20-20(2)

Even as I continue to be a critic of 20-20 format, its heartening nevertheless to see the Indian Cricket team win the T20 worldcup.

20-20

With the inauguration of the new 20-20 cricket world cup, the ICC wants to get more advertisement for cricket and promote cricket globally. Its a good ploy to bring in more countries, more people and thereby more money into the game. However, for traditional cricket lovers like me who loves the 5 day version, 20-20 is a sham. Cricket in my opinion is a game that gives equal opportunities for both batsmen and bowlers and this is true only in a 5 day match with a true cricketing pitch. 20-20, however, is tailor made to suit the batsmen. I am afraid cricket might lose some good quality players - bowlers and batsmen inclusive, with special emphasis on bowlers. Good bowlers might even become an extinct species.

6th anniversary of 11th Sept attack on US

With so many terror attacks taking place in India on an almost daily basis, one would wonder as to why I am blogging on the terror attack in US 6 years back. Well, terror attacks are terror attacks, and people suffer and die wherever they take place. However, there is something special in 11th Sept attack. First, it was the first time in history that someone had dared to attack the US homeland. And second, it has completely changed the perspective with which terror attacks are viewed around the world since then. And it is about this "someone who dared" that I am blogging.

When the attack took place, US detective and security agencies blamed it on Osama Bin Laden. What was shocking to see was the reluctance of many people to accept that it was Bin Laden and his Al-Qeada network that commited this dastardly act. Al-Qaeda in the beginning was mum - and did not take the responsibility of the attack. And around the world( inclusive of India), mullahas and many Muslims blamed the US for "falsely" implicating a "true Muslim" like Bin Laden. Possibly there never has been a more cunning terrorist than Bin Laden till now. All that he wants is the sympathy of Muslim population around the world and a clash between Muslims & the West.With time fades the memory of the people and with time, Bin Laden has come clean. He now totally accepts the 11th sept attacks. Wonder where those mullahs are - why there is no condemnation now ? It nevertheless shows the way Muslims see Bin Laden. He is not seen as one who is going out of the teachings of peace & brotherhood of Quran. Worse, he is viewed as a Muslim brother who has gone a bit astray.

It would be a great service rendered by the Mullahs to the Muslim community if Bin Laden is castigated out of the Muslim society.

Or is it that Quran never teaches peace, I wonder ? If Bin Laden is to be believed, it only asks all Muslims to go all out(& kill,murder...) against those who are not Islamic followers. And if the so called moderates do not have counter-argument, then one is forced to accept what Bin Laden says vis-a-vis what Quran says( or rather his take on it).