Objection your Honour!

Can the BCCI deny a man the right to earn a living? I'm not so sure, but the board seems pretty confident that it can. The witch hunt to make every one of the ICL signees pay, for taking the road not travelled, has hit a new high.

The BCCI has objected to Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan being given a NOC by the Pakistan board to play county cricket in 2008. And they're pulling all strings to cut the lifeline of these players. Delusions of power? Aided by a bunch of boards who are scared of taking on the monetary might of the BCCI?

I know where the last game of this match will be played. In court. A place where the BCCI has as much clout as the man on the street. Now the BCCI must realise that while it runs cricket in the country, it cannot run over the constitutional rights of a citizen. Nor can it tell another country how to run the game there. Sooner or later, some board's going to turn self-respecting and stick up a finger. Where? When? How? Wait. Watch.

Lame game

The ICL may have started, but it hasn't quite taken off. The attempt at cooking up excitement for the TV audience falls flat without a doubt. Shrieking commentators, unknown players, rehearsed celebrations, a 7000 crowd, a Kareena show. It all looks like a carefuly choreographed effort. Even the parts that are supposed to look spontaneous.

It's obvious that the best efforts, deep pockets and noble intentions aren't sufficient. The ICL needs better players. Only that will ensure that the matches turn out as exciting as this TVC.