If a KP lost in the morning returns in the evening, he cannot be called a lost KP. Led astray by sly sympathisers, he upheld his uncompromising stance in a press-conference, staring down the barrel at an impending retirement. However, two days later, he walked back with penitence, retracting all his demands. But England Cricket Board shut the door on him.
South African media ethically stoked the controversy, asserting that Pietersen yearned for his original “home”. They conveniently ignored that years ago he had emigrated from the same “home” in protest of the quota system; they suitably disregarded his unequivocal apology, committing himself to real cricket.
People relished this opportunity to brew more gossip. When Chris Gayle rebelled against West Indies board, and in fact missed a year and a half of international cricket, nobody came up with snide remarks (whereas, Pietersen never missed a match on his own accord). Perhaps South African fans expected him to return to South Africa. Perhaps the fans from India — once the finest connoisseurs of world cricket and now jingoistic zombies — had developed delusions that he could defect to India and play IPL as a local player.
Eventually ten weeks later, after a series of dialogues in a “reintegration programme”, England Cricket Board opened the door for him.
Nevertheless, disappointed fans continue to spew cynical remarks following his reinstatement. It is a classic case of cognitive dissonance: now that there is nothing else to disparage, the fans contend that the English team is of no worth without him. Interesting remarks, considering that no other team has shown more dependence on one cricketer than India on Sachin Tendulkar.
England Cricket Board have only themselves to blame by not embracing the repentant cricketer, who despite going astray, chose the national team over club cricket. He made mistakes but he also had the courage to apologise in public. How many people would have the sincerity to do that? Besides, ECB isn’t impervious to mistakes. They were gullible enough to believe in Allen Stanford’s fraudulent scheme (click here for the story). He had proffered the same to a few other cricket boards (including BCCI) but only the impecunious West Indies and the gullible ECB fell for it. Not only that, ECB debased the heritage of Lord’s by letting the charlatan’s helicopter land on the ground, whence he flaunted a Perspex briefcase containing $20 million. It was a tawdry display of power and one of the most ignominious moments of English cricket. Sir Walter Hammond must have turned in his grave.
Cricket would have been the biggest casualty, if they had not resolved the dispute. Even the most loved teams in cricket — like Pakistan and West Indies — have had severer internal disputes. The tight spot that ECB are always in, they should never wash their dirty linen in public.
No comments
Post a Comment