Israel to play India A… stirring the hornet’s nest alright
Posted on May 27, 2008 by Scorpicity |
If reports from some of the Israeli based newspapers have to be believed, Israel is all set to play a few one day internationals with India A. Jonty Rhodes would be giving his valuable inputs to the Israel cricketing youth as the mentor-coach and would be participating in the 3 ODIs. The Israel team would comprise of many Jewish cricketers across the world including India!
While the catch here is that this is an event… an event to celebrate the county’s 60th anniversary and that is why this could stir up the hornet’s nest in India, considering that they have the second largest Muslim population in the world. India’s political stand on the Israel-Palestine dispute is a tightrope with no real teeth. And this news could well cause a political storm, if the mainstream media latches on to it, where one would assume that cricket officials would be working overtime to douse out political volleys.
From a purely cricketing perspective, it is great to see the sport being introduced there all over again with International stars like Jonty Rhodes playing a big role in the development of the game in the country. However, if a storm does break out on this here in India, it would not be worth risking its internal peace to celebrate another nations anniversary in this fashion considering the sensitivities that may be affected.
However this is completely in speculation and India can very well surprise everyone. When one sees endless articles from journalists, ex-cricketers (read unknowns) everyday from snooty white cricketing nations on the evil BCCI and the stinking rich Indian players who bath everyday in hot rupyas, at the end of the day, it has been the same people who welcomed South Africa back into International cricket, the same people who stuck on during the world cup in Sri Lanka, where snooty white nations hurriedly packed their bags leaving behind their underwear in their hotels (this is true folks! 
) when some bombs went off and the same people who had no qualms about playing a test cricket series in Zimbabwe where other white nations who talk so much about the sanctity of the game where cricket should be nothing more than cricket and then conveniently boycotts all tours in the name of moral political grounds.
I am no fan of the BCCI and in fact people hate them here more than one could imagine but then this post is about cricket in Israel… and I wish them luck!
by Ankit, on May 27 2008 @ 12:40 pm
its great to see other countries entering the fray…
but yeah, you are right, nothing is worth disturbance of internal peace, with what is happening these days!
by scorpicity, on May 27 2008 @ 1:16 pm
Hey Ankit… welcome to cricketfizz… nice to see six and out back again
by Q, on May 27 2008 @ 1:32 pm
But seriously what does cricket have to do with Isreal’s anniversary?
by Straight Point, on May 27 2008 @ 1:40 pm
adding to Q…i am afraid it wont be one-off affair?
by Naked Cricket, on May 27 2008 @ 5:37 pm
no comment.
leave behind their underwear did you say?! hmmm
by UTP, on May 27 2008 @ 10:28 pm
this is going to be very interesting…especially from the news and political gossip’s point of view…
by vmminerva, on May 27 2008 @ 10:49 pm
Scorpy, “..cricket officials would be working overtime to douse out political volleys..”. We need to get ready for some hot BCCI-style baffoonery.
by Wasim, on May 27 2008 @ 11:39 pm
Its not as if India does not have relations with Israel,
if relations exist in all the other fields then I dont think playing a match will cause much of a stir.
by scorpicity, on May 28 2008 @ 10:13 am
Exactly Q…. this is an event specifically to celebrate Israel’s anniversary.
by scorpicity, on May 28 2008 @ 10:14 am
SP… hopefully all will be well unless some political tamasha breaks out when the mainstream media chooses to make something out of it.
by scorpicity, on May 28 2008 @ 10:15 am
NC, My friend who was one of the stakeholders of the hotel considered auctioning it as a joke… any buyers
by scorpicity, on May 28 2008 @ 10:16 am
UTP it may or may not be a hot cake… hopefully it won’t.
by scorpicity, on May 28 2008 @ 10:17 am
VM.. buffoonery alright… if there are no controversies stirred by some groups, it would well be good for cricket as usual.
by scorpicity, on May 28 2008 @ 10:18 am
Wasim… India does have a relationship with Israel… due to this match being specifically associated with this event, cricket could get hurt if the the likes of the left parties start this fiasco which they did a few mnths back all over again.
by Soulberry, on May 29 2008 @ 6:13 pm
Interesting. Israel uh? Why would BCCI want to be even involved? And why didn’t Israel play a series with England or Australia or South Africa? Anniversary with cricket…doesn’t gell. Looks more like they want to make a political statement by latching onto the one thing popular with Indians - cricket. India doesn’t have a football team…but Israel could have tried hockey instead. They play hockey too I think.
by John, on May 30 2008 @ 12:54 am
Scorpi,
Its a day of celebration for Israel, but a day of mourning for the Palestinian population. India has links with Israel - scientific, cultural and military, but successive governments have always recognized a popular sympaty with the people of Palestine. With the government not having taken a stance on whether it is a happy occasion, or a sad one, the BCCI is being foolish, collaborating on a celebration. This will backfire.
by Ottayan, on May 30 2008 @ 8:37 am
Politically this is a minefield and not worth the trouble.
Scorpi a request, can you incorporate a email notification for the comments. It will enable us to follow the comments.
by scorpicity, on May 30 2008 @ 1:49 pm
Exactly soulberry… on one hand it is maddening of the BCCI to be involved in the first place.
by scorpicity, on May 30 2008 @ 1:53 pm
Yup John… i really thought what in the world was the BCCi doing… the question was whether it is worth it… the intentions for spreading cricket is good.
by scorpicity, on May 30 2008 @ 1:56 pm
Otts… since I use wordpress, i don’t think I have that feature out of the box… I will try and find a mod for your suggestion. But tell me, how exactly does this work… is it like if you post a comment, you can also choose to receive mails on other comments… please let me know. Thxs buddy.
by Ottayan, on May 30 2008 @ 4:45 pm
Scorpi,
There is WP widget which even fetches the latest post of the commentator.
Yup, there is one at Six and out and blogger has one as a default.
by Ottayan, on May 30 2008 @ 4:57 pm
Scorpi,
Just check out this plug in. Please remember I am not a technical man. http://txfx.net/code/wordpress/subscribe-to-comments/
Cheers.
by Avnish, on May 31 2008 @ 9:51 am
Dude
We refused to play a Davis Cup Final against Israel. And are still waiting for our first cup. We dont need any more of such nonsense. If Iraq is allowed to play, if China is allowed to compete and if even the North Koreans can send teams when they feel like, what is wrong in playing Israel.Lets not start thinking like politicians who always look to appease vote banks. Let cricket and other sports be sportspersons and fans , not for politicians and religious fanatics.
More Glory to cricket
by scorpicity, on May 31 2008 @ 9:57 am
Otts… thxs a ton… I’ll check it out and implement it… cheers
by scorpicity, on May 31 2008 @ 10:03 am
AV… I have absolutely no problems in Israel playing cricket… no problems in them playing against India at any tournament… this is no tournament it is specifically an event to celebrate their anniversary and that is why this is weird! That is why it is not apt for India of all the countries to put up their hand! It is ok as long as this thing slips past without any turmoil. But if in case, there are protesters and other radical elements using this as a reason to disturb the peace… it is not worth it for an event!
We really forfeited a Davis cup final? LOL… this is good info… hilarious… now there, India was stupid! Anyway let’s hope for the best.