Has the gentleman’s game been put to shame?

[Baby Leone]

Sangat .. meaning company

We learn from the sangat our geography has given us .

hope things will improve in india

 

[The Eagle]

Has the gentleman’s game been put to shame?

WINNING and losing is taken as part and parcel of the game where you win some and lose some. That is how sports is considered to be played, if contested within the spirit of the game. But when that spirit is floundered in a manner suspicious in the eyes of those who matter then eyebrows are raised and questions are asked.

Several experts including those who have played this game at the highest level like former Indian captains like Saurav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar have also questioned the way India chose to lose their World Cup match against England, making not only a mockery of the contest but also putting the game to shame.

Read: Dhoni go-slow against England stirs Indian fan fury

For India, a team looking well prepared to win this Cup and with an incredible record of no defeat in this competition, to make their intent so glaringly clear to surrender when victory was theirs for the taking makes us all think whether that was for a reason to keep Pakistan — their traditional rivals — away from the semi-finals.

Success and failures in any sport largely depends on tactics no doubt but not at the cost of sportsman spirit. The Indian team is now being suspected to have done exactly that. Which brings me to ask: why should India stoop that low or be worried of Pakistan being in the semi-finals. After all India hold an indomitable record against the men in green in not one but all their head-to-head World Cup fixtures.

Was it political then or the fear of unexpected that Pakistan at times come up with to clinch a victory from the jaws of defeat. In this competition Pakistan beyond their supporters’ belief have not only beaten South Africa but also the favourites England, and New Zealand.

Had India won against England at Edgbaston, Pakistan could have easily managed to creep up to the semis by beating Bangladesh.

The ifs and buts of all these permutations can either put a team in control or bring them down from their ambit. Pakistan’s case now hangs in the balance.

India’s snail-paced chase against England — scoring only 28 runs in the first ten overs — and then when well in sight of a victory letting the game slip through Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav’s sleepy tactics to allegedly lose the game on purpose remains a source of worry.

That is what the game’s pundits have come to realise and those who know their cricket are complaining of suspicious tactics applied by Virat Kohli’s team.

Owing to India’s loss to England Pakistan now have dropped to fifth spot on the points table, and they are hoping to win their last league match against Bangladesh. Moreover, Sarfraz and company expect New Zealand to lose their game to England at Chester-Le-Street to be somewhere in contention for the last-four stage.

That does not sound too encouraging because Pakistan are trailing on run-rate too.

Dave Richardson, ICC’s outgoing chief executive, has come out with a statement to look into the England-India match. However, this does not seem good enough when every probing eye has their own suspicion about the manner in which India dished out the win to England.

Read: England deal India bruising 31-run defeat in must-win World Cup clash

India, a proper all round team of this World Cup, may still be able to achieve victory but they have certainly not helped themselves to be respected for the way they went on to lose a highly-profile match at Edgbaston last Sunday.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd , 2019

Now it seems more formal and well drafted. Please do share proper heading & link to source as well. Op edited.

 

[Baby Leone]

Now it seems more formal and well drafted. Please do share proper heading & link to source as well. Op edited.

source is mentioned at the end

Published in Dawn, July 3rd , 2019

there

 

[The Eagle]

source is mentioned at the end

The link was missing but updated with heading.

 

[Pakistani sipahi]

not surprised at all, because same thing Pakistan did for India in CT, whole india was praying for the victory of Pakistan against Australia so they can qualify for Semis but Pakistan loose that game (not intentionally) and India did not qualify for the semis.
this is known fact that we are bloody thirsty enemies so damaging the interest of the enemy is absolutely fair and right as there is a saying everything is fair in love and war.
So i am pretty much happy and praying for the defeat of the Pakistan against Bangladesh because this is not the team who can win big matches under pressure, their batting, bowling and fielding not par to lowest teams of the tournaments. Our experienced batsman like Hafeez, Shoaib, Fakhar hardly score 50 and if they did they all are unable to convert it 100s.
So better next time with full preparation and with new talent and consistent performers.

Brother we must support our team no matter how incompetent they are because what matters to us is the Sabz Hilali parcham . Yes the senior players are not performing right now but the same guys you mentioned made us win the champions trophy finals if you remember.

 

[KhanBaba2]

You lost to Australia. Also to India. You are the only team the West Indies could beat. But blame India for not getting into the semi finals.

 

[Asian.Century]

Without a doubt England vs India match both teams made a mockery out of the spirited game, and put a complete shame on the ICC Cricket World Cup.

One thing is sure, India and even England are shit scarred and afraid of Pakistanis, they would stoop so low, so low, nobody can believe that.

Virat Kholi and MS Dhoni turned out to be the biggest chickens in front of Pakistan.

 

[Jackdaws]

Without a doubt England vs India match both teams made a mockery out of the spirited game, and put a complete shame on the ICC Cricket World Cup.

One thing is sure, India and even England are shit scarred and afraid of Pakistanis, they would stoop so low, so low, nobody can believe that.

Virat Kholi and MS Dhoni turned out to be the biggest chickens in front of Pakistan.

You lost to India. India beat every team in the World Cup except England. Don't blame India for you not getting across the finish line. Maybe you were so scared to face India twice that you threw 3 matches.

 

[Asian.Century]

You lost to India. India beat every team in the World Cup except England. Don't blame India for you not getting across the finish line. Maybe you were so scared to face India twice that you threw 3 matches.

We are still looking for India vs Pakistan Semi Final or Final anytime. Clearly if you lost like NZ loosing today, shame and blame would not have been faced by India as its getting bashed by everyone now as Engineered match.

England vs India match totally exposed all including ICC role, which has made this Worldcup the most pathetic, even if Pakistan qualifies for Semi-Finals it is the Worst ever worldcup.

 

[Jackdaws]

We still looking for India vs Pakistan Semi Final or Final anytime. Clearly if you lost like NZ loosing today, shame and blame would not have been faced by India as its getting bashed by everyone now. England vs India match totally exposed all including ICC role, which has made this Worldcup the most pathetic, even if Pakistan qualifies for Semi-Finals it is the Worst ever worldcup.

What nonsense. India's big hitters were out - both Pant and Pandya perished trying to hit out and get the runs. Dhoni is not the player he once was and Jadhav is not a big hitter. Do you remember Javed Miandad in 1996 - he was not the player he was in the 1992 or 87 world cup. He was struggling to hit. Same applies to Dhoni - if Dhoni still have big hitting skills - he would be coming much up the order. He tried to hit against Pakistan in the CL final and could not. Maybe he can hit medium pacers still - just not top quality bowlers like Archer or Starc.

 

[MandarK]

Who stopped Pakistan from winning their league matches? Dont cry like a spoiled child ki wo jaanboojh kar match haar gaye isliye ham nahar ho gaye. Earn your place on your own like we did.

 

[aman_rai]

Yea... India was so scared of Pakistan in the wc that they lost to England...
Blaming others for their failures and creating conspiracy theories is in nature of Pakistani

 

[Jackdaws]

Who stopped Pakistan from winning their league matches? Dont cry like a spoiled child ki wo jaanboojh kar match haar gaye isliye ham nahar ho gaye. Earn your place on your own like we did.

Thing is they can still make it. Even win the World Cup. They did it in 1992.

 

[Laozi]

We are still looking for India vs Pakistan Semi Final or Final anytime.

You have a chance to qualify for semis irrespective of the result of todays match.

After todays match you have an advantage of knowing the Net Run Rate required to qualify for semis.

Go there beat Bangladesh achieve required NRR STOP CRIBBING

Show us that you really want/deserve to play against India

 

[aman_rai]

Now they may crib and create conspiracy theories against new Zealand if it looses to England