Monday, March 23, 2009
Lahore changed everything for every sport in the Subcontinent
Its not just an issue for cricket or this election year. India will have general elections again. Will a Golf or Tennis tournament be shifted too? Lahore HAS CHANGED EVERYTHING. As we can see in the photo above, elite guards are providing security to players/public and a very visible deterrent to terrorists. Every team bus for any sport in the subcontinent must be bulletproof and a full security motorcade must always be used.
With Cricket matches to be held in the UAE, and given that the UAE probably has no anti-terrorist experience, terrorists could easily smuggle weapons into the country via sea and launch an attack there.
Lessons must be learnt from high-crime countries such as Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. They all play sports and provide security to their teams, although kidnapping for randsom is the crime in those countries, not bombings or terrorist shootings.
I posted the above (using the name tri400) in response to an article on Cricinfo.com by Sambit Bal:
http://content.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/396393.html?comments=all
With Cricket matches to be held in the UAE, and given that the UAE probably has no anti-terrorist experience, terrorists could easily smuggle weapons into the country via sea and launch an attack there.
Lessons must be learnt from high-crime countries such as Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. They all play sports and provide security to their teams, although kidnapping for randsom is the crime in those countries, not bombings or terrorist shootings.
I posted the above (using the name tri400) in response to an article on Cricinfo.com by Sambit Bal:
http://content.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/396393.html?comments=all
IPL and the chronic lack of proper security
The IPL is being shifted because the Federal Government of India says the federal security agencies and guards will be over-streched due to general elections being held at the same time. This basically means that Indian security cannot handle two big events at the same time.
Given that Formula 1, Golf Tournaments, Tennis Tournaments, rock concerts, ODIs, Tests and IPL matches are to be held in India in 2010 or 2011. India has to dramatically increase the number of elite NSG anti-terrorist guards, upgrade their out-dated equipment and get new training to deal with the threat of sports terrorists.
Of course there is a big question mark over the "ICL" which also has foreign players, will the ICL not be given elite federal security due to its "unofficial" status?
I posted the above (using the name tri400) in response to an article on Cricinfo.com by Sambit Bal:
http://content.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/396393.html?comments=all
Given that Formula 1, Golf Tournaments, Tennis Tournaments, rock concerts, ODIs, Tests and IPL matches are to be held in India in 2010 or 2011. India has to dramatically increase the number of elite NSG anti-terrorist guards, upgrade their out-dated equipment and get new training to deal with the threat of sports terrorists.
Of course there is a big question mark over the "ICL" which also has foreign players, will the ICL not be given elite federal security due to its "unofficial" status?
I posted the above (using the name tri400) in response to an article on Cricinfo.com by Sambit Bal:
http://content.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/396393.html?comments=all
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Cricket balls - allow different brands for different innings
I've got a radical idea: Allow the bowling side to choose which ball they will bowl with!
Currently, every batsman can choose which brand bat he uses, what shape, what weight, and can even change the bats in the middle of their individual innings.
Eg, in the upcoming Test matches in New Zealand, India could bowl with SG balls and New Zealand can bowl with Kookaburra balls. Perfect!
This will bring some power back to the bowlers, resulting in more dismissals and therefore less tied Test series.
Currently, every batsman can choose which brand bat he uses, what shape, what weight, and can even change the bats in the middle of their individual innings.
Eg, in the upcoming Test matches in New Zealand, India could bowl with SG balls and New Zealand can bowl with Kookaburra balls. Perfect!
This will bring some power back to the bowlers, resulting in more dismissals and therefore less tied Test series.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
इंडियन प्रेमिएर लीग
Firstly, IPL will revolutionise Indian cricket like the Shopping Malls revolutionised shopping in India। But for starters, they have to remove the tall metal fences between the spectators and the outfield that is in practically every cricket stadium in India.
Secondly, they need to build Air-Conditioned stadiums in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, etc। Then we can play cricket (IPL, Tests, ODIs, etc) all year round unaffected by the weather. Yes its going to be expensive, but the BCCI is one of the worlds richest sporting bodies. My idea needs to be seriously looked at by experts.
My reasoning is this: if they can have Air Conditioning in massive Shopping Malls and massive office buildings in 3rd world countries, then they can definitely build Air Conditioned cricket stadiums with high roofs.
Secondly, they need to build Air-Conditioned stadiums in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, etc। Then we can play cricket (IPL, Tests, ODIs, etc) all year round unaffected by the weather. Yes its going to be expensive, but the BCCI is one of the worlds richest sporting bodies. My idea needs to be seriously looked at by experts.
My reasoning is this: if they can have Air Conditioning in massive Shopping Malls and massive office buildings in 3rd world countries, then they can definitely build Air Conditioned cricket stadiums with high roofs.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Fixing Indian Cricket
After the shocking performance of the team, it is time to set things straight.
A big problem with the Indian team is that they dont play enough matches outside the Subcontinent, and the "fans" blissfully forget the team's last overseas embarrasment, after they beat a visiting side in India on lifeless pitches. So does the board, it seems. There is no off-season with the India players, they play all year long. Thus missing out on even a physical break from the game, letalone a mental break.
India's feeding system to the national side is 3rd class. If a batsman scores a century, he's almost guranteed a place in the national side for the next 10 games. It should be only 4 games. There is a desperate need for a variety of pitches, a ODI league system with relegation and promotion, quality playing and training facilities, professional managers, performance based pay, etc. I am dissapointed that the financial pillars of the BCCI: Nimbus, Sahara and Nike, are not demanding these things to be fixed, at least not publicly. Then there is always the need for fitness coaches, fielding coaches and bowling coaches.
Lalit Modi's suggestion that the BCCI doesnt have professionals running the game because the "offices aren't ready yet" is absurd. Corporations which have 100x the annual revenue of BCCI, sometimes rent their offices. He said this on CricinfoTalk when the BCCI was (what else?) bidding for ICC's global broadcast rights. When we're watching a game being played in India, and a 19th century pitch roller is being pushed by laborers, we can only wonder what the BCCI is doing with all that money. Its true that the new establishment only came to power in late 2005. But it doesn't take that long to get paid selectors.
Greg Chappell was not the right man for the job, he had no track-record of success as a coach. His performance as the coach of South Australia was pathetic. Dave Whatmore on the other hand, has got a stunning record, even more so after Bangladesh defeated India. Plus Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are subcontinental teams, so he understands our society. He is known to get the most out of his players.
Chappell tried to break India's star culture and questioned the attitude of the players many times. But he should have focused on improving India's fielding, fitness and got them to practice on bouncy pitches in the nets. Nobody could argue against improving fitness and fielding. When there were calls to get us a bowling coach, he dismissed the need for it, saying that we need a fielding coach more. We got neither.
Now comes a savior by the name of Subhash Chandra of Zee TV.
The Indian Cricket League is not viable without BCCI's support says Lalit Modi. But it definetly is. Consider this, the BCCI has no presence in 15 states in India. Subhash Chandra said so himself. A lot of stadiums in India are govenment-owned, not BCCI owned. Zee must try to buy them, rennovate them and manage them professionally. Already he has pointed out the glaring difference between the BCCI and ICL: paid selectors, sporting wickets, proper training acadamies, Twenty20 matches, a physio and psycologist for each team, a proper religation & promotion system, talentspotters and no honorary posts. It would be shocking if the BCCI rejects Zee's proposal because Lalit Modi came up with the same proposal to Jagmohan Dalmiya and was rejected. http://greenchannel.blogspot.com/2006/05/money-is-on-modi.html
Subhash Chandra scored a boundary by going to the press about his intentions BEFORE his proposal got rejected by the BCCI, now that he's got wide support for the proposal, the BCCI would be under pressure to approve it. Of course, if he does get rejected, he can still create a cricketing alternative to the unpalpable nonsense that the BCCI produces. He should try to get the ICL to play with Bangladesh based teams, the BCCI is not in a strong position to stop that from happenning, because India hardly play against Bangladesh anyway. The BCCI may pressure the ICC to stop any Bangladesh Cricket Board's players or facilities being used by ICL, but he must try.
Lastly, I offer a beacon of hope: the ATP was founded in 1972, a then-rival to the International Tennis Federation. Now, the ATP is much bigger than ITF. If managed properly, and considering that cricket player's international careers last about 10 years, the ICL can take over BCCI within 10 years.
A big problem with the Indian team is that they dont play enough matches outside the Subcontinent, and the "fans" blissfully forget the team's last overseas embarrasment, after they beat a visiting side in India on lifeless pitches. So does the board, it seems. There is no off-season with the India players, they play all year long. Thus missing out on even a physical break from the game, letalone a mental break.
India's feeding system to the national side is 3rd class. If a batsman scores a century, he's almost guranteed a place in the national side for the next 10 games. It should be only 4 games. There is a desperate need for a variety of pitches, a ODI league system with relegation and promotion, quality playing and training facilities, professional managers, performance based pay, etc. I am dissapointed that the financial pillars of the BCCI: Nimbus, Sahara and Nike, are not demanding these things to be fixed, at least not publicly. Then there is always the need for fitness coaches, fielding coaches and bowling coaches.
Lalit Modi's suggestion that the BCCI doesnt have professionals running the game because the "offices aren't ready yet" is absurd. Corporations which have 100x the annual revenue of BCCI, sometimes rent their offices. He said this on CricinfoTalk when the BCCI was (what else?) bidding for ICC's global broadcast rights. When we're watching a game being played in India, and a 19th century pitch roller is being pushed by laborers, we can only wonder what the BCCI is doing with all that money. Its true that the new establishment only came to power in late 2005. But it doesn't take that long to get paid selectors.
Greg Chappell was not the right man for the job, he had no track-record of success as a coach. His performance as the coach of South Australia was pathetic. Dave Whatmore on the other hand, has got a stunning record, even more so after Bangladesh defeated India. Plus Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are subcontinental teams, so he understands our society. He is known to get the most out of his players.
Chappell tried to break India's star culture and questioned the attitude of the players many times. But he should have focused on improving India's fielding, fitness and got them to practice on bouncy pitches in the nets. Nobody could argue against improving fitness and fielding. When there were calls to get us a bowling coach, he dismissed the need for it, saying that we need a fielding coach more. We got neither.
Now comes a savior by the name of Subhash Chandra of Zee TV.
The Indian Cricket League is not viable without BCCI's support says Lalit Modi. But it definetly is. Consider this, the BCCI has no presence in 15 states in India. Subhash Chandra said so himself. A lot of stadiums in India are govenment-owned, not BCCI owned. Zee must try to buy them, rennovate them and manage them professionally. Already he has pointed out the glaring difference between the BCCI and ICL: paid selectors, sporting wickets, proper training acadamies, Twenty20 matches, a physio and psycologist for each team, a proper religation & promotion system, talentspotters and no honorary posts. It would be shocking if the BCCI rejects Zee's proposal because Lalit Modi came up with the same proposal to Jagmohan Dalmiya and was rejected. http://greenchannel.blogspot.com/2006/05/money-is-on-modi.html
Subhash Chandra scored a boundary by going to the press about his intentions BEFORE his proposal got rejected by the BCCI, now that he's got wide support for the proposal, the BCCI would be under pressure to approve it. Of course, if he does get rejected, he can still create a cricketing alternative to the unpalpable nonsense that the BCCI produces. He should try to get the ICL to play with Bangladesh based teams, the BCCI is not in a strong position to stop that from happenning, because India hardly play against Bangladesh anyway. The BCCI may pressure the ICC to stop any Bangladesh Cricket Board's players or facilities being used by ICL, but he must try.
Lastly, I offer a beacon of hope: the ATP was founded in 1972, a then-rival to the International Tennis Federation. Now, the ATP is much bigger than ITF. If managed properly, and considering that cricket player's international careers last about 10 years, the ICL can take over BCCI within 10 years.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Privatized Qantas placed in Straitjacket
Peter Costello wants to veto the Australian-American private equity (Airline Partners Australia) U$8.7b takeover bid for Qantas. He is getting widespread support to "protect the national icon". No such deeds were done to other icons such as: Vegemite, Read Heads matches, Milo, etc. Yet all those products are sold in Australia and beyond under the same brand name, albeit under a foreign, more efficient, owner.
I would guess that half of the people in Australia have never travelled by air before, and to them, I doubt that it concerns them whether there is a kangaroo on the tail, a Singapore bird, an Arabic word or the Indian Tricolor.
If Singapore Airlines or Emirates is allowed to purchase Qantas, there are obviously savings to be made in advertizing, administration, purchasing and maintenance, due to the combined entity being able to 'buy in bulk' and bargain harder with the suppliers instead of bargaining as separate entities.
That fact is that air travel is out of reach for most people in the world, and if privatizing and consolidating the industry is going to increase efficiency, affordability and reduce waste then it should definitely be done (privatization) and allowed to happen (consolidation). Not only this, but a truly global Open-Skies agreement must be enacted, except for the airlines and airport which are a danger to health and safety.
Until then, the likes of Costello in rich countries are providing the wrong example to developing countries, which frequently look up to and try to copy what is happening in rich countries.
I would guess that half of the people in Australia have never travelled by air before, and to them, I doubt that it concerns them whether there is a kangaroo on the tail, a Singapore bird, an Arabic word or the Indian Tricolor.
If Singapore Airlines or Emirates is allowed to purchase Qantas, there are obviously savings to be made in advertizing, administration, purchasing and maintenance, due to the combined entity being able to 'buy in bulk' and bargain harder with the suppliers instead of bargaining as separate entities.
That fact is that air travel is out of reach for most people in the world, and if privatizing and consolidating the industry is going to increase efficiency, affordability and reduce waste then it should definitely be done (privatization) and allowed to happen (consolidation). Not only this, but a truly global Open-Skies agreement must be enacted, except for the airlines and airport which are a danger to health and safety.
Until then, the likes of Costello in rich countries are providing the wrong example to developing countries, which frequently look up to and try to copy what is happening in rich countries.
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