Why I am looking forward to 2011 Cricket World Cup?

Until today, 2003 Worldcup world cup was the high point of my cricket passion/cricket craziness. The passion/craziness owes a lot to do with the fact that I was living in a boy's hostel during the world cup. 

1. Going  2 hours before the match to occupy the best place in the TV room (Just before TV). 

2. Not being able to take a toilet break.. Because the entire room is so packed that you are sure you won't be able to find a place when you come back.

3. Predicting that India will reach semi-finals after 2 poor performances in the first two matches - And seeing the prediction coming true

4. Commentary better than Harsha Bhogle from friends sitting with you. 

means that 2003 world cup will always be one of the most memorable memories of my life. So the defeat in the final was one of the bad memories of my life. It even cured my cricket craziness for a certain time. Even T20 world cup win did not rekindle my love for cricket. But somehow I am awaiting the start of this world cup. 

1. Unlike 2007 world cup, this India team is focussed on winning the world cup. 

2. This is Tendulkar's final world cup. And he surely does want to add a world cup win to his resume

3. Again, I believe and am predicting that India will reach another semi-final. 

So again.. Counting the days for world cup to start.. 24 more days..  Hoping that this would be my best memory of India in a world cup.

Kashmir - Obama & Arundhati Roy

Contrast like no other... 


Obama vowed Indians by his speech in Indian Parliament. And he made a statement by not making a statement about Kashmir. 


And Arundhati vows Americans by this amazing column on New York Times. She puts forth her case by portraying Kashmir as David & India as Goliath. Anybody reading this article is sure to develop a soft spot for Kashmir & Arundhati.

Hope India produces more such writers and artists who don't agree with the crowd... 

Gavaskar & Others in Governing Council are accountable for IPL Mess

Media & others have solely focused on Lalit Modi for IPL Mess. I also ascribed to the view. And largely did not think Ravi Shastri, Gavasakar & others in IPL Governing Council as accountable.  

I accepted without question when Tiger Pataudi said they did not doubt Lalit Modi when things were going well.. Thinking that it is not the responsibility of Governing Council to look into the accounts. 

But that was until i knew they earned a crore rupees. A CRORE RUPEES - Do did they think their few hours  of meeting time was worth a crore? Even Mukesh Ambani gets less than 50 crores for slogging 24*7 for Reliance.

As  Sarbanes-Oxley Act(SOX) states, Internal Control is the direct responsibility of the board.They failed in their duty where they fail to direct their minds to the question of whether a transaction was in the best interests of BCCI. If this has happened in a public organization, all the directors would be facing fines or prison terms.. Sad state of BCCI and one-minded focus on Lalit Modi, Members of Governing Council are escaping lightly. Hmmm

Indian Tamils Don't Have any Tamil Pride

More than 250K Tamils are still rotting and kept under locks in the closed camps of Srilanka.. We are happy that 41K were released. 10 member MP committee was more concerned about scoring brownie points rather than showing a little empathy for Srilankan Tamils in inhumane conditions.

• It is sad to see 'The Hindu' being satisfied with printing the Srilankan Army press releases rather than reporting real news in Sri Lanka.
• And the sad that it is being left to New York Times and European Union to report anything substantial.
• It is sad to see that we don't have any 'Tamil' pride and are happy to let our bonds with Srilankan Tamils to rot.
• It is sad to see the Indian Government releasing more funds for the Srilankan government rather than withdrawing trade concessions and banning Srilankan imports for their inhuman actions.

But most of all it is sad to see that we care about people living a thousand miles away and don't give a s**t our neighbors and our brothers.

Honest Scrap

Vimal wrote about Honest Scrap where i was one of the people to be awarded to write 10 Honest things about me.. [I have not figured why it is called 'Award'. If anybody comes to know let me know]. There are two rules for Honest Scrap Award Post

1. You have to first list 10 honest things about yourself (and make them interesting)
2. Second present the award to seven other bloggers

10 Honest Things About Myself:

1. Until 3rd Standard, I studied in a class in which two thirds of batch was consisted of girls [Extremely Lucky and Extraordinary in an Indian School.. :(]
2. I always feel that the quality/beauty of the girls in my class went down as i moved up in my academic life. School was better than undergrad college and undergrad college was a lot better than post grad school. [It is true that that you don't realize what you have, until it is taken away from you]
3. Though I am a marketer today, I have only taken 3-4 marketing courses in my B-School. [Ever met a marketer who has not studied consumer behavior???]
4. I am a closet ManU Supporter. [Since nothing gives me more fun than deriding other ManU Fans like Sajeev]
5. And I am crazy about Chennai Super Kings and Boston Red Sox. (I maintain the most popular Chennai Super Kings Fan Blog - http://cskfansite.com)
6. As a true Tirunelvelian, my childhood dream has always has been becoming a big "rowdy" with a golden heart in whose control lies the entire city
7. I do support George Bush. :) [And Still Believe Hillary would have made a better president to Obama]
8. I am a Congress supporter and believes BJP is one of the worst things that ever happened to India
9. During my indore days, whenever i visited Tirunelveli, I have to explain to near & apart in Tirunelveli why i did choose such a far away college in central India rather than studying at 'Mummy Papa College' nearby
10. Now I have to explain the reason for not working at an IT Company.

Vimal has already picked most of the others. So whoever reads this post, consider yourself nominated for the 'Honest Scrap'.

P.S: The post was lying in my draft for so many days. So decided to complete it only today and post it.