John Stern: Time for calm and perspective in wake of Mumbai
November 28th, 2008 by John Stern in England, England in India and tagged cricket, India, John Stern, mumbai, the wisden cricketer
The chances of England returning for the two-Test series in India seems negligible. I can’t believe that there is much appetite among the players to return so unless the ECB force them to go back, which is inconceivable, then the Tests are off.
This is a shame. Totally understandable, even inevitable, but a shame nonetheless. On the one hand, sport can seem utterly trivial at times of great tragedy and personal suffering. But on the other, this is when sport can show its best side, it can be a force for good, a symbol of public resilience, of normality, a sign that we will carry on with our lives in the face of vile pressure. Above all, it is a chance to remember why we love this game, its capacity to bring fun, entertainment and excitement into our lives.
I didn’t expect Kevin Pietersen to be standing in the lobby of his Bhubaneshwar hotel saying: “We ain’t going nowhere.” Nor did I really expect Lalit Modi to be saying with such certainty that the Tests would go ahead. “There is no problem with that,” is possibly one of the most glib statements I’ve ever heard from a cricket administrator and (to paraphrase Blackadder) you can imagine there’s some pretty stiff competition. Was it stiff-upper-lip Dunkirk spirit from Modi or was it textbook grandstanding from the man who effectively runs world cricket? I know where my money is.
Cricket politics is seedy at the best of times but seeing it intrude so urgently into this tragic situation was nauseating. For Indian cricket, the impact of the Mumbai attacks could be far-reaching. If there is any widespread long-term concerns about safety and security in the country then its status as the powerhouse of the world game is under threat.
But frankly that’s not important right now. Modi needs to show some understanding to his English counterparts at the ECB, whom for once I have some sympathy. They are torn between their players’ well-being which they can’t be seen to take lightly and the commercial needs of the Indian board. If the foreign office do not officially advise against returning to India then the ECB are potentially stuck with a whopping compensation bill.
It is worth keeping a sense of history and perspective here. In 1984-85, Indira Gandhi was murdered by one of her bodyguards and the British High Commissioner was also killed. After much soul-searching, England, captained by David Gower, continued their tour. In 2005, Australia’s tour of England continued despite the London bombings. The difference in Mumbai is the targeting of foreigners in five-star hotels, just the sort of places touring cricketers inhabit.
Players talk of having their security “guaranteed”. That is naïve. Frankly nobody’s security can be guaranteed. Anybody who lives in a major city does so in the knowledge that risks, large and small, to personal safety exist round every corner. That is life.
Cricket cannot insulate itself from real life, nor should it. Pakistan has become a no-go area for touring cricketers, we can’t let India go the same way. And the last thing we should tolerate is the idea that ‘western’ cricketers won’t travel to Asia but they expect Asian cricketers to travel to their countries.
Double standards and hypocrisy are never far from the surface in international cricket politics. It’s time for calm, rational thinking and a bit if perspective. Let’s put the money and greed to one side, just for now.
John Stern is editor of The Wisden Cricketer
Posted in England, England in India | 6 Comments »
November 28th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
”Pakistan has become a no-go area for touring cricketers, we can’t let India go the same way” – Hypocrisy at its best!!
India should already be a no go area but cricket politics as stated is seedy and dirty and will find a way to sweep this under the carpet sooner or later.
The only reason ECB have stated they will return for the test series is because of indias financial clout and persuasion. The BCCI don’t want other players and teams saying no to touring India severely affecting IPL and BCCI financially. On the other hand ECB need Indian players and BCCI support for their version of the IPL which they are planning.
If this had happened in pakistan there would be no coming back for the any test series.
Whats the difference between what has gone on here and what is going on in pakistan?
Apparently india may cancel their series in pakistan. India should stand toe to toe with pakistan at this moment as they are both in the same terrible position. Pakistan have acted upon every whim of India in re to the banning of ICL players etc even though it has severely depleted there current team. If India will not support Pakistan then this support should be withdrawn and Pakistani ICL players should be back playing Intnl cricket.
Also if Intnl cricket can continue in India why cant it in pakistan?
Pakistan should not play on neutral territory and a stand must be made
November 29th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Dear Zaz,
you are right about India’s financial clout and persuasion. And on the basis of recent events It would be totally reasonably for Western teams to avoid touring India in the near future.
However , the answer to your question “Whats the difference between what has gone on here and what is going on in pakistan?” is “Huge”.I will avoid going into the details otherwise this may become an undesirable political debate.
November 29th, 2008 at 1:07 am
It was interesting hearing Jonathan Agnew interviewing Lalit Modi the other day – usually so forthright, he could barely raise a whimper. It betrayed just how much power Modi has.
Whether money can be left aside is a real issue, players and supporters have to be given a say in the running of the game, because left as it is now, its a poisonous affair.
I hope the foreign office can salvage this situation for the ECB, but I suspect a solid round of buck-passing will instead prevail.
November 29th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
India is no Pakistan.At this horrible time the last thing we need is an equation with a banana republic like pakistan.There can be nothing more insulting so please steer clear of that.
It’s a shame & very cheap opportunistic behaviour of the western(british/Australian) media to categorise this as specifically an attack on foreigners & deem India a doomed nation where they don’t want to play.Pouncing on this opportunity is something you guys couldn’t miss could you??there have been no discussions in England or AUs about India’s magnificent cricket team which hammeres both your sides till now.But as soon as this happened those cricket commentators in Aus are having discussions about the security systems in India.Pathetic.
183 people died out of which 9 were foreigners.Th rest were Indians.There was no specific ‘targeting’ of foreigners.95% of the foreigners rescued say they’d come back again or continue to stay there.
Are you really telling me these sort of attacks won’t happen in England??
Nice try,I’m not buying such rubbish.
You got housefull crowds in England after the London bombings.Why ,even the barmy army doesn’t have a problem going to mumbai.
Such knee-jerk reaction articles are disappointing.
The last part was unbiased.
Except the last part of your article,I disagree completely.& who is lalit modi,some satan incarnate??Quit the rhetorical rubbish about Modi.He laid out th red-carpet for the Australians in the RCA & gave them facilities that India have never got in Australia.
I don’t really care about the English team coming back or going away.I give two hoots.Your team bring up the bottom of the Limited Over’s sides(No,Bangladesh & Zim don’t count) alongwith Windies & are at best an ordinary test team(No 1 win against aus doesn’t prove anything).You haven’t beat India home or away in a test series for 13+ years.
So there,I don’t care about your team.But I do get irritated & angry even,which isn’t often,when you post stuff like Cricket politics is seedy at the best of times but seeing……….. game is under threat…………. players’ well-being…
Player’s well-being??Your players are treated like royalty in India what are you talking about.
Can you post 1 article without slamming the BCCI or Lalit Modi who doesn’t run the BCCI forget World cricket.
December 1st, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Sathnam take a deep breath! I thought this piece was fair, and a long way from being the biased attack on Indian cricket that you seem to be making it out as. From what I’ve just read, Mr Stern doesn’t want cricket tours to India to be cancelled, so you are violently agreeing with him there. And let’s face it, there is too much money in the Indian game for it to go the same way as Pakistan.
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Its a fine line isnt it, the one where cricketers should not be forced into touring when they should not be and where the show must go on to show support for India.
I think the ECB has to make a stronger stance when it comes to issues like this. They are involved in the security assessments etc, hence they should be the ones making the decision,Without pressuring the players.