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West Indians should emulate the South Asians

Apr 02, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
West Indians should look at the World Cup final to see the passions in South Asian players for the game and emulate that behaviour.
The World Cup final is between India and Sri Lanka on Saturday (03-04-11). India has been playing international cricket since around 1936 while Sri Lanka started in 1982.
Saturday is a day that will stand still for both countries, as fans take their cricket very seriously more so in India.
When India loses especially in a big way, fans take to violence attacking the players and or their families and homes.
Rest assure no one will go to work in both countries on that day and all eyes will be focused on the TV screen, since the Mumbai Stadium can only accommodate 50,000 people and tickets were sold out weeks ago. It will be the largest TV audience for a cricket math – over 1.2 billion Indians plus another billion around the world, including West Indians in North America and the Caribbean. The President of India will host the President of Sri Lanka for the match.
Unlike West Indians, Indian and Sri Lankan fans are very passionate for the game and hold the players accountable when hey fail.
Indian and Sri Lankan players are also very responsible having an insatiable appetite to perform and not to disappoint fans. They are hungry for runs and wickets and seek to break and set records.
Unlike most West Indian players who play for money, Indian and Sri Lankans play for pride of country. The South Asians practice and practice to attain perfection so they can take on tough opponents.
West Indian players find the sun too hot and retire from practice after a little time at the nets. As I experienced a few times watching the boys at practice sessions and in hotels, some of them prefer to be at the bar in the hotel (for shade from the sun) than on the field. One West Indian cricketer who takes his game seriously is Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
On two recent occasions, I had occasion to come across the team at hotels. When others were hanging out in hotel lobbies sipping drinks, he was in his room.
He is not one to socialize, much preferring to use his time to become a better batsman. The others have not shown the kind of hunger he has for runs and for the game.
Saturday’s cricket final is the first for two South Asian teams. Both have won the tournament once. India and Sri Lanka are now at the pinnacle of one day cricket, replacing Australia and South Africa. At the level of Test cricket, India is also at the top of the table with Sri Lanka fourth.
For Sri Lanka, it has been a phenomenal development, having been a minnow for a decade before playing its first Test match in 1982.
Sri Lanka has developed over the last 30 years to become a formidable opponent for any of the traditionally powerful teams and in any form of the game. Indian players are also maturing although some are known to choke under pressure.
It should be a great match as both teams have played high-quality one-day cricket. India has not failed to impress so far. All of its matches were great and fans have had their money’s value.
The same can be said of most of Sri Lankan matches. India beat two outstanding opponents – Australia and Pakistan to get to the final, while Sri Lanka disposed of West Indies and New Zealand. Both sides are equally balanced with a sleuth of batsmen and bowlers and those who can do both. There is much we West Indians can learn from watching the teams in action.
All eyes will be on the batting legend Sachin Tendulkar for what is likely his last outing in world cup cricket.
In NY, every Guyanese I have spoken with hopes he scores his 100 hundreds in international competition.
Vishnu Bisram

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