Here's a quote I saw on Cricinfo. It's John Buchanan, Australia's former coach, reacting to the review/referral system:

"Cricket ought to initially clean its own backyard and then strive to secure a place in the Olympics. I consider it miserable that the decisions of the authorities are questioned. I'm totally against the referral system and Twenty20 cannot be a part of the Olympics as the referral system is against the spirit of the Games."

Wow! Questioning the decisions of the authorities is "miserable"??? Which ex-Soviet state did he grow up in? (The rest of his statement is equally bizarre, and I'll leave discussion on that for another time).

Cricket fans have had just about enough of the horrible decisions (intentional or not) by the so-called "elite" umpires, as well as seeing the culprits not taken to task for their failures. So they have put enough pressure that a system is finally in place to provide reasonable correction. It has its quirks but, just like with everything else, those will smooth out over time and increased usage.

So Mr. Buchanan, stop acting like a Communist Dictator and embrace the democratic movement of cricket fans worldwide. If you are afraid that Australia will suffer since less-than-honest Australian fielders and umpire bias (in favour of Australia) and will be exposed by the system, don't be. Australia is still an awesome and unparalleled team, even without those advantages they have enjoyed for quite some time.

As everyone knows, the 2008 Champions Trophy has been postponed. Probably the right decision (IMO) when everything is taken into consideration, but it does come with some consequences.

Here are a few thoughts...

• The five countries to pull out have set a poor precedent - that countries can unilaterally pull out without fear of punishment. If it applies to teams like SA (who, btw, safely and successfully toured Pakistan more than any other non-Asian team in the recent past), it should apply to everyone else. I understand the concerns over security, but then other countries can have their own concerns too in the future, maybe not limited to security (political, logistical, financial, etc). Can ICC define security as the sole acceptable reason to meddle with a tournament/series? Or are we just opening up a Pandora's box?

• Is the Champions Trophy even worth it anymore? I know this is kinda of a rehash of the same ol' T20 vs ODI discussion. But even logistically, we have a Champions Trophy scheduled in April 2010 in West Indies. So two CTs in the span of six months? That won't happen. Something will have to give.

• ICC has basically given a blank check for any team not to tour Pakistan at any point. I can completely understand the fears of the players. And I know comparisons to Ashes/London bombings, or IPL/Jaipur, etc. may not be completely warranted, but it's something to think about. IMO, nothing would ever have happened to the players. But the overall climate resulting from any untoward incidents in Pakistan off the cricket field would have made things quite uncomfortable for all involved.

• For Pakistanis, I think it is very disappointing. Cricket is a diversion for the ordinary citizen and it would have felt good for Pakistanis to host the entire cricketing world. But, I think there is one other reason that led to the CT postponement - the lack of attendance in Pakistan's matches. It may not be an immediately obvious cause, but the near empty stands in recent matches (even some involving Pakistan were very poorly attended) makes it easier for the authorities to make decisions without taking into account the fans. Pakistanis have to start working on this. Many matches are basically free and still attendance is abysmal.

• I'm confused by countries' earlier willingness to send weaker teams. I would not feel too great if I were a "weaker" player, knowing that my life is not as valuable as others!

• A month of no cricket is way too juicy for teams and boards to ignore. While it's a good time for a rest for players, it's also a great time to make money (like it or not, that's the way things run). Expect some interesting ad-hoc series and tournaments in the next few weeks.

Usain Bolt, the Jamaican track phenom, loves cricket, Australia, and Matthew Hayden:

"I can't wait to come to Australia and I'm trying to find a way to get down there because it sounds great and you're fun people," Bolt said.

"And one of my favourite cricketers in the world is from your way. I am a huge fan of Matty Hayden and he's a cool customer out in the middle and I like his style."
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Bolt is a cricket fanatic and played the sport as a teenager in the cricket loving Caribbean island.

Hayden has never met the dual gold medallist and was flattered his name was mentioned just moments after Bolt broke Michael Johnson's 12-year-old world record in the 200m..

"Just to see him dance and carry on is truly inspirational and for him to have me in his mind is just so humbling," Hayden told Channel 7.
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Hayden intends sending Bolt a signed cricket bat and wants to meet the Jamaican speed machine when he visits Australia. [LINK]

Also, running was not Bolt's first passion. Perhaps Windies cricket has lost a potential superstar. Although, a fast runup doesn't necessarily equate to a great bowler:

But Bolt wasn't always set to be a sprinter. Cricket was his first love. He stood out as a fast bowler playing for William Knibb High School in Trelawny, and only ditched his cricket whites when his coach, seeing how fast he could run, suggested he have a go at athletics. [LINK]

And a message to the Jacques Rogge and the IOC - STFU!!! Let Usain celebrate - everyone loves it, save some out-of-touch stuckup suits whose goal is to take the fun out of everything (shades of ICC, huh?). If you have any balls, bring up the issue of 12 and 13 year olds playing for China. Then I'll give you some credibility around sportsmanship. He's 21 years old, he's done something no one has ever done before, and he hasn't disrespected anyone. Sure he could be more gracious (as could anyone). But for the IOC's head to single him out, that's just pathetic!

Usain...ignore the IOC! With all due respect to 10CC and their song Dreadlock Holiday, I think the entire world will agree with me if I add this line to the song...

"I say we don't like Lightning...oh no...we love him!!!"

Just a month to go till the Champions Trophy, and things aren't looking good for Pakistan. One of the three venues - Rawalpindi - has been scratched for security reasons (but credit to PCB for rewriting the schedule to accommodate the two venues).

Sporadic violence continues in Pakistan. And, players are still expressing apprehension about touring, and no cricket board has taken a step in any direction that would shed some light.

Now Pakistan's coach, Geoff Lawson, has been sent to meet cricket boards in order to convince them to send full strength teams to Pakistan. That means the Pakistan team will be minus its coach as it prepares for the tournament (I wonder if that makes any difference!).

And to top it all off, the legislative assemblies in Pakistan have launched an impeachment movement against President Musharraf. This may or may not have lots of implications, depending on how things go. Whatever the case, the timing could not have been worse, unless he resigns soon in which case things will calm down.

So, let's see what happens. This should be an interesting month!

This could be the ultimate destiny - Twenty20 cricket in the 2020 Olympics:

Steve Waugh, who led Australia to a Commonwealth Games silver medal, is part of a growing group of current and former players who have supported Adam Gilchrist's push for Twenty20 to be part of the 2020 Olympics. Gilchrist raised the idea on Monday and since then a series of big names, including Sourav Ganguly and Stephen Fleming, have climbed on board. [LINK]

Per the article, cricket has been given "recognition status" by the IOC, but it competes with lots of other sports for inclusion in the games.

Had Twenty20 been a recognized success several years earlier, I think the London 2012 committee would have worked to include it in their Olympic bid (although demonstration sports are no longer encouraged by the IOC). I am quite surprised though that India has not included cricket in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, especially since Malaysia included in the 1998 Commonwealth games.


For those who may not know, cricket has made an appearance in the Olympics once - back in the 1900 Olympics in Paris. Well, it was really just one match between British and French club sides. The entire 1900 Olympics were a bit weird though - they lasted several months, were combined with the Paris Expo, and many players (across all sports) had no idea that they were participating in the Olympics.

For more on cricket's brief appearance in Olympics, click here and here.

Getting back on topic, I think cricket would be great for the Olympics, Commonwealth, and even Asian Games. If kabaddi can be a sport at the Asian Games since 1990, I'm sure cricket can stake a claim too. Of course, the logistics would be a tad more complicated than kabaddi, but I'm sure something can be figured out!

Cricket at any organized games would become another major trophy for teams to vie for, and there will be interest from non-traditional spectators as well (if people can watch synchronized swimming without shooting themselves, they'll watch anything!). Let's see how strong the Twenty20 lobby becomes, and what they can do to convince Jacques Rogge and his crew that Twenty20 cricket needs to become an integral part of the Olympics. I foresee it happening.

Alright...all together now..."Twenty20 for 2020!"