The Great Debate (India)

Congratulate Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is the first cricketer to score 100 international centuries, reaching the long-awaited milestone during the Asia Cup one-dayer against Bangladesh.

Since his 1989 Karachi debut, what the 38-year-old has accumulated is much more than scoring almost 34,000 international runs from 188 test matches, 462 one-dayers and one T20 international.

Join us in congratulating Sachin Tendulkar.

Congratulate Team India

Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck a dramatic six to bring the World Cup to India on Saturday after Sri Lanka had threatened to ruin their party.

India is only the third side to win batting second, a feat that seemed beyond them when Lasith Malinga dismissed both openers in his first four overs. India also became the first country to win the World Cup as host.

Join us in congratulating Team India on their win.

India v Pakistan: Who will win?

Nothing gets bigger in this part of the globe than a cricket match featuring India and Pakistan. The rivalry would be renewed in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final in Mohali in Punjab.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani will watch the match in what is billed as “cricket diplomacy”.

According to a newspaper report, airport authorities have received requests from business tycoons, including Mukesh Ambani and fellow industrialist Vijay Mallya, to allow them to park their private jets in Chandigarh.

While politicians and Bollywood celebrities will also be in tow, there is a growing sense of anger among the ticket-seeking fans who complained of large-scale black-marketing.

How important is this “mother of all cricket contests”? Who do you think will win? Share your views.

What can ICC do to avoid rush for World Cup tickets?

The website selling just 1000 tickets for the cricket World Cup final in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on April 2 crashed seconds after they went on sale on Monday sparking furious complaints from fans.

ICC official ticketing partner KyaZoonga.com buckled under the pressure of huge traffic.

Of the 31,000 seats at the Wankhede stadium, only 4000 are available to the public — 1000 online while another 3000 will be sold later for those who queue up at stadium box offices.

The rest are distributed among the ICC and clubs affiliated to the Mumbai Cricket Association.

With such a small proportion available to the general public in a cricket-crazy country, it is little wonder that there has been a mad scramble for tickets.

What can the ICC do to avoid this? Share your views.

Who will win the 2011 cricket World Cup?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men will have to work hard to justify their favourites’ tag as India begins its quest for World Cup glory in the Feb. 19 – April 2 cricket tournament.

Fourteen teams have been divided into two groups for the tournament, co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with the top four from each division advancing to the quarter-finals.

In Group A, defending champions Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would have to seriously under-perform to miss qualifying ahead of Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.

Group B holds marginally more interest. Bangladesh barely hold their own in test cricket but they can be a force in the one-day game, especially on their own pitches as a 4-0 drubbing of New Zealand late last year testified.

With a host of slow, naggingly accurate bowlers on sluggish pitches, Bangladesh could well qualify at the expense of West Indies in a group including India, England, South Africa, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Which is your favourite team in the tournament? Who do you think will win and why? Share your views.

Congratulate Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is the first player to score 50 test centuries, reaching 107 not out on the fourth day of India’s first cricket test against South Africa on Sunday. Here’s your chance to congratulate Sachin, share your views and comments.

(Click here to view slideshow)

Congratulate the Indian cricket team

India cruised to a seven-wicket win over Australia in the second test on Wednesday to sweep their two-match series 2-0.

Here’s your chance to congratulate the Indian cricket team.

Should gambling on cricket be legalised?

The Pakistan spot-fixing scandal has once again shone the spotlight on illegal betting in the sub-continent and reopened the debate on the legalisation of gambling in India.

Media reports suggest the Indian sports ministry is now examining gambling regulations in other countries, particularly the UK, in a possible move towards legalising sports gambling.

Should gambling on cricket be legalised?

Will sex before matches help the Indian cricket team?

(UPDATE: Kirsten on Friday denied having any role in  drafting the document and said he was deeply hurt by the quotes being attributed to him)

Coach Gary Kirsten is encouraging the Indian cricket team to have sex to boost their performance in the ongoing Champions Trophy tournament in South Africa, a newspaper reported.

Kirsten put down his thoughts on dietary habits, exercise and the benefits of sex in a document handed over to team members, Hindustan Times said this week.

This is not the first time cricket coaches have resorted to unusual methods to help their teams on the field.

During the 2001 Ashes tour, then Australia coach John Buchanan drew on the teachings of Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu — even sliding copies of ‘The Art of War‘ treatise under the doors of cricketers’ hotel rooms.

Former Indian coach Greg Chappell adapted Edward de Bono’s ‘six thinking hats‘ method to prepare his team for important games.

Sexologists approve of Kirsten’s advice, although several athletes and footballers over the years have been asked to abstain from sex before competitive events.

Is cricket in South Asia critically injured?

This is not the first time cricket or cricketers were targeted in the subcontinent, especially Pakistan.

Despite the threat to players’ security, something which has led to postponement or cancellations of many tours, the subcontinent has always presented a united front which many will say was instrumental in the centre of gravity of world cricket shifting from England to South Asia.

There was always the fear of violence, the threat was clear and present, but what unfolded outside the Gaddafi Stadium at Lahore took the fear and threat to a new realm. Is cricket in the continent critically injured? Can cricket recover from this body blow?