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| World Cup Wishful Thinking |
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One of their regular columns was called ‘Things We’d Like to See’. So here is my very own take on what I would like to see at the ongoing 9th World Cup. 1. At least one upset in the first stage (as long as it does not involve India!): Such surprises are what make any world sporting event spicy and spectacular. The cricket World Cup has had its fair share. India were stunned by Sri Lanka in 1979 when they had yet to achieve Test status. Then in the first match of the 1983 event in England debutants Zimbabwe shocked the mighty Australians on the very first day. The biggest upset of them all may have been India beating West Indies in the final at Lord’s. But then Kenya’s stunner against the West Indies at Pune in 1996 is still a romantic favourite. And Zimbabwe beat eventual finalists England in 1992 as well. Sure teams like the Netherlands, Bermuda, Ireland and Scotland are unlikely to surprise any of the big eight. But then if Bangladesh could surprise Australia at Cardiff in 2005 (and Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup), then surely anything could happen. 
2. No more boycotts please: We had enough of these with England refusing to go to Harare and New Zealand declining to play in Nairobi last time round in 2003. And the refusal of Australia and the West Indies to face Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1996 almost brought the tournament to a grinding halt even before it started. Unlikely to happen this time around though given the Caribbean islands are mostly apolitical.3. No drugs tests: There was the Shane Warne pullout on the eve of the 2003 World Cup and the highly suspicious withdrawals of Pakistani pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif this time around. But both out of competition The last thing cricket needs is to be dragged down to the level of cycling, athletics and weightlifting. 4. No rain! ‘nuff said. 5. India v. Pakistan in the Super 8 stage (and maybe beyond)—minus the mega-hype: Wishful thinking that! 6. No more ‘war of words’: The Gavaskar v. Aussie spat is uncalled for. Enough of mud slinging while cricket’s showpiece event is on, please gentlemen. 7. No mega totals: There is speculation that one-day cricket’s first 500 total may be achieved in the group stage. Let’s hope not. Much more exciting if we have low-scoring games like the tournament opener between West Indies and Pakistan. 8. A host winning the title finally: Eight tournaments and this has never happened before. Sri Lanka came closest in 1996 as co-hosts. But they beat Australia in the final at Lahore, not Colombo. What a wonderful parting gift it would be for Brian Lara. 9. But then, how about India? Dare one dream?! Gulu Ezekiel is a cricket writer. Visit him at GuluEzekiel.com Send Jaal Your Feedback: RECENTLY ON JAAL: After Mush, The Beard? 10 Stories We Wish We'd Seen In 2006 Jaal's 8th Anniversary Special: With Guest Oddities In The Line Of Ire The Indo-Pak Joint Misstatement Speechless On I-Day India's World Cup XI Kaavya Stole From Jaal! Bushed: The Interview Everyone Wins Or Whines XXX MMS The Seven Deadly Sins Happy DiwOily The Disjointed Statement Nuclear Bummed Out Mush Mush Pakistan Adolfvani Worm In The Apple Modi's Operandi Sania Mania The Exclusive Ash Interview A Time To Care The Jaal Anniversary Giveaway 10 Reasons India Lost To Oz Calling Pakistan A Day In The Life Of Manmohan Singh Airstrip Tease The Jaal Exit Poll Vajpayee, Musharraf Quit! O Is For Ouch And Outsourcing The Nuclear Whore Bares All A Message From Atal Jaal Acquired By Yahoo The Bobby Trap Licking The Leak Revising Pakistani History Cheap Man, Cheaper Woman Tongue Tied T Kannan: 1940-2003 The Fair And Lovely Doctrine Grotesque Protests Maya Vs Mulayam: Top Of The Pops The Holi Blues Pain Pain Go Away Bill Gates' Conversion Agenda Exposed Hello? Wrong Number A Man Of Many Masks The Mathematics Of Gujarat Yeh Dil Maange Less Valentine's Daze The God Of Fried Things Kabhi Mushy, Kabhi Rough The Worst Of 2001 Omni-Laden The New ISI Chief Is A Pathan!! Osama And Veerappan The US Strikes Out Bush Talks Tough TN Wants A New CEO Code Red And The Blue Book Sucking Up To Musharraf The Tamasha In Tamil Nadu The Agra Assignment Going Ape Over Kashmir Bad Dream Factory Ballot Boxing Borderline Patriotism Bill Clinton's Hidden Agenda The Tapes: Replay The Naked Truth About Sinha's Dream Budget Give Us This Day Our Daily Disaster A Dip Into The Kumbh Hype Hype Hurray The A 2 Z Of Y2K What's Behind Bush? The Florida Ceasefire The Damn Dam Controversy A Weak-Kneed Operation Faster, Higher, Stranger You Have The Right To Be A Volunteer The ICE ICE Baby A Tale Of The Jungle King The Secret Autonomy Report Report When Batsman Became Betsman India's Human Genome Projectile Stone Age Flaws In ICE Age Laws A Dry Spell For Policy Planning Lara's Theme Dotcom Bubble Gum: Burst Or Bust Inside A VIP Cell A To Do About Dos A Dress Code For Klintonji
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