Yet Another Dose Of Twenty20
By Gaurang
May 1 2010
Just after a massive helping of T20 cricket which would have satiated the most voracious T20 appetite in the form of the recently concluded IPL, the ICC has scheduled its third edition of the T20 World Cup.
The novelty of supporting a national team, after the IPL bonanza where fans mostly supported individuals, as even city or team based loyalty is a concept not very suited to the hero-worshipping Indian ethos, may represent a bit of fresh air and spark a renewed appetite, but still the scheduling of the tournament back-to-back with the IPL just indicates how cramped and over-scheduled the international cricket calendar has become.
Thankfully the ICC has learnt some lessons from the disaster that was the 2007 World Cup, and each edition of the T20 World Cup (we’ve already staged three of these) since that time has ensured that the chance of a top team being eliminated is slim, though Australia did manage to still get eliminated last time.
The addition of Afghanistan to the mix is truly a success story that deserves a lot of praise. For a country still at war, and which has been at war, either officially or unofficially, for the last 30 years, this is indeed an impressive achievement. India should definitely take Afghanistan under its wing, and maybe invite them to participate in next season’s Duleep Trophy to get exposure to the first class game as well.
In the end the victor of the tournament can be any of half a dozen teams, and the team that has both the skills and the luck going will ultimately emerge the champions. Personally, I think that world cricket would be best served if somehow the West Indies managed to win this tournament, but the head says it will be one of India, Pakistan, Australia or South Africa that actually wins it. In any case not too much must be read into who wins the championship, but if perchance India do win it, it may lead to a re-doubling of the national craze for this fast-food version of the game. One shudders to think what that means in light of the scandals and politics that already have engulfed the IPL
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:05:13:07:11:19 by Max.
And so far, they are showing just that... simply CRUSHING the Banglas...
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
I think it's the sheer boredom that results from the cramped T20 calendar...
24 needed with a bunny coming in at 11? No problem!
24 needed with a bunny coming in at 11? No problem!
They are my sentimental favorites too...but they are unlikely to do too well...
So many rain affected games...WTF were the ICC thinking or more likely NOT thinkng...?
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
And Guyana is notorious for rainouts... so should have scheduled extra time at least for those matches...
England easily beat Pakistan in the first Super 8 match. Pietersen doing well with the bat. Pak look very flat...need to lift their game a lot if they are to make the semis.
India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!
Quote:Birbal
What a joke of a tournament this is turning into...
So many rain affected games...WTF were the ICC thinking or more likely NOT thinkng...?
i am told modi has fixed this tournament