I am pretty sure, all my non-cricket loving friends would have backed off after seeing the title!!
I thank the few who have made it till here.
This blog is about Cricket!! but not about Indian cricket, instead it is about cricket in Sri Lanka!!
Yes, for me, Sri Lanka is very close to my heart when I say cricket :)
As people throughout the globe say, cricket in the sub-continent is a religion and for many, Sachin is god!I don't blame anyone for this, coz that was how we were brought up... Cricket and Cinema are like the veins and the arteries of our life!
Cricket is in fact regarded as total waste of time by most of the ladies coz their counterparts don't spare even the highlights of a match played a decade ago (I am no exception here). Whenever a match is being telecast, be it live or a repeat, all cricket lovers watch it with great interest as if no more matches will be telecasted in future!
I remember very well, it was the summer holidays of 1995 when cable connection was given to my house. Like all, I was excited about the programmes in all channels (particularly sports channels)
Since in India, sports is very synonymous with Cricket, I too started watching/playing cricket at that stage.In 1996, came the Cricket World Cup which was jointly hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. What more could you ask for!!
My love for this beautiful game started then. Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana opened the batting for the mighty Lankans. It was they who discovered the art of slog hitting in the powerplays (0 - 15 overs). The likes of Sehwag, Chris Gayle and other hard hitters were highly inspired by these two Lankans who made batting look so easy during the initial overs. At the time when all the teams struggled to get past 60 odd runs in the initial 15 overs, Sri Lanka raced past the 100 run mark easily in almost all the games!
My love towards the game as well as Sri Lankan cricket team got stronger day by day as the World Cup progressed. Like India, cricket is the most popular sport in Lanka as well. In fact, this game was more than just a sport for the Lankans in the sense, ceasefire was announced by the LTTE when Sri Lanka qualified for the finals of 1996 as well as 2007 World Cups. Cricket united the people of Sri Lanka irrespective of their background!!
During the 2007 World Cup finals, the entire Nation took to the streets supporting their team forgetting all the bomb blasts and other extremists activities which were very common then. Muthaiah Muralidaran was the lone tamilian in the team and was treated with great respect! I would say, it is because of cricket that the world knows Sri Lanka. Till the early 90's they were regarded as underdogs... The entire team showed great character to straighten things during the 96 World cup and went on th win it!!! (Of course they had a few chances, but still for a team of their stature, a world cup victory is something great!!)
I have many times been regarded as unpatriotic for the reason I don't support team India!
I wonder how is patriotism related to, me not supporting the national team in a sport!! Especially when there is an Indo-SL match, it is very hard for me to enjoy the game at home! Every now and then, my mom keeps asking me "what on earth made you support such an useless team!!". When an Indian batsman gets out, I scream in joy...for which I get the right dues from my entire family :) I am quite used to it now.....
What made me like the team was the spirit shown by the players both on and off the field. They were repeatedly targetted at home by the LTTE and were viciously attacked in Pakistan!! and to top it all, they weren't paid their salary for more than a year. After 2011 world cup, none of the players have received their salary in full till date. Now tell me, how many Indian cricketers do you think would continue playing for the country without salary??? They would retire from all forms of national commitment and concentrate more on the IPL and Big Bash and other cash rich leagues!!
I felt very bad for the Lankans when they lost the World cup finals in Mumbai. In 2007 WC finals, it was totally one sided. The Australians had total control of the match and hence I didn't feel much after Sri Lanka's loss. But this time, the game was pretty close. I was in cloud nine when Sachin and Sehwag were dismissed early. But full credit to Gambhir and Dhoni who took things under their arms and finished off the game. The last six off Dhoni's bat was one hell of a moment for me :(( Entire India rejoiced, but I could not bear to watch the desperation and sadness filled in the eyes of Sangakkara and co... I felt really bad.. but then, thats life.. you can't always win.
The recent speech given by Sangakkara at the "ICC Cowdrey Lecture" was very inspirational!!
As you read through the transcript, One can realise the pain and sacrifice the people of Sri Lanka have made to keep their National cricket team motivated. No wonder, the speech earned him laurels from all the greats of this game! His speech went on to show how cash rich boards like the BCCI influence the decisions made by other minnow cricket boards like "Sri Lanka cricket" and a few others. Afterall, its all about money.
Cricket nowadays is a business!!
The recent Test match victory against the South Africans was a great feeling to me. Though the series was lost, first win on South Africal soil that too at this point of time when the Lankans are in deep financial trouble was a much needed relief!! I was elated until the start of the third test match where they were beaten comprehensively by the RUN MACHINE --> KALLIS (another man i admire!!)
SRI LANKA: I admire every bit of cricket in you. Go on.. The current transition phase will soon be over. We are right behind you to share the sorrows and cherish the success!!! My support to you is absolutely unconditional. Come whatmay, I'll always remain your fan :)
Note: I am not against the Indian cricket team and am not stating that Sri Lanka is the best cricket playing nation. I just wanted to convey the affection I have for this team!!
Indian/Other teams cricket fans... am sorry if I had hurt your feelings in anyway!
Bye for now,
Kailash (Die hard SL cricket fan)
I thank the few who have made it till here.
This blog is about Cricket!! but not about Indian cricket, instead it is about cricket in Sri Lanka!!
Yes, for me, Sri Lanka is very close to my heart when I say cricket :)
As people throughout the globe say, cricket in the sub-continent is a religion and for many, Sachin is god!I don't blame anyone for this, coz that was how we were brought up... Cricket and Cinema are like the veins and the arteries of our life!
Cricket is in fact regarded as total waste of time by most of the ladies coz their counterparts don't spare even the highlights of a match played a decade ago (I am no exception here). Whenever a match is being telecast, be it live or a repeat, all cricket lovers watch it with great interest as if no more matches will be telecasted in future!
I remember very well, it was the summer holidays of 1995 when cable connection was given to my house. Like all, I was excited about the programmes in all channels (particularly sports channels)
Since in India, sports is very synonymous with Cricket, I too started watching/playing cricket at that stage.In 1996, came the Cricket World Cup which was jointly hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. What more could you ask for!!
My love for this beautiful game started then. Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana opened the batting for the mighty Lankans. It was they who discovered the art of slog hitting in the powerplays (0 - 15 overs). The likes of Sehwag, Chris Gayle and other hard hitters were highly inspired by these two Lankans who made batting look so easy during the initial overs. At the time when all the teams struggled to get past 60 odd runs in the initial 15 overs, Sri Lanka raced past the 100 run mark easily in almost all the games!
My love towards the game as well as Sri Lankan cricket team got stronger day by day as the World Cup progressed. Like India, cricket is the most popular sport in Lanka as well. In fact, this game was more than just a sport for the Lankans in the sense, ceasefire was announced by the LTTE when Sri Lanka qualified for the finals of 1996 as well as 2007 World Cups. Cricket united the people of Sri Lanka irrespective of their background!!
During the 2007 World Cup finals, the entire Nation took to the streets supporting their team forgetting all the bomb blasts and other extremists activities which were very common then. Muthaiah Muralidaran was the lone tamilian in the team and was treated with great respect! I would say, it is because of cricket that the world knows Sri Lanka. Till the early 90's they were regarded as underdogs... The entire team showed great character to straighten things during the 96 World cup and went on th win it!!! (Of course they had a few chances, but still for a team of their stature, a world cup victory is something great!!)
I have many times been regarded as unpatriotic for the reason I don't support team India!
I wonder how is patriotism related to, me not supporting the national team in a sport!! Especially when there is an Indo-SL match, it is very hard for me to enjoy the game at home! Every now and then, my mom keeps asking me "what on earth made you support such an useless team!!". When an Indian batsman gets out, I scream in joy...for which I get the right dues from my entire family :) I am quite used to it now.....
What made me like the team was the spirit shown by the players both on and off the field. They were repeatedly targetted at home by the LTTE and were viciously attacked in Pakistan!! and to top it all, they weren't paid their salary for more than a year. After 2011 world cup, none of the players have received their salary in full till date. Now tell me, how many Indian cricketers do you think would continue playing for the country without salary??? They would retire from all forms of national commitment and concentrate more on the IPL and Big Bash and other cash rich leagues!!
I felt very bad for the Lankans when they lost the World cup finals in Mumbai. In 2007 WC finals, it was totally one sided. The Australians had total control of the match and hence I didn't feel much after Sri Lanka's loss. But this time, the game was pretty close. I was in cloud nine when Sachin and Sehwag were dismissed early. But full credit to Gambhir and Dhoni who took things under their arms and finished off the game. The last six off Dhoni's bat was one hell of a moment for me :(( Entire India rejoiced, but I could not bear to watch the desperation and sadness filled in the eyes of Sangakkara and co... I felt really bad.. but then, thats life.. you can't always win.
The recent speech given by Sangakkara at the "ICC Cowdrey Lecture" was very inspirational!!
As you read through the transcript, One can realise the pain and sacrifice the people of Sri Lanka have made to keep their National cricket team motivated. No wonder, the speech earned him laurels from all the greats of this game! His speech went on to show how cash rich boards like the BCCI influence the decisions made by other minnow cricket boards like "Sri Lanka cricket" and a few others. Afterall, its all about money.
Cricket nowadays is a business!!
The recent Test match victory against the South Africans was a great feeling to me. Though the series was lost, first win on South Africal soil that too at this point of time when the Lankans are in deep financial trouble was a much needed relief!! I was elated until the start of the third test match where they were beaten comprehensively by the RUN MACHINE --> KALLIS (another man i admire!!)
SRI LANKA: I admire every bit of cricket in you. Go on.. The current transition phase will soon be over. We are right behind you to share the sorrows and cherish the success!!! My support to you is absolutely unconditional. Come whatmay, I'll always remain your fan :)
Note: I am not against the Indian cricket team and am not stating that Sri Lanka is the best cricket playing nation. I just wanted to convey the affection I have for this team!!
Indian/Other teams cricket fans... am sorry if I had hurt your feelings in anyway!
Bye for now,
Kailash (Die hard SL cricket fan)
:) good write up! but as you said you don't want to compare Indian Cricket team with SL cricket,may be you shouldn't compare the salary as well, the point is BCCI has never ran out of money ;) so you won't know until then :D
ReplyDelete@Vikram: Yeah.. not fair to compare!!
ReplyDeleteGood Post again:).
ReplyDeleteYou like their cricket or the circumstances beyond which they play their cricket !?!
ReplyDeleteGood one though Mr. Kails..
Ganesh
@Rocket: I like their cricket because of which I have laid some extra emphasis on their current situation!!
ReplyDeleteVery well written!!! Honestly speaking - i hate every bit of srilankan cricket team(except murali)... since the time they outplayed us in the 96 worldcup semi....
ReplyDelete@Nilav: Thanks a lot!! You have told this before also!! that u dislike SL cricket team :)
ReplyDelete