Undoubtedly the media has played an important role to make cricket popular in Asian countries. The most important role has been played by the increasing network of the television. At present cricket has become everything. Cricket has entered in the life of a common man But how far it is proper that the few professionals have taken rights to telecast the cricket matches?

In the last days, a Twenty-20 world cup in cricket was organized in South Africa. Although all the matches were thrilling & interesting but two Semifinals & a Final caused a shivering sensation to the lovers of cricket, the Semifinals were between India Vs Australia & Pakistan Vs New Zealand & the final was between India & Pakistan.

These matches were a centre of excitement for the public. But the common people couldn’t watch matches being telecast. The reason was that a TV channel company has bought all the rights to telecast it. It simply means that only that TV channel can telecast these matches that have got rights to telecast the cricket World Cup.

If we talk about the countries of Southern Asia, especially India, Pakistan & Bangladesh, we see that most of its population lives in villages. Those people mostly lack the television ownership. Generally the national programmes are telecast on their TV sets. Whereas the only private channel that has got the rights to telecast the World Cup, can’t be received unless there is a cable network.

If there is no cable network, the dish available in the market, being sold by many companies can be made use of to watch the matches. But all these things whether cable network or dish can only be made available by the rich people or by the dwellers of the cities.

As it was observed that on one side, there was a final match between the traditional cricket rivals India & Pakistan, being fought in the playground & on the other side, the common people were craving to watch the final on their TVs.

This match was not being telecast by the Indian Doordarshan. Undoubtedly, the electronic media & different TV channels have molded themselves in the globalization. It is also true that profession can’t be linked with the feelings But, can this so called professionalism, ban the rights of watching a thrilling match of players of one’s own country?

Can the rule of telecast not be liberalized to the extent that the people of the country, whose players are playing the match to see it? Or the national TV channel is available for the people of the country? If there can’t be such a setup then what else can it be called but only a planned conspiracy against the people of that country?

Clearly this electronic media aroused the interest of the people by its open telecast in the beginning. When the people became habitual of inebriation, some professionals deprived them to watch by buying the rights to telecast. This professional maneuvering means that if someone wants to watch the match, he must arrange for the dish, may not for his bread & butter.

This craze for watching cricket matches has given good chances of earning to professionals & at the same time, it has compelled India to turn again towards its golden age of games. The hockey which kept itself as a national game of the country is being forgotten by the people of India. From 1928 to 1956, it was golden age of hockey.

During this period, India played 24 matches & won all of them. India scored 178 goals in all. It means the average score was 7.43. Hockey is the only game in which India won 8 Gold Medals. The highest award of games in India is the Arjun Award. By now, only hockey players succeeded to secure this award maximum number of times.

Today we are well known to the names of Sachin Tendulkar & Saurav Ganguly. But it was an age when the names such as Dhyanchand, K D Singh Babu, Pragat Singh, Ajit Pal Singh, Gagan Ajit Singh, Zafar Iqbal, Bhaskaran, Aslam Sher Khan, as players of hockey were well known in the world.

First of all Indian hockey federation was organized in 1928 in Gwalior. Hockey team was the first team to go on world tour in 1932. It toured places such as, Malaya, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Omaha, Philadelphia, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paraguay, Budapest etc. & brought credit to India.

Undoubtedly, the revolution in media has enabled us to know instantly about the games of the world level players, their records & their extraordinary talents. But there was the golden age of hockey & electronic media was in its infancy, even at that time the name of Dhyanchand was well known by the people of the world.

The world record in 1936 in Berlin Olympics set by Indian Hockey team has not reached yet. In this match there were 38 goals in all. Out of these, 11 goals were scored by the captain of Indian hockey team Dhyanchand. Dhyanchand was called the magician of hockey stick.

The man who wished to win the world was Hitler. He was a dictator & once at the time of the dinner, he put a proposal before Dhyanchand. He offered him the title of Colonel, if he accepted the citizenship of Germany. But Dhyanchand, who was a patriot to the backbone & full of Indian ideology, refused this offer.

Because of hockey, the name of Dhyanchand touched the heights that Bradman’s in Cricket & Pele’s in Football. The adorers of Dhyanchand crossed all the limits in Vienna. A statue of Dhyanchand has been set up in the memory of Dhyanchand in Vienna in which he has been shown with four hands & a hockey stick in each hand.

The people of Vienna say that a man with two hands & a stick can’t play hockey as Dhyanchand used to play. So it is proper to show him in this form.

Anyhow, India has won the Twenty-20 World Cup in Cricket. Before it, India was the winner of World Cup in Cricket in 1983. It was an event that happened 24 years ago. Undoubtedly, the cricket players of India deserve to be congratulated for this success. But the fame of the success of Cricket, ignoring the success in Hockey & this craze for the Cricket & to fall a prey to a professional circle, doesn’t look proper.

Purple patch: five of Hayden’s ten ODI hundreds have come this year, and he isn’t slowing down any

Damien Martyn retired at 35. He confessed that the challenge of international cricket called for “people who are more than 100% committed, dedicated, disciplined and passionate about the game”. Matthew Hayden is fast closing in on 36. And he possesses in abundance the qualities his former team-mate listed. Don’t bother asking him if he has a valedictory speech lined up for anytime soon.

“I can give you an answer, but it’ll be a flippant answer,” Hayden says when the subject is brought up. “As long as I’m enjoying the game, and stay in good touch with the game, I’ll play,” he said in Bangalore before the first game of the Future Cup.

Tall and bear-like, Hayden’s eyes look at you with an intensity that burns. Ask him a question and the answer does not come at the breakneck speed with which he dispatches the ball on the field. He gives the matter his full consideration first.

It has been an extraordinarily plush year for Hayden so far. In February he made a masterful 181 not out against New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, the highest individual score in ODIs since October 2005, when Mahendra Singh Dhoni made 183 against Sri Lanka. Of his ten career ODI hundreds, five have come this year. His 1364 runs from 26 games are 310 more than second-placed Mahela Jayawardene, who has played two more matches. Unsurprisingly Hayden has hit the most sixes in 2007 so far, 33. He was the top run-getter at the World Cup, and for good measure also in the World Twenty20, supposedly a young man’s game.

All this from a man who was dropped from the side in the wake of the 2005 Ashes and only played two ODIs the following year, before being recalled for the CB Series early this year where he stuttered initially but hung on to finish strongly with two fifties and a hundred in his last five matches. Just how did Hayden reinvent himself?

“It’s a bit of a fallacy that I’ve reinvented myself,” he says. “I just have had a particularly good run. I’ve played 150 one-day games [147 to date], my record’s been consistent the whole time really – probably been exceptional over the last six months or so. What you’re saying is, I’ve had a really good run of form.”

That may have something to do with the fact that he has begun to spend more time at the crease. “I’ve been batting longer and that way it sort of gives us a platform and gives me the opportunities to score big scores. The pace of my innings has been good, I’ve picked target players, I’ve summed up the conditions well – it’s just experience and not that my skills have improved or anything.”

The English cricket media, among others, have in the past written off Australia’s old dogs at their own peril – most notably just about a year ago when Ricky Ponting’s men were lampooned as a Dad’s Army ripe for the toppling. Instead the Australians just seem to get better with age: Ponting, Hayden, Gilchrist and Michael Hussey are all still at their peaks; all four figure in the top ten of the ICC ODI rankings.

That is not to say that there isn’t fresh blood coming through. There is, and Hayden, for one, likes the idea of being kept on his toes. Moreover, the elder-statesman role is one he enjoys. “Firstly I stay fit and motivated. Younger guys coming in make it a fresher environment. In addition I see my role as mentor to some of the guys, in particular the young batsmen, so that keeps me fresh in the mind.”

He may well have one of these youngsters opening the batting with him in Tests soon. Australia’s first Test against Sri Lanka in November will be the first in years where Hayden won’t be opening with Justin Langer, with whom he paired up in 64 Tests (of which Australia won 46). How much is the absence of his long-time partner going to matter?

“For sure, yeah, I’ll miss him,” Hayden says. “Justin was such a solid human being and a wonderful little tenacious cricketer. He had a lot of skills which you really do need as an opener. It’s gonna be an interesting time, a challenging time, to get used to another partner.”

Does he think Australia need to take the plunge and opt for a young player like Phil Jaques or Chris Rogers at the top of the order? “It’s not just [specialist] openers, there are middle-order players as well that are putting their hand up to open,” Hayden says. “The batting structure or the selection policy will be to pick the best batsman available.” This could well be a nod at what Ponting hinted at before the ICC World Twenty20, of Australia possibly opening with an allrounder like Shane Watson.

For Hayden it is yet another challenge that he is up for. “It’s important to me that the game stays strong in Australia for many years to come,” he says, “and if I can be a part of that, that’s definitely a role that I see myself playing.”

Yuvraj Singh will take the field in India’s crucial semi-final against Australia

DURBAN, South Africa (AFP) – Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and key batsman Yuvraj Singh will take the field in Saturday’s Twenty20 semi-final against Australia after recovering from injuries.

Yuvraj missed Thursday’s crucial encounter against South Africa due to tendonitis in his left elbow sustained against England the previous day in which he hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over.

Dhoni, suffering back pain, handed the wicket-keeping gloves to Dinesh Karthick in the 37-run win over South Africa which propelled India to the top of group E in the Super Eights round. “I am still smiling so I will hopefully play the next match,” said Dhoni.

“It was just a strain in the lower back, on the right hand side. I had the luxury of having Karthick in the side, who is a specialist keeper. “I did not want to aggravate the injury. I think hopefully it will be fine before the semi-final.”

Dhoni said Yuvraj also will be fit against the formidable Australians, adding the left-hander was rested against South Africa as a precautionary measure. “Yuvi had a bit of a problem with his elbow but he should be ready for the next match as well,” the Indian captain said.

“It was decided to leave out Yuvi at the last moment. We wanted to assess his condition and see what exactly the situation was. We wanted to save him for the rest of the season. “There is no point playing someone who is not fit just for the sake of the team, because throughout the year we play cricket.”

An inspired India, restricted to 153-5 in a game they had to win to stay afloat, hit back to stop South Africa to 116-9 in a rousing finish at the Kingsmead on Thursday night. India, South Africa and New Zealand finished group E of the Super Eights on four points each, but India took the Kiwis along into the semi-finals due to superior net run-rates.

While India await Australia at the Kingsmead here on Saturday night, New Zealand meet group F leaders Pakistan at the Newlands in Cape Town the same afternoon. Left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap Singh led India’s charge with 4-13 from his four overs while Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh claimed two wickets each.

India, who elected to bat after winning the toss, were struggling on 61-4 before Rohit Sharma hit 50 and skipper Mahendra Dhoni 45 to turn the innings around with a stand of 85. Dhoni said his team’s display against the South Africans gave him hope for the semi-final.

“We knew the South Africa game would be among the toughest matches we would play in the whole tournament,” he said. “It was their home ground and the conditions were favourable for them, so we were under pressure and we did not get the start we were looking for.”

The captain also had high praise for 20-year-old Sharma, who was named man of the match ahead of Rudra Pratap. “It was a brilliant performance by Rohit,” said Dhoni. “He has been sat out for ages and did not play in England, yet he came out and helped us recover.

“It is always a challenge to play Australia because they are the best team in the world, but I am sure we will be up to the challenge.” India received unexpected support from South African captain Graeme Smith, who said Dhoni’s men were capable of upsetting Australia.

“They bowled and fielded superbly and kept us under pressure all the way,” said Smith. “In this format of the game things can change so quickly and if they carry on playing the way they are they have a good chance.”

Sep 21: Proteas World Cup jinx continues, India enter semis

India’s twin RP dose did the trick to knock South Africa out, beating them by 37 runs paving the way for Kiwis, as first Rohit Padbanaban Sharma with his poised unbeaten 50 and later Rudra Pratap Singh fiery spell of 4 for13 came up with something special for India to storm into the semis of the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup at Kingsmead in Durban last night.

New Zealand scraped through, helped by India’s 37-run victory in a nerve-racking match to top the group. The host’s chance for qualification ran parallel to win-the-match-calculations. They needed 45 off the last over to win but they targeted at only 17 runs to qualify; but managed just eight in the end.

South Africa World Cup jinx continues as they lost to India after remaining unbeaten in the whole tournament till Thursday’s match. Durban has been a happy hunting ground for India for quite some time. Durban is a home away from home for the men in blue due to the population of Indians over there, which was quite evident last night from the fact that Indian flags were in large in numbers comparatively to South African flags.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to bat first after winning the toss but soon India were in dire straits at 33 for three in the sixth over, as Durban track was seaming a bit and the Proteas bowlers did no mistake in exploiting the advantage, but an all important 85-run partnership between Sharma and Dhoni for the fifth wicket propped the team to a fighting total.

India missed the services of Yuvraj Singh in the middle order, the architect of Wednesday’s sensational victory over England, as he was ruled out for the match because of an elbow injury.

India surely missed the flying start from Sehwag-Gambhir duo, which they were providing in the earlier matches as both fell cheaply without much contribution. Dinesh Kaarthick got out on a soft dismissal as he lobbed a simple catch at square-leg without scoring a single run. Three wickets in the span of four balls, and India were in the doldrums. Shaun Pollock (2/17) was the most successful bowler for South Africa.

Then came Rohit Sharma who took Yuvraj’s place. It is his first appearance at the crease after along lay-off. Sharma grabbed the opportunity with both hands and completed his well deserved half-century with a six off the last ball. The 20-year-old from Mumbaikar hit seven fours and two sixes in his 40-ball innings. It was not easy to bat on that too for man who his taking the center stage at this crucial juncture for the first time, but Rohit held his nerve till the end to take the team to a respectable total.

If the first part of the match was in Rohit Sharma’s name then the later part was totally mesmerized by Rudra Pratap Singh’s presence on the field. A double whammy at the start by RP Singh put Proteas on the back foot.

RP struck again in his third over from round the stumps to send back Shaun Pollock finishing his first spell with 3-0-11-3 while Rohit Sharma did a brilliant job in effecting a run-out to send back the dangerous Justin Kemp.

South Africa at 31-5, the target looked to be achievable as they needed just 126 to qualify at least, and there on Boucher and Albie Morkel recovered their team to an extent with a 69-run partnership. Though Sreesanth got the wicket late, the tension in the Indian camp vanished with Boucher’s exit. Irfan Pathan bowled a fine spell but was not lucky to get a wicket.

Harbhajan had Vernon Philander stumped in the next over and R P Singh then returned to dismiss Morkel and end South Africa’s hopes.

“We seemed to find a way to lose in big tournaments. It is really disappointing not to make the semis of our own tournament,” said Smith, the South African captain. “But that is how it goes sometimes and we have to get on with life and get over the disappointment quickly.”

Indian skipper Dhoni said “ We weren’t sure when we took the field to defend our total. But it was our efforts which charges us up.”

The man of the match was awarded to Rohit Sharma for his brilliant unbeaten 50 and a terrific run-out to send back dangerous Justin Kemp. India now plays Australia again at Durban in the semifinal in on Saturday while South Africa take on Pakistan in Cape Town earlier on the same day.