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And Inzy avenges ?04
This has got to rank among the most embarrassing days for Indian cricket. And for India's capital city.
This has got to rank among the most embarrassing days for Indian cricket. And for India's capital city.
Embarrassing for Indian cricket not because India were roundly thrashed in the game and the one-day series — though that was bad enough — but for several other reasons.
For starters, when Pakistan batted, there were two umpiring decisions that were disgraceful because they were so blatant, they risked India being labelled cheats. Yousuf Youhana was given run-out by the third umpire when he was inside the crease and, worse, Inzamam-ul-Haq was declared caught behind off a wide ball miles away from his bat.
Then, the organisational chaos. The ticket mess apart, the SPG taking over made things that much worse early Sunday morning, with the sight of an SPG man slapping a young pass-wielding ball boy at the gate perhaps an indication of how the day would be.
Then, those same overzealous securitymen were dozing when they were needed — when some Delhiites pitched bottles on the field after the sixth Indian wicket fell for just 94.
The disgraceful part was that the bottles that stopped play for 16 minutes came from B wing — holding complimentary seats, BCCI officials and assorted VVIPs. This was followed by the Capital's crème de la crème — the Rs 11,000 ticket-holders — shouting "Pakistan hai hai".
Trouble had been brewing in the stands since the morning. Thousand had to sit under the hot sun and on the floor. A water shortage further frayed tempers. Some people had their pockets picked, others got into fights and arguments. Women complained of being eve-teased. Earlier in the day, 150 Shiv Sainiks, on their way to the Kotla, were arrested near Rajghat.
The spectators in the stands did not spare even the players fielding on the boundary line. Virender Sehwag was addressed with the choicest of abuses when he misfielded. Spectators at Gate 14 also threw water pouches at him. Ashish Nehra was the butt of jokes for being a laggard in the field.
The sight of the Indian players (apart from skipper Rahul Dravid) first not appearing and then ungraciously trooping out after holding up the prize-distribution ceremony was a put-off. As was the sight of them leaving even as Inzamam was speaking.
"These things happen," the Pakistan skipper said later about the crowd trouble. Inzamam could afford to be gracious — his inexperienced team had ensured almost total retribution for last year's loss to India.
