BOMBAY, 18 January — Ten years ago when the Challenger Trophy was first mooted, it was because there was a feeling then that India had some good players who were not getting the opportunities and India was thus capable of fielding an equally good second team so why not have a competition between the India regulars and those who were waiting for a chance but not getting it. Just to make sure that no deserving player was left out because of the combination and the balance of the side it was also decided to have a third team. In the initial years it was a tournament between the India team, the India ‘A’ and India ‘B’ teams but over the years the India team was called India Seniors which actually makes it sound like a veterans’ team. This year when India ‘A’ beat the India seniors team it proved that the concept and thought behind the tournament is still valid even though the India seniors team did not have all the players and in fact some were playing for India ‘A’ and India ‘B’ to give those sides balance and a bit of experience and competitive element. If the schedules of international matches are organized well and India can cut down on the mindless commitments made then perhaps domestic cricket and tournaments like this will get all the top players participating and make it most competitive and enjoyable. Some of the commitments made some years ago have left the India team with very little rest and time to recharge its batteries with the result that top players are giving domestic tournaments a miss and thus Indian domestic cricket standards are not improving.
At the time of writing India is due to play no less than eleven Tests in the next 8 months and twice that number of one-day matches. This of course does not take into account the heavy season that India had last year touring Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and South Africa and playing a Test series against England at home. The Indian cricket board President Jagmohan Dalmiya is currently in discussion with the West Indies board to try and reduce the Tests and one-day matches the Indian team is due to play there from April. The way that tour and the England tour were fixed does call for a review of the board’s process of accepting invitations and not even discussing them with the players. The players are not machines and to have just a couple of weeks’ break between one tour and then go on to another is ridiculous. It was exactly the same last year and it was only when some seniors put their foot down that the one-day indoor event in Australia was canceled. Invitations were accepted without looking at the reciprocity factor and commitments made without taking into account the commercial values that India bring to international cricket. It was only after India walloped Australia in the Tests and narrowly lost the one-day series in April end that the Australian board thought of inviting India for the indoor series in September. Normally, countries like Australia pride themselves on having a program decided well in advance. Well India became a hot ticket after it defeated Australia and the ACB wanted to cash in on this and so the invitation to play the indoor series. Even before the invitation reached India some of our people were saying yes, yes, yes. Never mind if it meant the Indian team coming from Zimbabwe having a week off then flying to Sri Lanka and from there to Pakistan for the Asian Test Championship (which was subsequently canceled) and from there flying direct to Melbourne for the one-day series and from there to South Africa. It was only when the clear headed elements in the board took stock of the situation and asked for reciprocity from the Australians that they would tour India too for one-dayers that wisdom dawned on the emotional ones in the board not to nod their heads at every invitation that the Indian cricket team receives to play.
The constant grind of cricket did result in Tendulkar having a rare injury and causing him to miss a Test match for the first time since he started playing in 1989. That may well prove to be a blessing in disguise if Dalmiya succeeds in persuading the West Indies board to have only four Tests instead of five when India go there in April because it would mean that the little champion’s 100th Test match would be in India. As it stands now he has two Tests against Zimbabwe after the one-dayers against England, then five Tests in West Indies and four in England the last of which will be his 100th Test match. Imagine the 100th Test of India’s favorite son being played overseas. The Oval has a wonderful atmosphere, the best in England, but can it ever compare to the atmosphere at Wankhede Stadium which being the home ground should logically be given the honor of holding the 100th Test of the little champion. Just think of the festivities that will take place for weeks ahead of the 100th Test, the anticipation, the excitement, the uncontrolled joy of his millions of fans. It is simply mind-boggling.
That’s why lets hope Dalmiya succeeds in persuading the West Indies board to have only four Tests so that when India’s tour of England is over the little champion will be having 99 Tests under his belt. If Dalmiya is unable to persuade the West Indies Cricket Board then lets pray that one Test somewhere gets totally rained off, may be Guyana where it has happened before, or Lord’s or Leeds where it can happen. It’s our little champion and he simply has to play his 100th Test match in India. Are you listening Mr.Dalmiya? (Professional Management Group)
