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Ticket fiasco is not unique to India
By Rajiv Gupta
First it was the Commonwealth Games (CWG) and now it’s the Cricket World Cup (CWC) – two events that should have enhanced India’s image as the host of global sporting events but has instead hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
While the chaotic preparations and organisational blunders surrounding the CWG is well documented, events at the CWC need to be put into perspective.
This CWC is one of the most viewed sporting spectacles in the world. India, the second highest populated country, is one of its co-hosts.
Money is clearly not an issue as the Indian board is the richest in the sport. But then money cannot buy everything, as some credit card adverts will have you believe.
Take for instance the issue of the official ticket agency Kyazoonga website going into meltdown after registering 10 million hits within 20 minutes. In a country where cricket is a religion, the website could have predicted the crash especially with only 1000 tickets up for sale. But how could it have been prevented?
Those with technical knowhow observed it “needed a server farm the size of a football ground” to cope with the huge surge.
A long winter looms for Pakistan cricket
A billion fans in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka — all test nations — have used the game of cricket as a balm for their myriad problems.
That myth was exploded on Tuesday after gunmen wounded six Sri Lankan players after firing heavy weapons as their team bus wound its way towards the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore to start the third day’s play in the second test.
While the players apparently escaped without serious injuries, at least eight Pakistanis lost their lives and a local umpire was critically wounded.
Cricket will never be the same again in the region.
Sri Lanka’s tour had itself come in the shadow of violence after the Indian government, its bilateral relations with its neighbour nosediving after the deadly November militant attacks in Mumbai, refused permission for its team to tour Pakistan in January-February.
The island team stepped into the breach, with Pakistan desperate for test cricket and money, having gone over a year without five-day games.
Former skipper Inzamam-ul Haq betrayed the helplessness of cricket administrators in Pakistan, unable to believe that militants, to draw global attention, could have targeted their favourite game.
For heavens sake, what is this India Pakistan thing going to do. All time the same shit!! Grow up people!! These attacks can be carried out by anyone who is brainless. People who are un educated. BLAME THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT. If they spend less money on their army and more on education then people wont be so stupid when unemployeed to grab arms and attack tourists. People who watched this thng happening in the streets of Lahore, I would like to tell you this that please BE A SHAMED of yourself. Stand behind your government, save innocent people like the sports team of Sri Lanka and stand agains those hairy taliban freaks. Pakistan is doomed if you guys dont unite against the bloody so called wanna be extra muslims. Ruining the name of Islam and the people who practice the normal way of Islam. After bad times there is always good time. If today u dont have a job 2moro u might, but at least get urself educated OUT SIDE THE MADRASSAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those freaks wont teach u nothing that can be used to work in the 2days world.
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Resident Left Field Expert
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Congratulation to all Indians! We have won the World Cup! I am overwhelmed by the outstanding performance of our team where Dhoni acted as an ideal captain and a true leader.But I am thoroughly disappointed by the decision made by the governing bodies where MS Dhoni was recognized as Man of the Match and Gautam Gambhir was completel…y ignored by everyone out there.He did not get individual recognition for a single moment.Where as the fact is if India won today,she won because of the outstanding and consistent performance of Gautam Gambhir.He was the one who layed the foundation on which India could make a history again.MS Dhoni could not have achieved it all alone.He made the strongest partnership with Dhoni and Virat.He was the one who held on the wickets and stuck on to the ground.When 2 giant and most reliable players got out unexpectedly, we all lost hopes and that time the team needed will power, motivation,Gambhir stepped in the groung in that tensed situation where he kept his cool, calmly but steadily performing and leading India closer to its goal.He took some calculated risk and gave some wonderful shots.I am highly disappointed with such an a decision.Dhoni was undoubtedly brilliant today but the recognition should have been shared between the two champions!