Ramachandra Guha wants renewed Indo-Pak series to be named after Tendulkar

A noted historian and celebrated observer of the game Ramachandra Guha wants India- Pakistan to resume playing cricket once again. The columnist known for his art of calling a spade out said that he is aware that resumption in the current environment seems impossible, but that does not mean he would stop asking for it.

“Of course, I would like them to play and some of my best memories are there [in India-Pakistan cricket]. I'm in favour of not treating Pakistani cricketers as enemies. I'm in favour of appreciating the great Pakistani cricketers. At the moment [resumption] seems impossible,” he told DNA newspaper during an interview.

Guha, 62, has another wish that whenever the cricket between two nations resumes, it should happen with a special series named after the greatest batsman of the subcontinent- Sachin Tendulkar. “I want India v Pak series to be played for the Tendulkar Trophy. That's my hope,” he said.

Asked who his favorite Pakistan cricketer was, Guha took the name of the Sultan of Swing, Wasim Akram. “It's a tough one. I would say Wasim Akram because he was such a subtle, magical bowler. His skills with the ball were just unbelievable. He was a fast bowler who you could enjoy for aesthetic pleasure and not because of terrifying the batsman,” he said.

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Ram Guha alleges BCCI of nepotism

Historian and a well-received cricket writer Ramachandra Guha has accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India of nepotism and dictatorial rule under Amit Shah and N Srinivasan lobby. The writer of the famous book, ‘A Corner of a Foreign Field’ believes that these two lobbies have diluted any progress made under the Lodha committee recommended and Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators. “N Srinivasan and Amit Shah are effectively running Indian cricket today. The state associations are run by somebody's daughter, somebody's son. The Board is steeped in intrigue and nepotism and there are great delays in paying Ranji Trophy players their dues. The reforms that were hoped for have not happened,” Guha told the newspaper DNA in an interview for his new book - The Commonwealth of Cricket: A Lifelong Love Affair with the Most Subtle and Sophisticated Game Known to Humankind. Alleging the CoA chief Vinod Rai of not hearing both parties in the Anil Kumble-Virat Kohli coach- captain dispute of 2017, the former CoA member said, “All of us were kept in the dark. I think the chairman [of the CoA] Mr. Rai if it [a rift] was brewing, should have had a conversation with both of them [Kohli and Kumble in 2017],” he said. He further said that Mr. Rai could not use his experience in the matter and it was really unfortunate. “After all, he is a wise and experienced administrator. He just gave in to one side without hearing the other. It was handled very badly,” Guha said.

Less restrictions for Pak team in New Zealand

The 50-member Pakistan contingent which is scheduled to leave for New Zealand on Monday from Lahore will reportedly have minimum restrictions, at least, lesser than what they went through on their tour to England in July earlier this year. Pakistan are scheduled to play three T20Is and two Tests against the Kiwi nation. The series starts with T20s on December 18. On this tour, the Men in Green would be put in complete isolation for the first three days on their arrival in Auckland, where no player would be able to physically interact with any other member. A covid-19 test will be conducted on the fourth day. For the last three days of their 14 day quarantine period, the 50 members would be divided into a team of 15 each (number not yet confirmed) with both players and support staff in it. The teams can then practice and eat together. Post the 14 days, another covid-19 test would be conducted and the members would be left to roam freely wherever they please. In England however, the Pak players were tested every fifth day and not allowed to leave their hotel premises either.

We didn’t have that luxury: Kapil Dev on Kohli’s paternity leave

India’s first World Cup-winning captain and arguably the greatest all-rounder India has ever produced, Kapil Dev, said that Sunil Gavaskar was not able to see his newborn son for months. He said that in comparison to current India captain Virat Kohli’s paternity leave, which he also termed a privilege that cricketers in his era couldn’t have. “Don’t think we could afford to go and come back. That’s for sure. Sunil Gavaskar didn’t see his son for many months. It was a different thing. Look, things change. If I talk about Kohli, when his father died, he came back playing cricket the next day. Today he is taking a leave for his baby. It's fine, you can afford it,” Kapil said while speaking via video conference at HTLS 2020. The Septuagenarian former cricketer said that he was happy for the 32-year-old Indian captain that he was able to be with his family in moments of such intimacy. “You can buy a plane and go back and come back again in three days. I feel happy and proud that today sportsmen have reached a level where they can do this. I’m happy for Virat. He’s coming back to see his family. I understand you have passion but the biggest passion is that he’s having a baby,” he said.

Guha targets BCCI Prez Ganguly, says his greed for money is shocking

Ramchandra Guha has attacked BCCI President and former India captain, Sourav Ganguly, accusing him of being greedy over petty money. Guha, launching an attack on the Kolkata born said, “Look at Ganguly today—head of the Board and representing some cricket fantasy game, this kind of greed for money among Indian cricketers is shocking.” Guha was being interviewed by Mid Day post the launch of his book - The Commonwealth of Cricket: A Lifelong Love Affair with the Most Subtle and Sophisticated Game Known to Humankind. To contrast the BCCI boss’ image, the historian presented former India spinner Bishan Singh Bedi as an example. “The most telling story in my book is about Bishan Singh Bedi saying that he is happy to go to Kabul [to coach Afghan cricketers]—anywhere for cricket and not anywhere for money,” he said. “Why should Ganguly be doing all these things for a little extra money?” Gugha asked. “Ethical standards go down if the president of the Board behaves like this. What Ganguly is doing now is incorrect and no other country would allow it,” said Guha, differentiating how cricket is seen and represented in different countries. The former member of the Committee of Administrators did not hold back anything on attacking the overarching influence of the cricket board in India and how it is doing more harm than good to the game. He illustrated that through the case of commentator Sanjay Manjrekar. “Gags on commentators are bad. That Sanjay Manjrekar has to beg to be readmitted [in the commentary team] is pathetic. Why should the Board have [power over] commentary? It's absurd. It never happens anywhere in the world. Can you imagine the English Premier League doing this?” he said.