ICC Champions Trophy-India Gets A Point!

India got a point today in the match against Australia which seemed to be slipping out fast from India's grasp and then the rains interrupted leading to sharing of points.

And, it was not due to Kirsten Vision, but rain intervention! Coach Kirsten's therapeutic vision document had Team India in trembles still recovering from the loss of Yuvraj Singh and the absence of Sehwag and Jaheer Khan. The 'vision' has raised a world wide controversy with conservative India scandalized. Kirsten, the most experienced opener for South Africa of yore, did the most inexperienced thing by his anatomic vision. Whenever India is concerned better talk of meditation and spirituality, dear Kirsten. It was obvious that he had to deny the vision under tremendous pressure from all quarters.

Anyway, India got a point and is still in the reckoning technically. They have to beat West Indies by a huge margin and Australia has to lose to Pakistan by a good margin so that the run rate comes in India's favor. If Australia win against Pakistan outright India is out. Pakistan is already in semi final from Group A.

No speculation please on why India eventually wins or loses!

The Politics Industry!

An Indian newspaper today reported one politician saying that politics is no longer linked to people; it has become an industry where you make huge investments and try to recover it in quick time. This was in reference to forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections which is poised to become the most expensive one of all times. One candidate would require from Rs. 30 to 50 million to campaign effectively for a win.

The 'industry' phenomenon explains why all are desperate for a ticket and dissidence is growing when tickets are not given. This is affecting parties across the board with stalwarts joining rival parties or standing as independents.

The problem is whenever industry is concerned performance and results are crucial for success. Now, in this politics industry what kind of performance or results are expected considering the fact that it's delinked from people or say voters. If voters have nothing to gain out of the investments where exactly do they stand? Politicians will have to sell something to earn revenues. Or do they have assured risk free returns? Dumbfounding questions!

Anyway, coming to performance a piece of breaking news: one more masala ingredient has just been added to already spicy juicy Indian Cricket! More on that later.

Politics Is Politics!

The dark fortnight ended, but politics went on rollicking.

As we had expected things got moving from September 19, the start of the illuminated and auspicious fortnight. The opposition coalition announced seat sharing first thing in the morning. And politics started afterward with candidates not getting tickets and their supporters raising hell. Where are their forefathers now?

The ruling coalition continued to search for an amicable seat sharing formula and politics went on into the third day of the auspicious fortnight. What their forefathers telling them now?

Respect or no respect, auspicious or non-auspicious, good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable--politics has a mind of its own. It goes on uninhibited and unchecked till it achieves its desired goals or its lack of any goals.

Just Politics!