in the long run. The IPL (Indian Premier League) T20 competition draws in the big names with big payouts. Other similar competitions have mushroomed in other countries. The T20 format may draw in the crowds and money, but it has diluted the game. Players no longer place playing for the country as the top honour of their career. Big names such as Chris Gayle have unofficially retired from certain formats "due to injury" to follow the money. The IPL has been mired in a number of match-fixing / spot-fixing debacles. The current match fixing scandal in South African cricket (along with past indiscretions), sees it's roots in India. Gulam Bodi has been banded for 20 years (5 of which is suspended). Other names thrown around by the media in the same investigation are: Every team supposedly creates wickets that favour the home team. A lot has been said about the dirt bowls India prepares for tests that favour their spinners. Compare the stats of Ravichandran Ashwin   to Saeed Ajmal by host country:  Ashwin's figures are definitely skewed. No matter what arguments Indian fans have against pace wickets, other quality spinners have far more consistent figures all around the cricket-playing world.
Does India really make a solid positive contribution to the game of cricket, or are we on a one way ticket to destruction of the values cricket once stood for?
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Here we are - at the dawn of a new year. So much has changed in the last two months. The rainbow nation falters at every step. Yet, we must soldier on - we have not yet broken the mental shackles that hold us back. "Racist white South Africans hoping that Zuma’s fall will give them a white president or bring back apartheid is a true denial of the reality. It’s like Oscar believing that he’ll one day take part in the Olympics. Never. The above was a Facebook post next to a few images of people with the old South African flag. Even though such instances were in the minority, that is what people chose to focus on rather than the bigger picture. Let's backtrack for a minute. What was this campaign about? Zuma made the ill-advised decision to remove the finance minister Nhlanhla Nene without warning which sent our markets and currency tumbling. Whether is was advised at all is still up for debate, and the feeble delayed reason given saw Zuma grasping at straws. It reminded me of the press conference of the investigation into Nkhandla (before the public protector's investigation), where a few ministers tried to justify the pool for "fire-fighting purposes" and the cattle kraal and chicken coop for closing up space that was a "security hazzard". Does the cabinet really expect people to buy this garbage? Anyway, people protested, some with old flag, blah blah blah. The real issue here is, the campaign wasn't about having a white president or returning to apartheid; the question being asked is this: Is Zuma the best the ANC has to offer? Can any ANC supporter honestly answer "Yes"? Is he the best for the ANC and this country?  In the 2014 elections, the ANC lost ground and a municipality to the DA for the first time (image above). 2016 and it's time for the local government elections. The media is currently swamped with racism from Penny Sparrow's tweets, to the resulting fallout with Gareth Cliff, Somizi's fellow judge on Idols, who was axed for: "People really don't understand free speech at all" Perceived as support for Sparrow and calls for a boycott of the Idols show, saw Mnet fire Cliff (legal avenues still ongoing). Like him or not, he has become the sacrificial lamb for something bigger - the racial divide.
How did the British conquer India? By playing the different religious groups against each other - the very reason Pakistan and Bangladesh are not part of India. The ANC is looking to preserve their grasp on the country in the coming elections. What better way then a public campaign on racism. Their win is no doubt assured, though an overwhelming majority gives the ability to quash opposition and railroad ANC policy into place. With the financial blunders, the cash-cows i.e. the taxpayers can only support so much, and with the unrestrained wasteful spending and corruption it is only a matter of time before we break the camel's back. Again, I ask you, is Zuma the best the ANC has to offer? If not, then the people on the inside have to play their best move. |
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