| Event: | ICC World Cup 2006/07 |
It could have been the most talked about hyped up encounter of the ninth World Cup India vs Pakistan at Bridgetown on April 15. Instead the spectators got a lightweight match between Ireland and Bangladesh. Indeed many in the crowd were wearing Indian jerseys while cheering for Bangladesh.
There is no doubt that the absence of the Asian superpowers thanks to shock defeats sustained at the group stage and their subsequent early elimination has robbed the mega event of much interest. After all Indian and Pakistani cricket fans are spread all over the world and many of them made it to the Caribbean at great expense with unbridled enthusiasm having booked their tickets well in advance confident that both India and Pakistan would make it to the Super Eight. But thats cricket all over. After all who can say that Bangladesh and Ireland are undeserving of a place in the Super Eight? They defeated higher ranked teams and so fully deserve to be there taking on the likes of Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. And if any further proof was needed Bangladesh stunning South Africa provided it.
As the Super Eight is in its final stages three semifinalists have been spotted in Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand while the fourth qualifier will be either South Africa or England. So for all the shocks that the preliminary stage provided the Super Eight matches have gone according to the formbook except for that one surprise result. But then this was always going to be the stage where the men would be separated from the boys. Now of course with the four fancied teams entering the semifinals it is just going to be the form displayed on that particular day. One good day and you could be holding aloft the World Cup; one bad day and you face elimination at the penultimate stage.
Overall however whatever happens in the last few matches - this is not going to be a World Cup that will be remembered fondly and I am not referring to the Bob Woolmer murder though of course that is one reason. From all accounts most of the matches have been played before empty stadiums. Crowds are what the cricketing atmosphere is all about particularly in the Caribbean where they love their Calypso music, the dancing, the drum beating and the rum drinking. Perhaps the fact that Brian Laras team has been a disappointment is one reason for the thin attendances but then West Indies were never going to be one of the foremost challengers anyway.
Another reason is that too many games have been one sided. Only two matches in the Super Eight Sri Lanka vs South Africa and Sri Lanka vs England have really gone down to the wire. Then of course is the sheer length of the tournament. Seven weeks is simply too long for any competition to go on and on and interest is bound to slacken. The 2011 tournament to be held in the sub continent should be so formatted that it does not run for a day over a month or five weeks at most.
We in India are of course the most enthusiastic of cricket fans. We have long shrugged off the Indian teams disastrous Caribbean campaign and as genuine cricket lovers who love watching a keen contest many no doubt sit up till 3 am to see the matches. Still the unearthly hour is not the same as watching the World Cup when it has been staged in England, Australia and New Zealand, the sub continent or South Africa. The facilities and the organization of the tournament have also come in for criticism and surely it will be a long time for the World Cup to return to the Caribbean if at all!
(Article: Copyright © 2007 CricketArchive)