Australia and the Indian Sub ContinentBy Rathulan
Champions Trophy in Pakistan
It is really sad to see the Aussies trying to pull out of the Champions Trophy this year citing security considerations. In this day of terrorism and bomb blasts no country can be certified as Safe. Maveriks and fundamentalists have spread their wings everywhere. With Internet, these people get to know of making bombs the easy way. While the Olympics were goings on in Beijing, we saw that there were bombings in the western side of Chine. Did any country pull out of the Olympics, not even Australia, who cite the bombings that happened in Pakistan as a reason to pull of the Champions Trophy. This is not the first time that they've pulled out of a tournament. They have done it in the World Cup, when they refused to travel to Colombo and forfeited their match. And what cost they forfeited! They allowed SriLanka to progress further with the forfeited points and make history by winning the trophy. Later also they refused to play a test series. They were also crying about the IPL Champions Club League which was to follow after the Champions Trophy. They were playing back to back tournaments and series in Australia for long without any problem of Player burnout and strain. Only when they have to tour the Sub-continent they cry about travel conditions, Security, Environment and what not. The reason is not far to see. Previously they were earning a lot through sponsorships, when they hosted big teams like England, West Indies and New Zealand. Once the power shifted from England and West Indies and with the booming economy and multi million dollar sponsorships that BCCI and the Sub-continent were able to garner for their tournaments, they are turning green with envy. They think that they are the crowd pullers but it is not so. With SriLanka, Pakistan and India providing scintilating cricket stars, australians are not the crowd pullers that they were once. With their whining ways, they are fast losing their popularity of Border and Steve Waughs. Ponting, Symonds and others beware, else they'll be like Zimbabwe soon.
Champions Trophy in Pakistan
It is really sad to see the Aussies trying to pull out of the Champions Trophy this year citing security considerations. In this day of terrorism and bomb blasts no country can be certified as Safe. Maveriks and fundamentalists have spread their wings everywhere. With Internet, these people get to know of making bombs the easy way. While the Olympics were goings on in Beijing, we saw that there were bombings in the western side of Chine. Did any country pull out of the Olympics, not even Australia, who cite the bombings that happened in Pakistan as a reason to pull of the Champions Trophy. This is not the first time that they've pulled out of a tournament. They have done it in the World Cup, when they refused to travel to Colombo and forfeited their match. And what cost they forfeited! They allowed SriLanka to progress further with the forfeited points and make history by winning the trophy. Later also they refused to play a test series. They were also crying about the IPL Champions Club League which was to follow after the Champions Trophy. They were playing back to back tournaments and series in Australia for long without any problem of Player burnout and strain. Only when they have to tour the Sub-continent they cry about travel conditions, Security, Environment and what not. The reason is not far to see. Previously they were earning a lot through sponsorships, when they hosted big teams like England, West Indies and New Zealand. Once the power shifted from England and West Indies and with the booming economy and multi million dollar sponsorships that BCCI and the Sub-continent were able to garner for their tournaments, they are turning green with envy. They think that they are the crowd pullers but it is not so. With SriLanka, Pakistan and India providing scintilating cricket stars, australians are not the crowd pullers that they were once. With their whining ways, they are fast losing their popularity of Border and Steve Waughs. Ponting, Symonds and others beware, else they'll be like Zimbabwe soon.
