By Dhondy
September 25 2005

This is what has happened. A thorough professional with a great work ethic and good intentions takes over the team and is appalled by what he sees.

There are players who have taken their places for granted for many years, steadily underperforming and trying to disguise it through intrepid interviews after the match.

 

People living on past glories, refusing to get off the gravy train for commercial considerations.

 

Slouches who repeatedly cut pathetic figures in the field, get involved in comical run outs, and refuse to take responsibility for their failures.

 

Surrounding all these clowns, a multi-million dollar industry, based on hype and no substance, gleefully taking advantage of the gullible & uncritical Indian public, who are willing to put up with this dross because they have never known any better, and are afraid to let go, for fear of losing what little they have.

 

Into this mess, a man with a mission comes in, sees what's going on, and tries to change it with his forthright and no-holds-barred approach.

 

Pause. Ask yourself for a moment. What does this man stand to gain through courting unpopularity through change? If only he agreed to acquiesce to the status-quo, his million dollar pay package would be safe. He would serve out his years and return home a very wealthy man. Why does he feel compelled to put his own financial interests, his status and standing in the game in jeopardy?

 

Maybe because he cares?

 

The gravy train is rocked. The players who had been treating their places as some kind of inheritance suddenly realize that the ride is about to end. All hell breaks loose.

 

The groupies pull together, close ranks, and begin urgent discussions on how to oust this man who threatens to kick them out of their comfort zone.

 

The sad story of Indian cricket. They recruited the right man, they paid for him, and they threw their weight behind him. But now trade unionism threatens to sabotage his aspirations and kill India's one genuine chance of becoming a world class team.

 

Vested interests, anybody?