Mumbai, the economic capital of India is said to be the dream city. The city that never sleeps, fulfills the dreams of the hard working aspirants who hunt for success. It has a history of around 2000 years; where from Mauryas to Satavahanas and Raja Bhimdev to the Gujrat Sultanate all have ruled this land. But the city actually saw some make lift was under the British rule. Since then it has grown from the seven islands to a financial hub of the country.
A few years back the State Government of Maharashtra declared their agenda where the focus was to transform Mumbai into a world class city with the state of art infrastructure similar that to the Chinese booming city of Shanghai, but what we see is the downward curve where the development looks questioning. Shanghai was selected on the grounds that it has topography and geography that is similar to Mumbai, wide coastal area was one of the distinct features. One more thing common for these cities was the high population that was going up day by day. China announced to make Shanghai a dream place to live and they did it with ease. Now if you see this city which is home to more than 20 million people has one of the best transport, infrastructure, residential complexes, utilities which are second to none in the world. And when it was announced Mumbai will go with the same path, got some smile on the faces of the city dwellers. But looking at the journey so far in the last decade or so it looks like it is heading to a destination no where.
The first thing on the Govt. agenda was to speed up the transport facility within the city and in came the projects like Metro rail, Mono rail and freeways. To talk about Metro it was all started in the year 2003 where the planning phase began. The foundation stone was led in 2006 and the actual work was started in the year 2008 and still going on and on, expected to be ready by 2012. And during this space of time what the Mumbaities have seen - long bustling traffic, polluted air, high noise pollution and loosing tons of hours that they spend traveling. "Bear with us for the better tomorrow" the board reads at the construction sites. We just hope the future doesn’t turn out to be our past and we are still bearing with it. The same story is with Bandra Worli Sea Link; the dream project began in year 1999 and took almost 10 years (to be precise) to complete. It was suppose to be a 5 years long project costing 300 Crores INR, ended up 10 years with INR 1600 Crores. The estimated traffic flow in 1999 has gone up drastically in the last 12 years, again putting up a question will this bridge live up to the expectations in the near future. Mono has gone the same way, the mirror of our government's capabilities, but still can be considered as one of the few projects that is looking good enough to be ready on time (I am just hoping not sure). Overall city looks like a place that is dug everyday for some development, leaving behind only the thought of development and inhabitants into complete disarray.
The govt needs to take complete measures to ensure these projects are completed soon because the city was better before they started and we want to see some peaceful commutation.And all of this is part of India, the country that is looking to compete with the Super powers of the world; one of the booming economies in the world looks a sub standard nation when it comes to quality infrastructure. We stand high when we talk about the Nation’s ranking in terms of GDP (Currently we are 4th in the world according to GDP Purchasing Power Parity), but when we see what lies beneath is darkness of poverty, unemployment, corruption, poor transport facilities and lack of basic health standards. And when we talk about Mumbai the intensity of this question goes high that Global City of India cannot facilitate smooth urban transport. Shanghai to be or not to be that is the Question?????????????
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Its time to Change
India is playing good cricket for last few years. Not only the stats but the quality is also justifying the same. And the credit goes to the bunch of young cricketers. The competition has forced the seat warmers and lifetime berth owners to stay on their toes and perform. This is working in the favor of the team, and we are performing.
But again if we see the records, the performance delivered so far, was in the competition involving 2 or 3 teams (And was good enough to jump at the top…...tragedy). But what about the Tournaments where we were competing against more than 3 or 4 teams? Except the T20 WC win in South Africa 2007, we didn’t turn up to the expectations of our people. In the last 5 years we participated in quite number of ICC competitions, the 3 T20 WC's, a 50 over WC, Champion's Trophy, Asia Cup, however apart from the final berth in Asia Cup 2008 and T20 win in 07, we have completely bogged while facing serious competition. Our strong batting tigers on papers remained on papers and on the days they performed, the bowlers turned up to contribute to the loss.
And the West Indies T20 WC was no exception. Again the team was out (rather thrown out…...) of the competition in the similar fashion, what they did in 2009. We Indians are really good at repeating things again and again, don’t we, even though we know that we are not supposed to? Many things have been spoken about the Indians early exit from the competition. Tedious schedule of IPL, lack of team bonding, list of unfit players, inability to tackle short pitch deliveries blah blah blah. And I believe all the reasons cumulatively were responsible factors. Were the frequent parties necessary in IPL? Shouldn’t the players be responsible for there fitness? Don’t we think over cricket is ruining us? Our captain said just before the WC T20, the long schedule of IPL wont affect their performance and the kind of form Indian players are, we are likely to perform better. Then what happen to us on the judgment day. After the tournament he contradicted the statement saying long schedule did the faith (I think he needs to record his statements and preserve for future references). IPL was fun, but the overdose lost the taste. The format should be given a second thought and the number of games should be reduced. BCCI must have learnt a lesson, no selection unless you are completely fit. And why can’t we find a solution for the short ones. We need to implement some plan to overcome this weakness. And I think the people sitting out there are smart enough to understand all these issues.
The most important factor, we need to understand that its time to reduce the kind of pressure these players are facing. They are not a software to function right all the time. They are not machines to work hours and days without resting. They are humans with few limitations. And if given a chance to grow under right circumstances, will come up with the right and required results. Now for the Tri series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, the board has come up with the new combination. Hope they flourish and provide few more options for the Selectors. The 10th WC is approaching and we need to have the best team to compete. Its gonna be on our home turf and we need to deliver our best. All the Best ............Team India
But again if we see the records, the performance delivered so far, was in the competition involving 2 or 3 teams (And was good enough to jump at the top…...tragedy). But what about the Tournaments where we were competing against more than 3 or 4 teams? Except the T20 WC win in South Africa 2007, we didn’t turn up to the expectations of our people. In the last 5 years we participated in quite number of ICC competitions, the 3 T20 WC's, a 50 over WC, Champion's Trophy, Asia Cup, however apart from the final berth in Asia Cup 2008 and T20 win in 07, we have completely bogged while facing serious competition. Our strong batting tigers on papers remained on papers and on the days they performed, the bowlers turned up to contribute to the loss.
And the West Indies T20 WC was no exception. Again the team was out (rather thrown out…...) of the competition in the similar fashion, what they did in 2009. We Indians are really good at repeating things again and again, don’t we, even though we know that we are not supposed to? Many things have been spoken about the Indians early exit from the competition. Tedious schedule of IPL, lack of team bonding, list of unfit players, inability to tackle short pitch deliveries blah blah blah. And I believe all the reasons cumulatively were responsible factors. Were the frequent parties necessary in IPL? Shouldn’t the players be responsible for there fitness? Don’t we think over cricket is ruining us? Our captain said just before the WC T20, the long schedule of IPL wont affect their performance and the kind of form Indian players are, we are likely to perform better. Then what happen to us on the judgment day. After the tournament he contradicted the statement saying long schedule did the faith (I think he needs to record his statements and preserve for future references). IPL was fun, but the overdose lost the taste. The format should be given a second thought and the number of games should be reduced. BCCI must have learnt a lesson, no selection unless you are completely fit. And why can’t we find a solution for the short ones. We need to implement some plan to overcome this weakness. And I think the people sitting out there are smart enough to understand all these issues.
The most important factor, we need to understand that its time to reduce the kind of pressure these players are facing. They are not a software to function right all the time. They are not machines to work hours and days without resting. They are humans with few limitations. And if given a chance to grow under right circumstances, will come up with the right and required results. Now for the Tri series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, the board has come up with the new combination. Hope they flourish and provide few more options for the Selectors. The 10th WC is approaching and we need to have the best team to compete. Its gonna be on our home turf and we need to deliver our best. All the Best ............Team India
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Class is PERMANENT
Indian Premier League...Its back. The new born baby of 2008 is now into its 3rd year. It's growing and swelling as well. Swelling in term of the amount of revenue involved in it. It has been proved again, that in India - Cricket, Film Industry and Politics will never let you down (in terms of Paisa), if you are capable of showing your talent. Mr. Modi is showing his. Let’s forget this all, no need to get into an argument which has no solution from us. Let’s get back to IPL 3 - 2010.
On its eve in 2008, it was said that Twenty20 is a game of young legs, aggressive batsman ship, cross batted slogs, big and hard hitting and blah blah blah…. And when some of the veteran players, technical batsmen and old legs were selected and bought by the different teams, many eyebrows were raised. Among the lot few of them were retired, a few were into their last days of international arena and some were still going strong with their solid conventional cricket. In its early days of IPL, the fact that it’s the young blood game was getting a nod from everyone and people agreed what they were witnessing. But now after couple of years, not everyone but at least those who understand the depth of cricket, will definitely agree. It's not only power and aggression that survives in this form. If you have the class you can make every format your own. And now the game has became sensible cricket, where bowlers have learned the art of bowling in the shortest format. If you go back into the history, the cricket was never a bowlers game, whether Test or One Dayer’s.
And now the miniature version was no exception either. But the Class Bowlers have learned the way to tackle this and if you take the names of the people who are doing it, you will get your answer. Kumble, Murali, Vaas, Warnie are doing it Right. And they are already in the late 30's. Talk of the batsman...it's again the old wine. Sachin, Hayden, Gilli, Kallis are doing it in style. And all the above names are class act. Sachin has hit just one 6 this year, still holds a stammering strike rate of 150. He is just playing those shots from the books of Cricket by applying some sensible approach. Kallis was not even selected in the 2007 South African twenty 20 Squad for WC. He took it as a pride issue, and next 2 years IPL saw an Old Oak standing still driving their team home, almost in each and every game. Kumble was never praised for his leading qualities in Tests, but see this man has transformed a below par performance of his team into a probable for the Cup last year. And he is doing it again this year. Gilli and Warnie did it in the first 2 seasons and this year, Kumble or Sachin might do it for their teams. RCB was a fun making act in 2008. A test team for 20/20. And now you see they are testing others.
It doesn’t mean that the young guys are not into the act, they are. And this competition is proving to be a solid platform for the youngsters to show their capabilities. And when you are playing with the Class Names mentioned above, you are going to learn a lot, which will take you to new heights. Again the years to come will show how this new format is going to take the Cricket ahead. And how the classy players will perform with their own quality. We all know the old saying in Cricket…Form is Temporary, Class is Permanent and which ever format it may be.
On its eve in 2008, it was said that Twenty20 is a game of young legs, aggressive batsman ship, cross batted slogs, big and hard hitting and blah blah blah…. And when some of the veteran players, technical batsmen and old legs were selected and bought by the different teams, many eyebrows were raised. Among the lot few of them were retired, a few were into their last days of international arena and some were still going strong with their solid conventional cricket. In its early days of IPL, the fact that it’s the young blood game was getting a nod from everyone and people agreed what they were witnessing. But now after couple of years, not everyone but at least those who understand the depth of cricket, will definitely agree. It's not only power and aggression that survives in this form. If you have the class you can make every format your own. And now the game has became sensible cricket, where bowlers have learned the art of bowling in the shortest format. If you go back into the history, the cricket was never a bowlers game, whether Test or One Dayer’s.
And now the miniature version was no exception either. But the Class Bowlers have learned the way to tackle this and if you take the names of the people who are doing it, you will get your answer. Kumble, Murali, Vaas, Warnie are doing it Right. And they are already in the late 30's. Talk of the batsman...it's again the old wine. Sachin, Hayden, Gilli, Kallis are doing it in style. And all the above names are class act. Sachin has hit just one 6 this year, still holds a stammering strike rate of 150. He is just playing those shots from the books of Cricket by applying some sensible approach. Kallis was not even selected in the 2007 South African twenty 20 Squad for WC. He took it as a pride issue, and next 2 years IPL saw an Old Oak standing still driving their team home, almost in each and every game. Kumble was never praised for his leading qualities in Tests, but see this man has transformed a below par performance of his team into a probable for the Cup last year. And he is doing it again this year. Gilli and Warnie did it in the first 2 seasons and this year, Kumble or Sachin might do it for their teams. RCB was a fun making act in 2008. A test team for 20/20. And now you see they are testing others.
It doesn’t mean that the young guys are not into the act, they are. And this competition is proving to be a solid platform for the youngsters to show their capabilities. And when you are playing with the Class Names mentioned above, you are going to learn a lot, which will take you to new heights. Again the years to come will show how this new format is going to take the Cricket ahead. And how the classy players will perform with their own quality. We all know the old saying in Cricket…Form is Temporary, Class is Permanent and which ever format it may be.
Friday, February 26, 2010
A Double Ton from a Loaded Canyon
Ever since I started following Cricket at the age of 10, I remember one batsman fascinated me a lot. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the man who created a special place for cricket in my heart. It wont be exaggerating that I follow cricket for Sachin and that's what Cricket is all about for me. I saw his first cut in the 92 World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand. 2 innings from him at the age of 19, made me realise that we have a master in making for the ODI. He already proved his importance in the Test Cricket with few centuries. Among them were the maiden one against England, which was a match saving effort. And 2 tons against the Aussies in Australia before the 92 WC.But it was from the 2 world cup innings I thought that this man has plenty to prove. And he did it. After 20 years of hard work, dedication,concentration and adaptations, we see a man standing....the living legend of India.
Ah...was bit away from it..the 2 innings at the 92 world cup, the one was against Zim of 81 and the other one a 54 vs Pak, which sealed the match. In both the matches, he was the Man of the Match. Both were simply great cameos. Reason 1- It came when he was too young to the international arena and Reason 2 - It was a big stage, a WC and he came up with his best. And since that encounter at the WC, it was not looking back. World Cup cricket became his own backyard with the runs came flowing out of his bat and they are flowing and will continue to. Batting was never easy in those 90's, since the great bowlers like Walsh, Ambrose, Pak W's (Waqar, Wasim), Glenn, Vaas, Donald, were on their peak. And batting against them was not a cake walk. But this man made it with a clinical perfection. All the great knocks came from him, whether the century at Kotla in the 96 WC vs SL, the 186 at Hyderabad vs Kiwis, or the deserted outing of 143 vs Aus at Sharjah in 98, followed by a masterly 134 in the Final to seal the series against the Aussies, or the destroying 98 vs Pak in the 2003 WC, or the latest 175 knock of a genius against the great Aus, where all simply mesmerizing. And the Double ton was an absolute exhibition of sheer stamina and dedication towards his duties, which proved to be a legendary knock. Not because it was a record of all time in One dayers, not because it was a knock against one of the top side,but it was an inning from a man who showed the world that hardwork,temperament, consolidation still matters in Cricket.
What much to tell about him. The world knows everyting - How the small boy who used to play cricket on the streets of Mumbai became a legend of Cricket infact the Greatest Batsman in the history. He has made a special place in the league of Extra Ordinary Batsmen of all time - Bradman, Sutcliffe, Sobers, Richards, Border, Gavaskar, Waugh. The list is quite long but the Master is at the top.
We salute him and his greatness...Well played Sir...
Ah...was bit away from it..the 2 innings at the 92 world cup, the one was against Zim of 81 and the other one a 54 vs Pak, which sealed the match. In both the matches, he was the Man of the Match. Both were simply great cameos. Reason 1- It came when he was too young to the international arena and Reason 2 - It was a big stage, a WC and he came up with his best. And since that encounter at the WC, it was not looking back. World Cup cricket became his own backyard with the runs came flowing out of his bat and they are flowing and will continue to. Batting was never easy in those 90's, since the great bowlers like Walsh, Ambrose, Pak W's (Waqar, Wasim), Glenn, Vaas, Donald, were on their peak. And batting against them was not a cake walk. But this man made it with a clinical perfection. All the great knocks came from him, whether the century at Kotla in the 96 WC vs SL, the 186 at Hyderabad vs Kiwis, or the deserted outing of 143 vs Aus at Sharjah in 98, followed by a masterly 134 in the Final to seal the series against the Aussies, or the destroying 98 vs Pak in the 2003 WC, or the latest 175 knock of a genius against the great Aus, where all simply mesmerizing. And the Double ton was an absolute exhibition of sheer stamina and dedication towards his duties, which proved to be a legendary knock. Not because it was a record of all time in One dayers, not because it was a knock against one of the top side,but it was an inning from a man who showed the world that hardwork,temperament, consolidation still matters in Cricket.
What much to tell about him. The world knows everyting - How the small boy who used to play cricket on the streets of Mumbai became a legend of Cricket infact the Greatest Batsman in the history. He has made a special place in the league of Extra Ordinary Batsmen of all time - Bradman, Sutcliffe, Sobers, Richards, Border, Gavaskar, Waugh. The list is quite long but the Master is at the top.
We salute him and his greatness...Well played Sir...
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