Sunday, April 11, 2004

ULTA-PULTA
Politics of cricket
Jaspal Bhatti

EVERYONE is puzzled why Rahul Dravid, who is the substituting captain of the cricket team, declared the innings when Sachin was only six runs short of his double century. In spite of the fact that India won the Multan Test by an innings, my son could not digest the fact that Sachin could not make his double century.

He said, "There is certainly some politics behind Dravid’s decision." I told my son that Dravid had taken this decision to keep politics out of cricket. "How", my son asked, wanting to know the logic behind my statement.

I explained, "Look, when Sehwag completed his triple century, his father promised Sahib Singh Verma that Sehwag would campaign for the BJP. If Dravid had allowed Sachin to complete his double century, Sachin’s brother might have said that Sachin would campaign for the Shiv Sena, the Congress or the BJP".

My son appreciated this logic and further suggested, "In fact, Papa, I think that no Indian player should be otherwise to complete his double century till the elections are over."

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