Recent events have tossed up interesting questions, some of which have been answered. For instance, Is Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest ever? Don't even ask. The man is true genius, the real King.
Next question: Did money play a part in England's return to India?
It is evident that England took a practical view, the tour resumed based on expert advice on security. So, it is correct to assume that the ECB looked at the larger picture and not just the dollars/pounds on offer. They realized that cricket must continue, and if India is taken out of the equation for whatever reason, it hurts everyone.
Related question: If India can host cricket, why not play in Pakistan? Javed Miandad and Rashid Latif have raised this, both see similarities in the situation in the two countries. But reality seems to escape their simple minds. The whole world knows that India and Pakistan ARE different. Pakistan has an administration that does not act. India, in this context, has no such actors.
ICC CEO, Haroon Lorgat, when asked to comment on this, appeared startled, as if a spinner had bowled him a bouncer, but regained his poise to respond diplomatically. The situation, he said, in these two countries, is vastly different and can't be compared.
{{/usCountry}}ICC CEO, Haroon Lorgat, when asked to comment on this, appeared startled, as if a spinner had bowled him a bouncer, but regained his poise to respond diplomatically. The situation, he said, in these two countries, is vastly different and can't be compared.
{{/usCountry}}Follow up question: Should India play Pakistan? Obviously, CBMs have some use and there are people who feel sport and politics should be kept separate. But, again, can anyone ignore the ground reality? The fact is the pitch is queered, the timing of sporting contact is just not right. Sensing this, Sunil Gavaskar has declared that playing Pakistan is impossible and sports minister, M.S. Gill, has also made his position clear. Matches in a neutral country are also ruled out because the issue is not the venue but the opposing team.
Rameez Raja, who like Wasim Akram spends more time in India than his country, understands which way the wind is blowing. His suggestion is Pakistan should stop begging India to play and start its own T20 Premier League.
To other questions in the air, answers are still awaited. The most loaded one is has Rahul Dravid's time run out? As always, there are two opinions. One says he will come out of this rough patch, form is just round the corner. The other thinks the wall is cracking.