Yup, it seems that the red light has gone on for the Umpire Decision Review System that initially received so much support from players and cricket boards alike. Despite Dave Richardson, the ICC’s general manager of batting his heart out to try and keep the system alive it has just not taken off and is being shot down mercilessly by boards world over. So what is the exact problem? It is not so much the cricketing reasons but the financial ones. Since broadcasters of the series involved and the home cricket board are supposed to bear the costs of the referral system, none is ready to take on the extra expenditure in these tough times.

The on going series between India and Sri Lanka is a prime example where BCCI shot down the idea of using referral system as Nimbus and the board had an issue with spending the money. With the richest cricket board in the world backing out, hope seems pretty bleak elsewhere. But Richardson is hopeful as he tries to garner support from Down Under in Australia where he feels both the ACB and the production channel will be more willing to help out.

While there is no doubt that the system is good for the game and viewers alike, it seems broadcasters are just not willing to go that extra mile on the issue. Or a game that is still largely confined to a handful of post-colonial colonies, it would be better to think long term than bother about short-term savings.

For a generation of loyal Indian cricket fans who saw India lift the world cup at Lords he was the boy who had the potential to replace Sunil Gavaskar, For the next generation he was an icon and inspiration who carried their national side on his young herculean shoulders single-handedly and for the Dhoni-Yuvraj-smitten latest lot he is the senior pro around whom the rest of the team operates. Different though he maybe for different folk, there was one common element about Tendulkar that inspired more than a billion people at home- an ability to put smiles on the faces of those who watched him; those who watched his each and every stroke.

The most captivating aspect about Tendulkar was his ‘boy next door’ persona that would just turn up at the ground against seemingly insurmountable odds, fierce fast bowlers and of course once in a while sell a razor blade or energy drink… doing all that in a shy and humble fashion that floored you with its simplicity; the same simple and uncomplicated approach that translated into his batting and his work ethic at the nets. Yet, once he took guard, the shy boy next door transformed into an all-demon slaying giant for his countrymen and those who watched from the other side of the fence were equally taken in by his batting brilliance.

Yet watching Sachin bat for us commoners was more about waiting to see the brutal destroyer inside being let loose. Batting was the one time when the master of his chosen craft seemed to allow himself some indulgence (and also in case of fast cars), but even that stemmed from countless of hours of practice in the nets- the paddle sweep fine, the scoop over the slips, the late cut and top hand-like flick that sent the ball from an yard outside off step to behind square on the leg. For all his genius, Tendulkar never seemed to enthrall his followers off the field with the eccentricities that come attached.

Watching the master of his chosen craft for two decades has been a unique and captivating privilege and those of us who have been lucky enough to jump onboard have enjoyed it immensely. Even till today as the dust settles and the side screen is set (which is ever so important for Sachin), some wait for the straight drive, some for the cut, some for the paddle sweep and some for the straight hit over the spinners head and Yours truly waits for that vintage and beefy pull into the stands… Different strokes for different folks… all still flowing off of one blade!

Indian cricket is as unpredictable off the field as it is on it and the selection of mercurial (on the borderline of crazy) Sreesanth seems to be another twist in its ever vibrant tale. Announcing the squad for the first two tests against Sri Lanka that will commence at Ahmadabad in less than a week, the selection committee has been anything but decisive in its methods. Announcing the 15-member squad for the first two tests saw the return of Sreesanth and Zaheer Kahn to the Test team while the Tamil Nadu duo of Badrinath and M Vijay made their way into the 15 as well.

What seemed startling though is the fact that the selection committee went in with 3 seamers and two spinners (Harbhajan and Ojha), leaving Dhoni with far few bowling options. So, if he does decide to go in with three pacers and lone spinner on the match day then he has to pick the out of form Ishant Sharma, the guy returning from lay off- Zaheer Khan and the completely unpredictable Sreesanth… Not the way to be stepping in to a test series. With the middle order already packed, and the openers in full fitness, a batting spot seems unlikely for either Vijay or Badrinath.

In short, the selection committee will have some explaining to do if the show flops at Ahmadabad. Even otherwise, the early signs seem to be that the men at the top have been rattled by the Aussie debacle at home and have pinned their hopes on the solid batting lineup to once again save them on home turf!

Recycling paper has taken a whole new turn in India with the once famous but now discarded being turned into utility objects that can be carried out by one and all. It seems that a few of the street children in the Indian capital have been rescued from the clutches of poverty and have been provided with a part-time employment scheme in which they recycle old posters of Indian movies into new bags that cane be carried around for shopping. A project initiated by a voluntary organization now aims both at recycling the old waste and also providing a means of living for those on the street.

The bags are also crafted from old newspapers as well and the organization is now looking for suppliers and dealers across the planet to try and sell their products worldwide. While few might question the project as it makes young teens work for their bread and butter, the fact that it both cleans up the planet and provides food and shelter for the homeless is truly commendable. So, next time you come across a newspaper bag, maybe you can pick it up despite the crossword being already filled!

Boingboing

The South Korean government has given its approval to a free trade agreement, suggested by the government of India, that would allow both countries to greatly cut down on tariffs and enjoy a mutual financial relationship that would additional boost to the bursting economy of two of Asia’s leading economies. The vote on agreement was Seoul’s National Assembly and was unanimously passed with a vote count of 192-0, paving a way for strengthened economic ties.

For the last decade, the trade between India and South Korea has flourished greatly and has reached an astounding $15.6 billion as recorded for the year 2008. The latest trade pact, also known as the     Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is expected to take further the already iron clad economic ties, between both countries. India is known to be the third largest economy in Asia, closely followed by South Korea in the fourth place. The latest agreement calls for a 90% tariff reduction on all imported goods in South Korea and a 85% tariff cut on all commodities imported in India.

The current trade agreement is being viewed as a boon, especially for South Korea, who has been long trying to enter in to a free trade relationship with India, that would prove invaluable to Seoul’s economy. Two of the vital sectors of South Korean economy namely, electronics and automobile with big names such as Hyundai and Samsung will now be able to operate more freely in India. Seoul has already entered into similar contracts with the United States and the European Union, pending ratifications.

Via Associated Press.

There was a time and place when the Naxalite and Maoist movements in India had both following among the public and a set ideology that allowed their leadership to fight for a well-defined common goal. The 70’s are long gone, the 80’s have melted away and the 90’s ensured that the restless Indian youth could harness the world market with its unrivalled passion and useful skills. Cut out the air and the fire will die out- Cut out the unemployed and frustrated young men and the rebellion with guns and blood did slowly die out. It takes a lot to motivate a content and happy man to take up arms and be prepared to shed his blood. Fortunately for India and unfortunately for the ‘red warriors’, that motivation seems to have died out.

What seems to be both astonishing and amazing till today is how those few still in the forests of Central and North-East seem to be eager to spill blood without exactly defining their path towards the social, political and economic equality they so much crave for. Indeed life is hard for those displaced by modern industries, state border disputes and various other factors that dictated Indian society and its outdated social hierarchy. Yet killing the innocent, kidnapping the common man and taking lives of a few government servants, is barely the path towards a final solution.

It seems that just to satisfy their own ego and to wade away their sense of insecurity the headless few continue on a head hunt that is both lacking in a clear path and purpose. The end to this age old saga now seems farther and one-sided than it ever did in the past…

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Playing a 7-match one-day series in this time and age seems a bit outdated, even boring perhaps and that is the general feeling going around both within the players and the spectators despite the two best teams in the world going head on. With cramped international schedule and growing demand on players’ fitness, it seems that this absurdly long and congested series between Australia and India is claiming victims and that too fast. With the hosts going 2-1 up as we head to Mohali, Brett Lee is already out, Clarke was never here and now Sehwag and Gambhir seem to be destined for the sidelines.

Team India will be stepping out at the beautiful stadium in Mohali knowing that a win here will give them the number one spot in one-day team rankings and Australia will be motivated enough as a defeat here would make their task of winning the series almost impossible.

Key Factors:

Ponting and Hussey: They have carried Australia through this series so far and they might have to do it again here. While the captain seems to be in sublime touch, Mr. Cricket is getting his touch back against a deliciously easy Indian attack.

Tendulkar and Yuvraj: While the senior partner needs to put up a big one on the board, the local boy will be looking to raise his bat after a ton in front of his adoring home-town fans. Sachin’s start will be crucial, all the more if the Delhi-duo is forced to sit out and Yuvi’s blitz will be equally vital.
Dew: If the pitch remains good for 100 overs expect the team that wins the toss to bowl first as gripping the ball will be a nightmare later on. That sail, it could seam a bit up there at the PCB stadium under lights.

Prediction: Brett Lee’s absence could be the factor that allows India to sneak in with a win at a place where they have generally done poorly and Australia have found plenty of success.

Because of the global recession that is said to affect the world’s poorest the most, the International Monetary Fund is in focus once again. The crisis has brought it back from the dead. ‘Two years ago the world’s main international economic institution was heading for irrelevance, its homilies ignored by rich countries, its advice despised in poorer ones and its lending unnecessary in a world flush with private capital. Today the fund is widely hailed as a flexible and innovative crisis-responder. It has committed over $160 billion in a host of new loans and credit lines, up from barely more than $1 billion in 2007. Its lending capacity is being trebled to $750 billion.’

The economic crisis has been good to the IMF, the official emergency lender in tough times. The institution is important once again. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, IMF chief, has pushed through ‘reforms that allow the fund to dole out large amounts of money fast, while convincing a broad array of countries, including rising powers like China, India and Brazil, to contribute to its coffers.’ He also wants the fund to grow to as much as $2 trillion.

But the IMF may not necessarily be seen as the panacea for these times of crisis. After all, it is still, first and foremost, a lending institution whose capital comes from rich-country governments.

There is the speculation that ‘emerging economies are unlikely to rely on it as a lender of last resort unless there are clear rules that promise free lending in future panics. Such promises, though necessary to convince the prudent to rely on the fund, will however tempt some countries to run profligate policies. At the same time the fund still has no clout over countries it does not lend to, even if their policies hurt the global economy (as the excess build-up of reserves, especially in China, surely did). This poisonous combination could fuel instability rather than assuage it.’

Via Economist.com

Today one of the most elite and prestigious trains of India Rajdhani Express was held hostage for almost 5 hours. Some 200 people who surrounded the train and abducted the driver were no terrorists but yet they did manage to spread word of terror. The abducted driver was later released and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) rescued of 1200 stranded passengers. No one was seriously injured or killed and no one was arrested either

It is believed that these 200 local people belonging to the interiors of Jharkhand were part of Maoist group demanding release of their leaders who have been recently arrested during crackdown on Maoists operations in some states (mainly West Bengal).

Naxalite and Maoist movement has been gaining ground in the interiors of India mainly due to flawed development policies. Developmental projects like dams, mines, heavy industries have displaced thousands of people all over India who have been forced to live in slums in the cities. It is only activists and Maoists groups who have managed to reach out to farmers and poor tribals living in interiors of India and hence have found good haven and fertile ground for their revolutionary dreams.

If only administration and politicians had kept their promises of providing basic infrastructure like health,  primary education and right to livelihood to millions living in far flung villages this Maoist menace would not have grown into a big tree which if uprooted now will certainly shake the whole country. Its better to cut the roots  and let the tree to die out naturally to uproot this menace completely.

Via NDTV

While India is under its worst drought in 20 years, the desert city of Jodhpur also known as Blue City, long a popular tourist spot, is slowly flooding because of the Indira Gandhi canal, a massive irrigation infrastructure that ‘diverts water from the northern “breadbasket” state of Punjab down to Haryana and Rajasthan.’ Jodhpur, the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, is geologically a catch basin of excess water, but the state of Rajasthan, itself, is suffering from depleted ground water in this time of drought. ‘Recent NASA satellite imagery suggests a foot a year is being lost.’

The monsoons are extremely important to India, a hugely agricultural country. With the monsoons providing 80 percent of the country’s water, approximately 450 million Indian farmers depend on these seasonal rains. Only two thirds of the average rainfall expected this year did arrive. And with the monsoons being delayed as they were, it was ‘far too late to save much of the crops.’

Only an hour outside Jodhpur, farmers are resigned to the fact that only 5 to 10 percent of their millet, mung, and mothbean crops will survive. This means that their staple food will have to be purchased.

But what nature cannot provide, the local government’s political will can. ‘Nearby villages are due to be connected to the canal.’ To even out the water supply, large pipes are being readied to siphon off Jodhpur’s rising waters to nearby villages. Such a plan will be both beneficial to flooding Jodhpur and its drought-stricken environs.

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Via globalpost