The Indian Premier League, have always been a whirlpool of controversies and all unecessary diversions which does not sit well for the money rich League’s much maligned image.
As if it was not enough, Ashwin added one more, unnecessary chapter to IPL’s legacy. He Mankaded Butler out, which as per the books, is well within the rules and helped the Kings XI Punjab win against Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin is known for trying these kind of dubious things even before this incident and its nothing new.
Many have rebuked him for his unsporting act. But the ones who are doing it are no Saints themselves. Many were the ones who applied every kind of nasty means to win.
Sadly I belong to a generation who grew up watching cricket when the likes of Gavaskar and Kapil Dev used to play. It was a gentleman’s game then. I had watched in terror as the fiery, fast bowlers of West Indies bowled their perfect yorkers and scary bouncers. Batsmen used to literally cower facing them. That quartet of Andy Roberts, Malcom Marshall, Garner & Holding still remain the best ever for me. I have seen Imran Khan come in gracefully and uproot the wickets of batsmen. I have watched the likes of Bob Willis, Botham, Hadlee and Chatfield fire unplayable balls at the opposition. Whenever Kapil Dev bowled there was the expectation of a wicket.
I have seen (with huge grudge) Zaheer Abbas tearing India apart, many a times. I have watched in awe as Gavaskar scored century after century against the best in the world. The grace of Gower, the elegance of Vengsarkar, the casual power of Richards, the consistency of Haynes & Greenidge, the persistence of Border – would always remain evergreen. Wicket-keepers likes Kirmani, Jeff Dujon, Ian Smith were absolute crowd favourites. They were aggressive whether bowling or batting, but only their game talked.
The West Indies’ team that dominated World Cricket in the 70s and and early 80s would always be the best ever. What stood out the most was that they were also wonderful gentlemen who never crossed the line when it came to behaving on field.
India’s Sunil Gavaskar was one of the chief tormentors of the West Indian bowlers, But he was also one of the most loved players in the West Indies. He even had calypsos written in his name for the way he dominated the feared West Indian pacers. The admiration for one’s abilities transcended nations – in those days.
Despite the opposition beating us, I admired the likes of Hadlee, Alan Border, Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan and the entire West India and New Zealand team. Our very own Indian Cricket team was also a bright example of sportiveness.
Sunil Gavaskar was someone who never gave an inch when it came to the rules but he was always sporting. Kapil Dev was simply one of the sweetest persons to have graced the world of cricket, except when he was bowling, because he was lethal.
Anger and aggression was rarely shown in public. You felt a pride about the men in white. Though it happened, it was very rare to see someone misbehave or show their anger on the field. It was after all a game and it was played in that spirit.
Not just in Cricket – every sport was played with a sporting attitude. In those days, McEnroe and Connors were anomalies while Bjorn Borg and Chris Evert were the norm in Tennis. The legendary Johan Cryuff epitomized values and ethics in a football field. They were role models who went by the rule – “Be fair, be respectful, be honest, be a sportsperson.”
I still remember vividly that incredible moment when Courtney Walsh backed out when he could have run out Saleem Jaffar as he was backing up. Pakistan needed 2 from 1 ball to qualify for the semis. West Indies lost that game.
I don’t think anyone today would think twice to do what Walsh stopped himself from doing in the biggest stage of cricket - the 1987 Cricket World Cup. It was after-all a game. Winning was important, but winning the right way was more important. Pakistan owes its only World Cup win to Walsh, the sportsman with the biggest heart ever.
The so called God of Argentina, Maradona would be sitting at home with nothing if he had been caught during his hand ball goal in the 1986 Football World Cup semis. Materazzi with his behaviour in the 2006 Football World Cup finals saw to that the Italians were crowned World Champions. While Zidane was deservedly red-carded for his silly headbutt, the provocation of Materazzi went unpunished.
The media credited Maradona with the hand of God goal and the wily Materazzi for taking out Zidane from the finals. Both the players became World Cup Winners. How cool were they? Real Legends to follow for the future generations.
In cricket, earlier only the Aussies (from the 90’s) and a handful of Pakistan players were known to be the bad boys of cricket as they did everything to initmidate and disturb the opposition to win at all cost. They called it being competitive and they were very successful. Soon the culture spread and teams like England, South Africa, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka followed suit. In India it started with a few players and then it became the attitude of the entire team. Today it’s the norm.
Now coming to the Ashwin controversy -
First thing – Traditionally the Mankad dismissal was always considered unsporting in Cricket. If it is such a problem, then why don’t the ICC change the rules ? Make a warning to the batsman, mandatory, after which the bowler is free to get the batsman out, for the same act.
If the rules of ICC see no such problem and consider this a legitimate way to dismiss a batsman, then why cry WOLF? If its within the rules, then there is no question of being wrong. Ashwin had every right in getting Butler out, as every team is justified for trying everything in their hands to win, in today’s competitive world. (I am sure many more will be justifying his act with the facts and rules of cricket.)
Nowadays it’s considered great to be aggressive and intimidating. It’s a world where the likes of Virat Kohli, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton, Nadal, Serena Williams, Carolina Marin rule the roost and are glorified for their aggression and intimidation during the competition. They are the inspirational leaders who lead by example. Their behaviors are now the accepted way to prove that they are the best. Today these so called combative tactics are considered the best way to win and winning is most important.
If that’s so, then why the hell people are making a big deal of this incident. Surprisingly its the same people who had accommodated and praised such antics, speaking against Ashwin today. These are the present day role models and they are bound to act this way. Today everything is a mere competition where everyone competes to win. Whoever wins is the greatest. How they win is of no significance.
So better stop preaching about trifles and get on with the competition. Everything is fair in competitions, if the rules allow it. Well done Ashwin. Hope many more follow your footsteps.
In today’s world, Sports is a disappearing art and Sportsmanship does not belong here. Ethics, Values, Respect and Sportsmanship - All these are Utopian concepts and cannot be expected from today’s generation of players – not only in cricket – in any sports, where every unsportsmanlike act is venerated and given undue media coverage.
That’s why players like Dhoni, Messi, Iniesta, Kante, Federer are a dying breed because for them the sporting spirit is as important as winning. These are exceptions - anomalies - who don’t belong in this dog-eat-dog world.
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