Episode 34

Mar 13 2007

Dissension among the boys

The danger zone drama was certainly eventful. Even as the boys fought to keep their phone lines alive this week, they sought too many clarifications from the selectors after the controversial danger zone nomination.

This time it was the quartet of Praveth Kumar, Sukhvir Singh, Kadir Patel and Karan Joshi that faced the wrath of the selection panel. And debate and discussion were not far behind. Sanjay Manjrekar insisted that it was intent, or rather the lack of it, that cost Karan Joshi a seat in the safe zone. Sanjay felt the selectors were willing to agree with the director of the Academy, Robin Singh, that there was no place in the team for selfish stroke play. But the debate continued to rage right through the episode and for much thereafter.

Sukhvir was poignant when he said that the boys were going into a match with multiple worries about what to concentrate on: performance, potential, attitude or other external factors. He said there was confusion between playing cricket and creating a show. Sanjay Manjrekar felt the boys needed to be mature enough to realise that not all factors could be controlled and they must look to perform beyond the obstacles and like Kapil Dev said, ‘against all odds’.

Praveth’s was a straightforward vote out. But Kadir and Sukhvir seemed to be battling it out neck and neck. That was until the last three voting teammates changed the scenario. Suddenly Karan Joshi found himself on par with his teammates and it was down to the final vote, that of Amiteshwar Singh’s. In a move that surprised and shocked Sukhvir, Amiteshwar picked his name and thus broke the suspense.

Yet again allegations flew as Sukhvir joined Praveth in accusing the teammates of thinking of their own future. Perhaps the ire of Amiteshwar’s vote incensed Sukhvir to the extent that he accused him indirectly of coming into the tournament as a batsman and turning into a bowler to survive in the competition.

Watching the squabble, Sanjay Manjrekar suggested the upcoming game against the Leicestershire team was already won by the visitors because of the lack of cohesive team spirit among them. But Kapil Dev had perhaps the soundest advice when he respected the boys for speaking their mind. But he also warned them that to take matters between fellow team mates beyond a certain limit could affect their performance on the field and that was to be avoided at all costs!