Team India-I

Sir,

"Ooh, Aah India, Aaya India", is a very popular song made for Team India to boost the players morally as well as showing the best wishes of Indians for their team. Before the start of Champions Trophy and the recently progressing South Africa tour the Indian Cricket fan had have the full faith over the team, but what happened in the last match has totally disappointed them. When the Cape Town match was in progress and South Africans were trailing at 76 for 6, it was looking that the team could hardly score 100 or 150,but at the end we saw a different story. Of course, the whole team is responsible for the loss,but I beg to differ. Instead of the poor performance of team I blame the poor captaincy of Rahul Dravid, whose unwise decisions on the field cost the team India. For instance,when Zaheer Khan was on fire and South Africa was trailing,he took him out from the attack. If Zaheer would given the chance to complete his three overs,he might had taken more wickets. Next Rahul also dropped a simple catch of Shaun Pollock. Not only in the last but also in earlier matches we had seen his poor moves on the field both in the bowling attack and batting order.

In today's India, Cricket in not just a game but it has become the emotion for the Indians, if the team India will continue its dismal performance it will certainly hurt the cricket fans and rage them against the players. World Cup 2007 is only three months away, we can't keep patience more, this is the time when Indian Team should show the spirit for the game and concentrate on the game instead of indulging themselves in ad commercials and endorsement. If the performance of the team remains same further, the BCCI must take some hard steps and fix the fees and facilities given to the players on the basis of team's performance as well as individual performance.

In addition to that, the selectors should not show mercy to players who are continuously failing, like Sehwag, Kaif, Pathan, Raina and Harbhajan.

Yours etc...
Mohd. Mudassir Alam
Sarai Julena Okhla,
New Delhi

II

Sir,

First it was ninety one all and then came another crushing defeat in the 3rd ODI against South Africa, Team India again tottered. The whole nation is angry. What has happened to one of the most formidable batting machine in the world. Where is the great coaching of Greg Chappel? It was quite natural that concern was expressed even in the Parliament at the humiliating defeat of Team India. Two things come to my mind one is that we are perhaps creating a great media hype over the game of cricket. We perhaps are giving more attention and importance to the game of cricket. The players have grown rich but their game has declined. Secondly the whole Cricket Board is politicised.

We should have professional cricketers heading the Board who know the game well. The experimentation that the coach has subjected the Indian team is providing disastrous for the whole team. It has created insecurity in the team. Another point is that we need to take drastic measures. Those players who fail to perform should be shown the door. If Ganguly was expendable so is any other player howsoever great his past be. Let youngsters take charge. We have seen too many defeats. Enough is enough.

Yours etc...
M K Tikko
Manorma Vihar
Bohri, Jammu

Leopard untraced 

Sir,

The news report titled, ''Nowshera women wounded in leopard attack (DE, No. 24)'' speaks about the callous attitude of the concerned authorities to trace the maneater who has already claimed many lives. A wave of terror has been created by this brute who lurks in secrecy and pounces upon the people. The maneater has developed a taste for flesh of humans and now it seems that the leopard will not like to kill its natural prey which is rare to find and difficult to chase.

Due to the pressure on the forest land and also due to the cutting down of forests the natural prey of these carnivores is diminishing. The reason why this leopard has created terror in the villages of Nowshera. The concerned authorities should take all steps to either tranquilise the leopard or kill it because so many precious lives have been lost due to the attack of this maneater. This leopard is created heavoc in the area for many months now and it is strange why this beast has not been traced and shot. The forest authorities should do something immediately to restore peace and confidence in the area.

Yours etc...
R K Verma
Akhnoor