The Mukhtar Mai case (http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/11/scary-story-this-halloween-as-on-any.html) apart from its main protagonist is interesting because it also includes two other dimensions on rape which are discussed much less. One is the case of male on male rape and the other of false rape allegations. Nothing was done about either of these in the Mukhtar Mai case.
Both of these aspects have come into focus recently because of two high profile cases. The Duke case seems to be falling into the false allegation category (http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/28/duke.lacrosse/). Some middle ground needs to be found between requiring four eye witnesses and accusations without supporting evidence.
The second case is that of a serial male rapist (http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/26/male.rape.ap/index.html). Male on male rape is highly under-reported and probably negligibly reported in many countries. It would be interesting to see any statistics on such cases being brought forth in different countries including Pakistan.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Thursday, December 28, 2006
What to do With Saddam
The Iraqi government seems resolved to carry out the sentence. Would they wait until after the Eid or do they think that it might be better to get it done before Eid leaving the population, which already has mixed feelings, nonplused. While they contemplate their choices they may also want to consider Ford's words about putting the national nightmare behind when pardoning Nixon. This is not to suggest that Saddam should be pardoned. There is a little bit of difference between spying on your opponents and killing them. But the important thing is to find a way that will put the national nightmare behind.
The Iraqi government seems resolved to carry out the sentence. Would they wait until after the Eid or do they think that it might be better to get it done before Eid leaving the population, which already has mixed feelings, nonplused. While they contemplate their choices they may also want to consider Ford's words about putting the national nightmare behind when pardoning Nixon. This is not to suggest that Saddam should be pardoned. There is a little bit of difference between spying on your opponents and killing them. But the important thing is to find a way that will put the national nightmare behind.
Ford's Interview
In a 2004 interview to be released after after his death Ford disagreed on going to war with Iraq (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061228/news_1n28fordtalk.html). The interesting thing is that both Rumsfeld and Cheney were his cheifs of staff and Rumsfeld was also his defense secretary. He criticzes them both on Iraq and has a few interesting takes on Kissenger.
In a 2004 interview to be released after after his death Ford disagreed on going to war with Iraq (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061228/news_1n28fordtalk.html). The interesting thing is that both Rumsfeld and Cheney were his cheifs of staff and Rumsfeld was also his defense secretary. He criticzes them both on Iraq and has a few interesting takes on Kissenger.
Dopes Duped
The courts have okayed the use of private drug tests of MLB players by the government to investigate drug usage in the MLB (http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/sports/2006/12/27/roberts.spanier.steroid.ruling.cnn). Also see http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/12/27/baseball.bonds.ap/index.html. Can some parallels be drawn for the ongoing cricket doping saga?
The Flying Bar and Bouncer
A passenger in a US Airways Bar (flight) got drunk and slapped the bouncer (marshal) not knowing the bouncer's true identity (http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/28/unruly.passenger/index.html). So are there now going to be calls for nonalcoholic flights? Will alcoholics be profiled? Put on no fly lists?Or is that too good a business for the airlines and the liquor industry to ever be considered?
Your Fingerprints Please
I had written earlier about the introduction of a fingerprint based entry system at my gym (http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/12/cardless-entry-as-i-entered-gym-and.html). Little did I know that a substantial number of schools are using similar systems for children to access their meals at the school cafeteria. The arguments for it include: It's easier to lose a card than a finger(http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/tech/2006/12/22/sieberg.biometric.lunch.cnn). The video does not mention any negatives. Here is an article (http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=2320) from 2001 that lists some concerns but makes it sound like people who are concerned are paranoid and looking at Orwellian scenarios. It was funny that the implementers of these systems go as far as to call a fingerprint a finger image to avoid the negative connotation.
However, once the information is out there you do not know how it's going to be used. Here is the latest example (http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/sports/2006/12/27/roberts.spanier.steroid.ruling.cnn). MLB players were asked to take tests under the condition that they will remain private. Now the government is using this data and the courts have blessed the use.
I had written earlier about the introduction of a fingerprint based entry system at my gym (http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/12/cardless-entry-as-i-entered-gym-and.html). Little did I know that a substantial number of schools are using similar systems for children to access their meals at the school cafeteria. The arguments for it include: It's easier to lose a card than a finger(http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/tech/2006/12/22/sieberg.biometric.lunch.cnn). The video does not mention any negatives. Here is an article (http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstory.cfm?ArticleID=2320) from 2001 that lists some concerns but makes it sound like people who are concerned are paranoid and looking at Orwellian scenarios. It was funny that the implementers of these systems go as far as to call a fingerprint a finger image to avoid the negative connotation.
However, once the information is out there you do not know how it's going to be used. Here is the latest example (http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/sports/2006/12/27/roberts.spanier.steroid.ruling.cnn). MLB players were asked to take tests under the condition that they will remain private. Now the government is using this data and the courts have blessed the use.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
History Repeats: Sometimes Before it's Done
Ethiopia has now entered the ongoing madness in Somalia (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/12/26/somalia.ethiopia/index.html). The irony is that they have the blessings of the U.S. What appears to be lost on the Ethiopians are the consequences faced by their blessers in a similar venture in Iraq. To be fair the situation in Somalia affects Ethiopia a whole lot more than Iraq ever affected the U.S. On the other hand it was unclear how big a problem Iraq would be but Somalia is a known hazard.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Bush's Dada Period
Bush's statements to the effect that he was going to send more troops but he was still waiting to hear from his "experts" were rather curious (http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/20/bush.main/index.html). Why make a statement about increasing or decreasing troops when it has not been decided what course of action will be taken? The only plausible (and it's a stretch) explanation may be that he is trying to see what the reactions will be from different quarters on an increase in troop levels.
Looks like he is opening up to more subtle variations like we are not winning and we are not losing. Is, "It is an iteresting construct that you may not be with us but you might not be against us.", next? The statements sound more and more like those of a character from Alice in Wonderland: Absurd.
Bush's statements to the effect that he was going to send more troops but he was still waiting to hear from his "experts" were rather curious (http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/20/bush.main/index.html). Why make a statement about increasing or decreasing troops when it has not been decided what course of action will be taken? The only plausible (and it's a stretch) explanation may be that he is trying to see what the reactions will be from different quarters on an increase in troop levels.
Looks like he is opening up to more subtle variations like we are not winning and we are not losing. Is, "It is an iteresting construct that you may not be with us but you might not be against us.", next? The statements sound more and more like those of a character from Alice in Wonderland: Absurd.
Cricket Journalism
Cricket journalism has been the realm of amateurs. It consists of retired players giving their opinions, talks with current and past performers, opinion peices on players, blogs and that useless giant called Wisden logging all those pages of trivia (admittedly sometimes fun). With topics like match fixing, ball tampering, doping, and cricket itself there are real possibilities here for real journalism.
Cricket journalism has really lagged behind in the current doping controversy. It has not educated the cricket watching public about WADA or ICAS and their processes nor has it followed the steps each body has taken ( what documents have been filed? under what laws? If documents are not publicly available why not? etc.). Inquiring minds want to know.
Cricket journalism has really lagged behind in the current doping controversy. It has not educated the cricket watching public about WADA or ICAS and their processes nor has it followed the steps each body has taken ( what documents have been filed? under what laws? If documents are not publicly available why not? etc.). Inquiring minds want to know.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Monster on the Rampage
Another useless abstraction to chip away at the consumer has been created by the financial world. It is called a gift card. The "gift" apparently refering to what the issuer gets out of it(http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/02/gift_cards_congress.html). This is chutzpah to the power of googol. It would be interesting to see what percentage of the money on gift cards remains unused. Also issuers have obscure rules to benefit no one but themselves. Gift cards are no better than giving someone cash (or check, or money order, or cashier's check) as a present. If anything they are worse since they limit where the money can be spent and have other restrictions like loss in value over time. Yet norms now would have us believe this is some nicer way of giving a present than handing someone a check.
Kill this atrocious monster by promising never to feed it.
Another useless abstraction to chip away at the consumer has been created by the financial world. It is called a gift card. The "gift" apparently refering to what the issuer gets out of it(http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/02/gift_cards_congress.html). This is chutzpah to the power of googol. It would be interesting to see what percentage of the money on gift cards remains unused. Also issuers have obscure rules to benefit no one but themselves. Gift cards are no better than giving someone cash (or check, or money order, or cashier's check) as a present. If anything they are worse since they limit where the money can be spent and have other restrictions like loss in value over time. Yet norms now would have us believe this is some nicer way of giving a present than handing someone a check.
Kill this atrocious monster by promising never to feed it.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Yeh WADA Raha
WADA has finally decided that it will take on the PCB ADAC committee at the CAS (http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-media/content/story/273311.html). The ICC believes it has no right of appeal. If you look at the list of WADA signatories (http://www.wada-ama.org/en/dynamic.ch2?pageCategory.id=270) the ICC is one of them. It is a little confusing that if ICC being a signatory does not have jurisdiction over PCB then who else can? The other Pakistan related signatories include Pakistan Olympic Association but cricket is not an Olympic sport. Keeping the National Paralympic Committee out of it that leaves Pakistan Anti-doping Association. It is hard to imagine that this should have jurisdiction over the PCB when ICC does not.
If you look at comparable US agencies then there is a US anti-doping agency and the US Olympic Committee (baseball is part of Olympics even though the big name US players do not show up for it). There is also the International Baseball Federation. None of these have ever been used by WADA to try and enforce anything on Major League Baseball (MLB) even though drug use has been rampant in MLB. Neither the PCB nor the MLB are direct signatories to WADA and in the case of PCB, ICC has ruled itself out as a challenger.
What legs does WADA stand on?
If you look at comparable US agencies then there is a US anti-doping agency and the US Olympic Committee (baseball is part of Olympics even though the big name US players do not show up for it). There is also the International Baseball Federation. None of these have ever been used by WADA to try and enforce anything on Major League Baseball (MLB) even though drug use has been rampant in MLB. Neither the PCB nor the MLB are direct signatories to WADA and in the case of PCB, ICC has ruled itself out as a challenger.
What legs does WADA stand on?
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Cardless Entry
As I entered the gym and fumbled around to find my membership card and then told the girl behind the counter that I did not have it she mentioned that they were starting a cardless entry system. I could choose a ten digit number and submit my fingerprints basically replacing the card with fingerprints. The government agencies have done fingerprint checks for security reasons at places such as airports. This is the first time I have seen it implemented in the private sector (apart from all those highly sensitive jobs). Is this a good idea? Here is another part of you about to become public.
As I entered the gym and fumbled around to find my membership card and then told the girl behind the counter that I did not have it she mentioned that they were starting a cardless entry system. I could choose a ten digit number and submit my fingerprints basically replacing the card with fingerprints. The government agencies have done fingerprint checks for security reasons at places such as airports. This is the first time I have seen it implemented in the private sector (apart from all those highly sensitive jobs). Is this a good idea? Here is another part of you about to become public.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Rumsfeld Begins His Journey
...From Pentagon to Repent On. It will take him a few decades to get there. Here are some others from the World of Bad Ideas who may wish to join RepentaDon on his journey there.
1. Haggard The Horrible
2. Queen of Hearts Cheney (Due to his heart condition but not the medical one).
3. The Cunning Duke
4. Paul DimWits
5. Jack 'Off
6. Bolton the Dolt
7. Feelly Foley
8. Dr. Ricin
9. Leaky Libby
10. BANNanas Coulter
1. Haggard The Horrible
2. Queen of Hearts Cheney (Due to his heart condition but not the medical one).
3. The Cunning Duke
4. Paul DimWits
5. Jack 'Off
6. Bolton the Dolt
7. Feelly Foley
8. Dr. Ricin
9. Leaky Libby
10. BANNanas Coulter
Is Increasing the Number of Troops the Right Option?
Increasing the troops by a few thousand while maintaining current tactics and strategy will do nothing. The only way it might help is if the army takes over the policing duties. That would require a massive increase in the number of troops which is at present logistically impossible and pollitically unpopular. It will require a change in strategy where this force will disarm all militias if necessary by force whether the Iraqi government wants it or not. This will result in an exponential increase in casualties (on both sides) and use of forceful tactics similar to those attributed to Saddam. The answer remains in seperating the feuding parties, making them share oil revenues and making sure each has an equal contribution to the defence forces with rotating leadership (for more discussion on implementation details see http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/09/way-forward-on-march-24-2006-i-wrote.html).
Increasing the troops by a few thousand while maintaining current tactics and strategy will do nothing. The only way it might help is if the army takes over the policing duties. That would require a massive increase in the number of troops which is at present logistically impossible and pollitically unpopular. It will require a change in strategy where this force will disarm all militias if necessary by force whether the Iraqi government wants it or not. This will result in an exponential increase in casualties (on both sides) and use of forceful tactics similar to those attributed to Saddam. The answer remains in seperating the feuding parties, making them share oil revenues and making sure each has an equal contribution to the defence forces with rotating leadership (for more discussion on implementation details see http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/09/way-forward-on-march-24-2006-i-wrote.html).
Monday, December 11, 2006
Iraq's Neighbors and Iraq's Division
Continuing with the theme of Iraq with three autonomous regions (see earlier articles on Iraq) here is how the neighbors and their concerns should be dealt with.
I think Turkey can be pacified with the carrot of EU membership. It is something it has long sought and it will make it feel a lot safer instead of an ostracized outsider looking into an exclusive club. The Pope's endorsement is a baby step in the right direction.
Iran has never been a direct threat to the US. On both its East and West it is surrounded by countries with US forces. Between it and the rest of the Middle East there is still that barren wasteland called Iraq. The only war that Iran has been in over the last few decades was with Iraq and that war was started by Iraq. It is contained. The good old techniques of detente and the cold war should be sufficient.
Continuing with the theme of Iraq with three autonomous regions (see earlier articles on Iraq) here is how the neighbors and their concerns should be dealt with.
I think Turkey can be pacified with the carrot of EU membership. It is something it has long sought and it will make it feel a lot safer instead of an ostracized outsider looking into an exclusive club. The Pope's endorsement is a baby step in the right direction.
Iran has never been a direct threat to the US. On both its East and West it is surrounded by countries with US forces. Between it and the rest of the Middle East there is still that barren wasteland called Iraq. The only war that Iran has been in over the last few decades was with Iraq and that war was started by Iraq. It is contained. The good old techniques of detente and the cold war should be sufficient.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Young Lady, You Are Grounded!
Now write five hundred times on the board: I will not light a match on the plane to cover the odor of my flatulence. That may have still been a cruel punishment for a woman who performed the above act but grounding her was a little extreme (http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/12/06/plane.passing.gas.ap/index.html). She obviously was no danger to the flight (only to the olfactory aesthetics of the crew and passengers).
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Is Division so Bad
The borders for most countries in the Middle East and East thereof were drawn rather arbitrarily by the British, many times not taking into account the terrain or the indiginous population. Iraq is one such structure. The British got hold of this land after the Ottomans were defeated in The Great War. They drew some lines on a map and appointed a Hashmite Royal over three very different peoples. This is a further justification for creating three autonomous regions in Iraq (see http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/09/way-forward-on-march-24-2006-i-wrote.html) if the on going civil war is not considered an adequate one.
The problem, for the US, is that this strategy makes Iran's presence stronger in the shi'ite region. It also makes Turkey, a staunch NATO member during the cold war still an outcast from the EU after many of the Soviet sattelites are a part of it, now more worried about its eastern flank. However, It is probably best for the people who live in Iraq but are increasingly not Iraqis anymore.
The borders for most countries in the Middle East and East thereof were drawn rather arbitrarily by the British, many times not taking into account the terrain or the indiginous population. Iraq is one such structure. The British got hold of this land after the Ottomans were defeated in The Great War. They drew some lines on a map and appointed a Hashmite Royal over three very different peoples. This is a further justification for creating three autonomous regions in Iraq (see http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/09/way-forward-on-march-24-2006-i-wrote.html) if the on going civil war is not considered an adequate one.
The problem, for the US, is that this strategy makes Iran's presence stronger in the shi'ite region. It also makes Turkey, a staunch NATO member during the cold war still an outcast from the EU after many of the Soviet sattelites are a part of it, now more worried about its eastern flank. However, It is probably best for the people who live in Iraq but are increasingly not Iraqis anymore.
Diuretics and Nandrolone for All (Er I Mean None)
ICC, WADA and the National boards need to come up with a consistent policy on how to deal with drugs in cricket. As the Warne case earlier and the Shoaib and Asif case now have shown that the basic use of drugs in cricket may not be to enhance performance but reduce injury times. After all the drugs may help the fast bowlers a little with speed but they are not going to increase the amount of swing and spin you can put on the ball or make your timing immaculate. As the players become more sophisticated in the use of drugs (as they are in cycling and athletics) it will become harder to catch them during tournaments. What is needed is random year round testing and better testing methods. Also the methods should be fair in the sense that all players are subjected to them equally so that the playing field is fair. For now Shoaib Akhtar may not have to go through the to do list (http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/11/my-advice-to-shoaib-there-is-lot-of.html) I posted earlier. He, and Asif, will have to wait and see how the ICC and WADA respond.
ICC, WADA and the National boards need to come up with a consistent policy on how to deal with drugs in cricket. As the Warne case earlier and the Shoaib and Asif case now have shown that the basic use of drugs in cricket may not be to enhance performance but reduce injury times. After all the drugs may help the fast bowlers a little with speed but they are not going to increase the amount of swing and spin you can put on the ball or make your timing immaculate. As the players become more sophisticated in the use of drugs (as they are in cycling and athletics) it will become harder to catch them during tournaments. What is needed is random year round testing and better testing methods. Also the methods should be fair in the sense that all players are subjected to them equally so that the playing field is fair. For now Shoaib Akhtar may not have to go through the to do list (http://voiceandview.blogspot.com/2006/11/my-advice-to-shoaib-there-is-lot-of.html) I posted earlier. He, and Asif, will have to wait and see how the ICC and WADA respond.
Parental Rights
The case of Misbah Rana has been hailed as another confrontation between the East and the West(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6201354.stm). It is nothing more than a straight custody fight. Well a nasty custody fight. Yes it is true that one parent comes from Pakistan and the other from the UK but this case has as much to do with the clash of civilizations as the O.J. case had to do with race. The invective and the drama hurled by each side is no better and no worse than that hurled in thousands of custodial fights every year. Should she have been taken out of the country while the mother had the custody? No. Should the mother's side have raised the spectre of child marriage? No. Should the media have presented the sides as they did? No. Why must it be so easy to believe for so many people that the reason must surely be child marriage? Does it happen? Yes. This is a world issue. Right now there is a case in the US going on about a cult leader involved not only in child marriages but polygamy. Yet no one would seriously consider that a child taken to the US was taken there for that purpose. It may happen but is an unlikely event.
The custodial fight has become a phenomenon in itself. Who should have the custody? While the law in many western countries says that the rights of parents are equal, in practice they are anything but. Most decisions go in favor of the mother because in the mind of the society and the judges (who are a product of the society) there is a proclivity to side with the mother.
The current setup needs to be revisited. It is more dysfunctional than the dysfunctional family (ex-family?) it is designed for, essentially concentrating almost all authority in the hands of one parent while making the other one financially responsible. If the two parents hate each others guts then who do you think comes out on top and how does it make the other party feel. If fathers abandon responsibility they are labelled deadbeats, if mothers give up their children for adoption because they feel unable to take care of their children they are hailed as responsible. The answer is to have equal custodial rights. The argument that one parent's control is better for the child is fatuous. It is not if the parents are feuding and making the child choose sides. The only way both parents can feel some sense of fairness is when they have equal access and equal rights to the child. This may even mellow out some of the bitterness (don't count on it though). If the feuding sides cannot agree on how to share (and let's face it that's why they are in the courts) then the courts must do it but they must do so with equality and justice for all sides.
The case of Misbah Rana has been hailed as another confrontation between the East and the West(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6201354.stm). It is nothing more than a straight custody fight. Well a nasty custody fight. Yes it is true that one parent comes from Pakistan and the other from the UK but this case has as much to do with the clash of civilizations as the O.J. case had to do with race. The invective and the drama hurled by each side is no better and no worse than that hurled in thousands of custodial fights every year. Should she have been taken out of the country while the mother had the custody? No. Should the mother's side have raised the spectre of child marriage? No. Should the media have presented the sides as they did? No. Why must it be so easy to believe for so many people that the reason must surely be child marriage? Does it happen? Yes. This is a world issue. Right now there is a case in the US going on about a cult leader involved not only in child marriages but polygamy. Yet no one would seriously consider that a child taken to the US was taken there for that purpose. It may happen but is an unlikely event.
The custodial fight has become a phenomenon in itself. Who should have the custody? While the law in many western countries says that the rights of parents are equal, in practice they are anything but. Most decisions go in favor of the mother because in the mind of the society and the judges (who are a product of the society) there is a proclivity to side with the mother.
The current setup needs to be revisited. It is more dysfunctional than the dysfunctional family (ex-family?) it is designed for, essentially concentrating almost all authority in the hands of one parent while making the other one financially responsible. If the two parents hate each others guts then who do you think comes out on top and how does it make the other party feel. If fathers abandon responsibility they are labelled deadbeats, if mothers give up their children for adoption because they feel unable to take care of their children they are hailed as responsible. The answer is to have equal custodial rights. The argument that one parent's control is better for the child is fatuous. It is not if the parents are feuding and making the child choose sides. The only way both parents can feel some sense of fairness is when they have equal access and equal rights to the child. This may even mellow out some of the bitterness (don't count on it though). If the feuding sides cannot agree on how to share (and let's face it that's why they are in the courts) then the courts must do it but they must do so with equality and justice for all sides.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Chasing Bradman
As you might guess the highest ever batting rating (http://www.lgiccrankings.com/test/batting/all-time-ranking.php) belongs to Bradman (961). Two men are, however, closing in on the record: Ponting (940) the current number one, and Yousuf (933) the current number two. The highest rating for anyone apart from Bradman is 945 and certainly under threat. This begs the question are Ponting and Yousuf really that good? They are now number five and number ten on the best ever rating list and their batting averages are fast approaching sixty. Taking Bradman and Hussey (who has currently only played 12 tests) out the highest batting averages in the history of the game are around sixty (http://usa.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/TEST_BAT_HIGHEST_AVS.html) for players who have more than twenty innings to their name and there are only three of them.
So are Ponting and Yousuf really that good or is it that sixty is the new fifty. With the number of current players with averages above fifty one can argue for the latter. Others who are close are Dravid (58.75), Tendulkar (55.39), Kallis (55.78) while Lara sits at a measley 52.88 and Inzamam at a forgetable 50.36. One year ago no one would have seriously considered Yousuf in the company of the rest of these men. Now, even though he is still not considered in the same class people have begun to speculate whether he can get there. Lara and Tendulkar are considered batting geniuses, Dravid and Kallis have the concentration, the will, the technique, and a knowledge of their limitations, Ponting may have all the qualities but certainly was the most underated player of the last few years. Yousuf as impressive as he was this year still has not won as many games as Inzamam and has dismal records against Australia and South Africa, two teams with probably the best attacks in the game. Pakistan next tour South Africa and Yousuf can clear one of the two major blights on his career. After that there is the world cup. In the next few months, if Yousuf can keep himself going, he can further his case against the best batsmen of this generation. If everything goes as planned in about a little over a year Pakistan will meet Australia and Yousuf will get his chance to prove himself against the best.
As you might guess the highest ever batting rating (http://www.lgiccrankings.com/test/batting/all-time-ranking.php) belongs to Bradman (961). Two men are, however, closing in on the record: Ponting (940) the current number one, and Yousuf (933) the current number two. The highest rating for anyone apart from Bradman is 945 and certainly under threat. This begs the question are Ponting and Yousuf really that good? They are now number five and number ten on the best ever rating list and their batting averages are fast approaching sixty. Taking Bradman and Hussey (who has currently only played 12 tests) out the highest batting averages in the history of the game are around sixty (http://usa.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/TEST_BAT_HIGHEST_AVS.html) for players who have more than twenty innings to their name and there are only three of them.
So are Ponting and Yousuf really that good or is it that sixty is the new fifty. With the number of current players with averages above fifty one can argue for the latter. Others who are close are Dravid (58.75), Tendulkar (55.39), Kallis (55.78) while Lara sits at a measley 52.88 and Inzamam at a forgetable 50.36. One year ago no one would have seriously considered Yousuf in the company of the rest of these men. Now, even though he is still not considered in the same class people have begun to speculate whether he can get there. Lara and Tendulkar are considered batting geniuses, Dravid and Kallis have the concentration, the will, the technique, and a knowledge of their limitations, Ponting may have all the qualities but certainly was the most underated player of the last few years. Yousuf as impressive as he was this year still has not won as many games as Inzamam and has dismal records against Australia and South Africa, two teams with probably the best attacks in the game. Pakistan next tour South Africa and Yousuf can clear one of the two major blights on his career. After that there is the world cup. In the next few months, if Yousuf can keep himself going, he can further his case against the best batsmen of this generation. If everything goes as planned in about a little over a year Pakistan will meet Australia and Yousuf will get his chance to prove himself against the best.
Monday, November 27, 2006
From the Past
Since Pakistani openers are still finding life hard, India's capitulation in South Africa has led to calls for Ganguly's return again, racial slurs have moved from Gibson to Richards ...the following list (which was compiled some time back) still holds with some additions...
Ten Reality Shows I Would Like to See
Before the reality show craze fizzles away...
10. Pakistani Opener: Inzamam, Bari and Woolmer go from village to village looking for opening batsmen. They choose 16 openers who face a battery of fast bowlers every week. Inzamam, Bari, Woolmer and a guest cricketer comment on each player’s game. Pakistan votes by calling in for their favorite opener. The winner gets to play in the test team for six months until the new opener is chosen.
9. Survivor: Ganguly: Two Indian camps (Those for and against bringing back Ganguly) slug it out. Cameras follow the players (which in this case are the players and the administrators: Chappell, Dravid, Sharad Pawar, Dalmiya, Niranjin Shah, Kiren More etc.) in each camp until the next world cup. Each week one of the administrators is taken out because of some stupidity. Ganguly makes it or not depending on the last man standing.
8. The Amazing Racist: Mel Gibson, Ehud Olmert, Hasan Nasrallah, Dick Cheney, Ralph Reed, Ann Coulter, David Duke, Pat Robertson, Ahmadinijad, Paul Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Lindey England, Michael Richards and others throw comments at each other to see who is the amazing racist. Oh wait this one has already been done.
7. Straight Eye for the Queer Guy: Ralph Reed, Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggart and Jerry Falwell are the Judges. People passing on the street are brought in front of the judges. The judges talk to them and decide who is gay and who is not.
6. WMD Hunt: Bush "travels" from country to country in search of WMDs with his WMD sniffing pooch Tony. Wait I don't want to see that one.
5. Ann and Sean: A love story: Sean Hannity tries a career in music calling himself by the name S. Hity. Ann Coulter becomes his wife taking on the name Ann Hannity. Ann dresses up in leather and takes a whip to S. Hity. They fight and since divorce is out of the question one of them ends up killing the other.
4. Geraldo leads an expedition up Mt. Ararat to find Noah’s Ark.
3. The Simple Life: When Nicole asks the parent of a fifteen year old (whom she is baby sitting) whether he needs to be breast fed the parent replies yes rather than being shocked.
2. Rice juggles teaching courses at Liberty University and Bob Jones University while also performing janitorial duties.
1. The Dada Life: First there was the Real Life (bunch of "common" folk put together), then came the Surreal life (bunch of has been celebs put together) and now the Dada Life where celebs are underlings to common folks or under celebs. Some examples: Tiger caddies for high school jock, Federer is a ball boy at a Kournikova exhibition match, McGrath runs in with water for Shahid Nazir).
Since Pakistani openers are still finding life hard, India's capitulation in South Africa has led to calls for Ganguly's return again, racial slurs have moved from Gibson to Richards ...the following list (which was compiled some time back) still holds with some additions...
Ten Reality Shows I Would Like to See
Before the reality show craze fizzles away...
10. Pakistani Opener: Inzamam, Bari and Woolmer go from village to village looking for opening batsmen. They choose 16 openers who face a battery of fast bowlers every week. Inzamam, Bari, Woolmer and a guest cricketer comment on each player’s game. Pakistan votes by calling in for their favorite opener. The winner gets to play in the test team for six months until the new opener is chosen.
9. Survivor: Ganguly: Two Indian camps (Those for and against bringing back Ganguly) slug it out. Cameras follow the players (which in this case are the players and the administrators: Chappell, Dravid, Sharad Pawar, Dalmiya, Niranjin Shah, Kiren More etc.) in each camp until the next world cup. Each week one of the administrators is taken out because of some stupidity. Ganguly makes it or not depending on the last man standing.
8. The Amazing Racist: Mel Gibson, Ehud Olmert, Hasan Nasrallah, Dick Cheney, Ralph Reed, Ann Coulter, David Duke, Pat Robertson, Ahmadinijad, Paul Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Lindey England, Michael Richards and others throw comments at each other to see who is the amazing racist. Oh wait this one has already been done.
7. Straight Eye for the Queer Guy: Ralph Reed, Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggart and Jerry Falwell are the Judges. People passing on the street are brought in front of the judges. The judges talk to them and decide who is gay and who is not.
6. WMD Hunt: Bush "travels" from country to country in search of WMDs with his WMD sniffing pooch Tony. Wait I don't want to see that one.
5. Ann and Sean: A love story: Sean Hannity tries a career in music calling himself by the name S. Hity. Ann Coulter becomes his wife taking on the name Ann Hannity. Ann dresses up in leather and takes a whip to S. Hity. They fight and since divorce is out of the question one of them ends up killing the other.
4. Geraldo leads an expedition up Mt. Ararat to find Noah’s Ark.
3. The Simple Life: When Nicole asks the parent of a fifteen year old (whom she is baby sitting) whether he needs to be breast fed the parent replies yes rather than being shocked.
2. Rice juggles teaching courses at Liberty University and Bob Jones University while also performing janitorial duties.
1. The Dada Life: First there was the Real Life (bunch of "common" folk put together), then came the Surreal life (bunch of has been celebs put together) and now the Dada Life where celebs are underlings to common folks or under celebs. Some examples: Tiger caddies for high school jock, Federer is a ball boy at a Kournikova exhibition match, McGrath runs in with water for Shahid Nazir).
Sunday, November 26, 2006
South Africa's Bunnies
The recent Indian defeat to South Africa was just another spec on the familiar pattern. from 6/76 South Africa went on to beat India by a 106 runs. Just a month or so ago they did a similar job on Pakistan in the Chamions' trophy. They have pulled the same stunt on Pakistan again and again. Pakistan and India have been South Africa's bunnies in the ODIs since they started playing in the early nineties. Surprisingly Sri Lanka has an even record against South Africa in the same time but fairs badly against Pakistan and amost evenly against India. There is some dynamic to this.
Not to get ahead of things since Pakistan still needs to finish the test series against West Indies and play the ODI series but guess what. Their next stop is South Africa. And if they are to avoid repeating history and the fate currently befalling India they better find some answers especially now that the two bowlers who would have found the South African conditions most helpful are out.
The recent Indian defeat to South Africa was just another spec on the familiar pattern. from 6/76 South Africa went on to beat India by a 106 runs. Just a month or so ago they did a similar job on Pakistan in the Chamions' trophy. They have pulled the same stunt on Pakistan again and again. Pakistan and India have been South Africa's bunnies in the ODIs since they started playing in the early nineties. Surprisingly Sri Lanka has an even record against South Africa in the same time but fairs badly against Pakistan and amost evenly against India. There is some dynamic to this.
Not to get ahead of things since Pakistan still needs to finish the test series against West Indies and play the ODI series but guess what. Their next stop is South Africa. And if they are to avoid repeating history and the fate currently befalling India they better find some answers especially now that the two bowlers who would have found the South African conditions most helpful are out.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Let Them Pray and Breast Feed
In September a couple on Southwest Airlines caught some grief for kissing and hugging. In October Emily Gillette was removed from a Freedom Airlines flight for refusing a blanket while breast feeding. In November six imams were removed from a US Airways flight for allegedly making anti-Iraq-war comments. Did Carl Rove also orchestrate a take over of the airline crews by the far right?
A friend asked my opinion on the imams’ issue stating that he wants the airlines to be as cautious as they can be but at the same time people should be able to pray. While all these sentiments are understandable the problem, I fear, lays elsewhere. It may be time to rethink the conditions under which the flight crews should exercise their extensive powers. Authority, personal biases, fear, and old fashioned prejudices make for a potent brew. Power drunk on this cocktail some flight crews are starting to resemble bouncers. These powers should not become the rod to punish social behavior (or quell a dissenting opinion) that some flight attendants find objectionable for their own reasons. The person who is being prejudicial may at times not even see it or know that he is capable of it. Michael Richards’ rant is a case in point. He did not think he was racist and under most circumstances he may act perfectly nicely. Something that night agitated him enough to inflict painful insults on his audience.
In the meantime, the imams should join a sit in with the breast feeding mothers at an airport where they can all get together conveniently. The imams can pray the mothers can breast feed.
A friend asked my opinion on the imams’ issue stating that he wants the airlines to be as cautious as they can be but at the same time people should be able to pray. While all these sentiments are understandable the problem, I fear, lays elsewhere. It may be time to rethink the conditions under which the flight crews should exercise their extensive powers. Authority, personal biases, fear, and old fashioned prejudices make for a potent brew. Power drunk on this cocktail some flight crews are starting to resemble bouncers. These powers should not become the rod to punish social behavior (or quell a dissenting opinion) that some flight attendants find objectionable for their own reasons. The person who is being prejudicial may at times not even see it or know that he is capable of it. Michael Richards’ rant is a case in point. He did not think he was racist and under most circumstances he may act perfectly nicely. Something that night agitated him enough to inflict painful insults on his audience.
In the meantime, the imams should join a sit in with the breast feeding mothers at an airport where they can all get together conveniently. The imams can pray the mothers can breast feed.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Hu-Putin-Bush: That sounds like a question for the American public for putting George in the White House. But what are they up to here?
10. Donning Burqas to protest the Dutch government's intended ban on burqas.
9. Showing a culturally politically correct version of the clan's garb. It was one of the ideas for the design challenges on Project Runway that was eventually, and correctly, left out.
8. Showing solidarity with the Pakistani hijra community.
7. Showcasing the new radiation suits for protection against North Korean nukes.
6. Playing a game of Sahaeli Bujh Pahaeli while trashing Blair.
5. Showing they are all cut from the same cloth.
4. Figuring out whether putting this dress on Saddam would be a worse punishment than hanging him.
3. Determining whether these dresses can hide weapons and should be banned in public.
2. Determining whether these dresses can promote abstinence.
1. Their moms got them all the same costume for the Halloween party.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Kidneys for Sale
Remember the movie "The Island"? Probably not. It was about a colony of clones raised to provide body parts to their rich originals. Ironically, it turned out to be a clone of the movie "Clonus" made in the late seventies ( And now being sued for being an illegal clone). But why go to such outlandish futuristic scenarios when real colonies for body parts (atleast kidneys) exist where people willingly give away body parts. They are called poor people in poor countries (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/11/12/pakistan.kidney.ap/index.html). If just enough people can be kept poor enough an ample supply of kidneys can be had. The price is well within the reach of anyone from the lower middle class in the developed countries; You can have it for less than a good plasma TV.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Spiritual Restoration
I know a few people who buy their spiritual restoration at Restoration Hardware for a few thousand dollars. However, it seems, in the case of Haggard and his spiritual cohorts it might mean restoring his hardware to respond to the fairer sex. I was amazed that this out of all his offences may be the main focus of the restoration. Maybe they should call it sexual orientation gene restoration. Come to think of it they can open a charity for sexual orientation gene identification and alteration research. The only problem is it might require the use of embryonic stem cells.
Haggard just wants a way back into his “community”. If he really wanted a restoration of the spirit -if he ever had any to begin with- then he must recognize not only there were things that he did wrong but also that some of what he was preaching is wrong.
I know a few people who buy their spiritual restoration at Restoration Hardware for a few thousand dollars. However, it seems, in the case of Haggard and his spiritual cohorts it might mean restoring his hardware to respond to the fairer sex. I was amazed that this out of all his offences may be the main focus of the restoration. Maybe they should call it sexual orientation gene restoration. Come to think of it they can open a charity for sexual orientation gene identification and alteration research. The only problem is it might require the use of embryonic stem cells.
Haggard just wants a way back into his “community”. If he really wanted a restoration of the spirit -if he ever had any to begin with- then he must recognize not only there were things that he did wrong but also that some of what he was preaching is wrong.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
My Advice to Shoaib
There is a lot of talk about the current ban sounding the end of Shoaib’s cricket. Maybe so but remember this is a guy that takes long stints off for recovery anyway. With a good long rest he could be good for a final two to four years in his usual fitful way. So here are the top ten things for him to do as he serves his ban.
10. Appeal the ban. See if he can maybe get it reduced to a one year ban.
9. Make a movie or two. See if he has a career in that industry once he leaves cricket for good.
8. Party, party, party. Get that out of his system before the final burst.
7. Become an expert commentator. The guy probably will still have more draw than the players. His manager should get going on ironing out a deal for him to be present in some commentary box during the world cup.
6. Go on the speaking circuit.
5. Write a book or two (of course with someone).
4. Become a spokesperson for a product or two.
3. Open a charity bearing his name and raise funds for a cause of his choosing.
2. Spend some time out of the limelight.
1. Start getting back in shape for his return (without drugs).
There is a lot of talk about the current ban sounding the end of Shoaib’s cricket. Maybe so but remember this is a guy that takes long stints off for recovery anyway. With a good long rest he could be good for a final two to four years in his usual fitful way. So here are the top ten things for him to do as he serves his ban.
10. Appeal the ban. See if he can maybe get it reduced to a one year ban.
9. Make a movie or two. See if he has a career in that industry once he leaves cricket for good.
8. Party, party, party. Get that out of his system before the final burst.
7. Become an expert commentator. The guy probably will still have more draw than the players. His manager should get going on ironing out a deal for him to be present in some commentary box during the world cup.
6. Go on the speaking circuit.
5. Write a book or two (of course with someone).
4. Become a spokesperson for a product or two.
3. Open a charity bearing his name and raise funds for a cause of his choosing.
2. Spend some time out of the limelight.
1. Start getting back in shape for his return (without drugs).
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Scary Story
This Halloween, as on any other, the book shops were full of horror books and television was showing all the cheesy horror movies ever made. Now personally, the horror genre does nothing for me i.e. it does not scare me. However what I ended up reading on Halloween night, while sitting at a Barnes and Noble, was truly scary. The book was, “In the Name of Honor: A Memoir” by Mukhtar Mai and Nicholas D. Kristoff (http://www.amazon.com/Name-Honor-Memoir-Mukhtar-Mai/dp/1416532285/sr=8-1/qid=1162406574/ref=sr_1_1/102-4766004-2776928?ie=UTF8&s=books). Most of us have heard some part of this story but the details of the case are truly horrifying including how the government treated her.
Initially six of the defendants were given the death penalty by an anti-terrorism court (They could not carry the case in normal courts because the perpetrators either had to confess or four male witnesses were required and everything was “terrorism” in those days). The Lahore High Court on appeal set five defendants free and gave life imprisonment to one. After all the brouhaha on this verdict the Supreme Court opened the case for review. That is where the book ends.
It is interesting how the story initially gets out. The mullah of the mosque in the village condemns the act in his sermon. A local reporter present there picks up the story and publishes it. From there things snowball to national and international press. The police play a despicable role of pressuring her to change her story and getting her thumb print on a piece of paper where the policeman writes down whatever he is told by his superiors. The investigating judge is the first person to treat her humanely.
Through her ordeal she opens up schools and becomes the face of many women’s rights organizations and confronts the prime minister in a face to face and blasts the Governor of Punjab for a photo op with her.
She is invited outside the country but is put on exit control list (because it will be bad for the image of the country) and under house arrest (apparently for her own protection) and denied access to her lawyer. When the earth quake strikes she is finally let out of the country so she could go out and raise funds for the quake victims. The website of the organization named for her is http://mukhtarmaiwwo.org/
Initially six of the defendants were given the death penalty by an anti-terrorism court (They could not carry the case in normal courts because the perpetrators either had to confess or four male witnesses were required and everything was “terrorism” in those days). The Lahore High Court on appeal set five defendants free and gave life imprisonment to one. After all the brouhaha on this verdict the Supreme Court opened the case for review. That is where the book ends.
It is interesting how the story initially gets out. The mullah of the mosque in the village condemns the act in his sermon. A local reporter present there picks up the story and publishes it. From there things snowball to national and international press. The police play a despicable role of pressuring her to change her story and getting her thumb print on a piece of paper where the policeman writes down whatever he is told by his superiors. The investigating judge is the first person to treat her humanely.
Through her ordeal she opens up schools and becomes the face of many women’s rights organizations and confronts the prime minister in a face to face and blasts the Governor of Punjab for a photo op with her.
She is invited outside the country but is put on exit control list (because it will be bad for the image of the country) and under house arrest (apparently for her own protection) and denied access to her lawyer. When the earth quake strikes she is finally let out of the country so she could go out and raise funds for the quake victims. The website of the organization named for her is http://mukhtarmaiwwo.org/
Thursday, October 12, 2006
The World of Bad Ideas
Commenting on her life after this administration Rice claimed she wanted to return to the world of ideas ( a university position). I suppose that is as opposed to the world of bad ideas where she is now.
Actually that is not a bad idea for a book: "Rice and the World of Bad Ideas" based on characters from "Alice in Wonderland". Cheney will play the Queen of Hearts, Rumsfeld the Mad Hatter, Bush the Hare ( Well atleast he can run fast), the army in Iraq the deck-of-cards soldiers at the beck of the queen of hearts.
Commenting on her life after this administration Rice claimed she wanted to return to the world of ideas ( a university position). I suppose that is as opposed to the world of bad ideas where she is now.
Actually that is not a bad idea for a book: "Rice and the World of Bad Ideas" based on characters from "Alice in Wonderland". Cheney will play the Queen of Hearts, Rumsfeld the Mad Hatter, Bush the Hare ( Well atleast he can run fast), the army in Iraq the deck-of-cards soldiers at the beck of the queen of hearts.
The "Reach the Final" Statement
What's with the reach the final statement? After the chaos of the hockey setup one month before the world cup the newly appointed coach after stating all that was wrong mentioned nonchalantly, "We will reach the final." It was funny even though it was sad. Actually they ended up sixth.
Now with all the chaos of the cricket setup Younis has commented that they will reach the final. Even for a very good and stable team that is a tall claim. What is Younis basing it on? Even reaching the semifinal will be a tough ask though it is possible. And yes reaching the final is always a possibility and so is winning but the statement comes across as, "Yeah no problem reaching the final but after that I don't know." If it is supposed to somehow instill confidence then why stop at reaching the final, just say, "We will win it." It won't be any more ridiculous.
What's with the reach the final statement? After the chaos of the hockey setup one month before the world cup the newly appointed coach after stating all that was wrong mentioned nonchalantly, "We will reach the final." It was funny even though it was sad. Actually they ended up sixth.
Now with all the chaos of the cricket setup Younis has commented that they will reach the final. Even for a very good and stable team that is a tall claim. What is Younis basing it on? Even reaching the semifinal will be a tough ask though it is possible. And yes reaching the final is always a possibility and so is winning but the statement comes across as, "Yeah no problem reaching the final but after that I don't know." If it is supposed to somehow instill confidence then why stop at reaching the final, just say, "We will win it." It won't be any more ridiculous.
The Dark Side
A few days back with all the cospiracy theories involving Cheney I had joked that the theories are sounding more and more as if Cheney were Darth Vader personified and we may soon be hearing how Mary Cheney is princess Leah carrying on a secret grudge rebellion, so it was amusing to hear that Cheney had actually made the comment, "We have to work the dark side, if you will. Spend time in the shadows of the intelligence world." To the nerds Lucas was already a messiah. This confirms his seer credentials.
A few days back with all the cospiracy theories involving Cheney I had joked that the theories are sounding more and more as if Cheney were Darth Vader personified and we may soon be hearing how Mary Cheney is princess Leah carrying on a secret grudge rebellion, so it was amusing to hear that Cheney had actually made the comment, "We have to work the dark side, if you will. Spend time in the shadows of the intelligence world." To the nerds Lucas was already a messiah. This confirms his seer credentials.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
The Opportunist, The Pacifier, The Decider
(Or how Musharaf, Blair and Bush got along)
Rub a dub dub,Three men in a tub;
And who do you think they be?
The Opportunist,
The Pacifier; The Decider;
Turn 'em out, knaves all three!
Rub a dub dub,Three men in a tub;
And who do you think they be?
The Opportunist,
The Pacifier; The Decider;
Turn 'em out, knaves all three!
The Conclusion
Here is a complete text of Madugalle's Report
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/engvpak/content/current/story/260776.html
He concludes:
Conclusion
51 I therefore conclude:
(1) Mr ul-Haq is not guilty of the charge of ball-tampering.
(2) Mr ul-Haq is guilty of the charge that contrary to paragraph C2 of the Code of Conduct, he engaged in conduct unbecoming to his status which could bring him or the game into disrepute in that he failed to bring his team back onto the field of play on two occasions as a deliberate protest against the Umpires. The appropriate penalty is a ban of 4 One Day International Matches.
52 Finally, I should comment on one final matter. The witnesses agreed in evidence that player-management and effective communication is an important aspect of umpiring at international level. In my judgment, a difficult and sensitive situation such as that which arose in the present case (a finding of ball-tampering causing a substantial sense of grievance in, and protests from, the Pakistan team) requires handling with tactful diplomacy (as well as firm adherence to the Laws). This was an unprecedented situation. If (one hopes not) such a situation were to recur in international cricket, I would hope and expect:
(1) The Umpires would do everything possible to try to defuse tensions in the dressing-room by explaining that a team is entitled to raise any grievance through the ICC but that it is not in their interests, or in the interests of the game, for the team to interrupt play.
(2) The Umpires and other officials should do everything possible to ensure the resumption of play. And they should not return to the field of play and then declare the match to be forfeited unless and until they are absolutely sure that the team is refusing to play the rest of the match. All other options should first be exhausted, involving discussions with the team captains and management.
Ranjan Madugalle (The Adjudicator, and Chief ICC Referee)
assisted by
David Pannick QC (Counsel to The Adjudicator)
Compare it to the forecast below.
Here is a complete text of Madugalle's Report
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/engvpak/content/current/story/260776.html
He concludes:
Conclusion
51 I therefore conclude:
(1) Mr ul-Haq is not guilty of the charge of ball-tampering.
(2) Mr ul-Haq is guilty of the charge that contrary to paragraph C2 of the Code of Conduct, he engaged in conduct unbecoming to his status which could bring him or the game into disrepute in that he failed to bring his team back onto the field of play on two occasions as a deliberate protest against the Umpires. The appropriate penalty is a ban of 4 One Day International Matches.
52 Finally, I should comment on one final matter. The witnesses agreed in evidence that player-management and effective communication is an important aspect of umpiring at international level. In my judgment, a difficult and sensitive situation such as that which arose in the present case (a finding of ball-tampering causing a substantial sense of grievance in, and protests from, the Pakistan team) requires handling with tactful diplomacy (as well as firm adherence to the Laws). This was an unprecedented situation. If (one hopes not) such a situation were to recur in international cricket, I would hope and expect:
(1) The Umpires would do everything possible to try to defuse tensions in the dressing-room by explaining that a team is entitled to raise any grievance through the ICC but that it is not in their interests, or in the interests of the game, for the team to interrupt play.
(2) The Umpires and other officials should do everything possible to ensure the resumption of play. And they should not return to the field of play and then declare the match to be forfeited unless and until they are absolutely sure that the team is refusing to play the rest of the match. All other options should first be exhausted, involving discussions with the team captains and management.
Ranjan Madugalle (The Adjudicator, and Chief ICC Referee)
assisted by
David Pannick QC (Counsel to The Adjudicator)
Compare it to the forecast below.
Iftar at The Bush's
Even Arafat and Rabin shook hands but Musharaf and Karzai refused to do so at the Peace Iftar. Maybe it was the hunger pangs that had them both so out of sorts and discombobulated. If so a Peace Sahri might have been the better option but Bush has probably never gotten up that early. On the other hand maybe both have learned a few things about expressing themselves from their host.
The Strangest Reason
One reason that has been bandied about for not changing the result of that now infamous Hair match to a no result is that the betting community will be in a mess. Since when does the cricket community care about the betting community as far as the results of their games are concerned? Oh wait, I withdraw the last statement, that was happening a few years back. What was I thinking?
One reason that has been bandied about for not changing the result of that now infamous Hair match to a no result is that the betting community will be in a mess. Since when does the cricket community care about the betting community as far as the results of their games are concerned? Oh wait, I withdraw the last statement, that was happening a few years back. What was I thinking?
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
The Forecast
Here is my forecast of the ruling
1. Not guilty on the ball tampering issue.
2. Disrepute charge upheld.
3. 4 ODI ban
4. Darrell Hair censured for his role in the referee's report.
What would it mean? Whether the punishments are exactly as above or not what it would mean is that Madugalle will try to balance it out. He will uphold the disrepute charge and say no matter what Inzamam should have come out to play. But he will be lenient citing that the ball tampering issue cannot be totally ignored as an instigator of the protest. He will say that the umpire is the sole arbiter during the match. He will then go on to say that umpires should use their powers judiciously.
Here is my forecast of the ruling
1. Not guilty on the ball tampering issue.
2. Disrepute charge upheld.
3. 4 ODI ban
4. Darrell Hair censured for his role in the referee's report.
What would it mean? Whether the punishments are exactly as above or not what it would mean is that Madugalle will try to balance it out. He will uphold the disrepute charge and say no matter what Inzamam should have come out to play. But he will be lenient citing that the ball tampering issue cannot be totally ignored as an instigator of the protest. He will say that the umpire is the sole arbiter during the match. He will then go on to say that umpires should use their powers judiciously.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
On to More Contentious Issues
What of Iraq and Afghanistan and Musharaf’s book when the more important matter of the ICC’s hearing stands at the brink of making history.
As a precursor we now have Ponting’s statement supporting Hair. The same Ponting who a few days ago let loose a few words for Assad Rauf because he had called a wide. The irony cannot be missed: An Australian now questioning a Pakistani umpire on something that is routinely carried out by umpires in one day games. He did apologize to Rauf, which I suppose conspiracy theorists might argue was supposed to show how Inzamam should have behaved. However, if this is Ponting’s behavior on a wide one wonders what he might have stooped to if accused of cheating. And ICC issued no statements to Ponting that he should not comment on the issue since it has supposedly gagged all parties.
Then there is Martin-Jenkins and secret meetings in the lavatory between Inzamam and Waqar, Waqar coaxing Inzamam to protest.
Let’s see whether Madugalle proves to be the Solomon everyone is hoping for or he is vilified as the instrument of the goras or the Asian who does not know his place.
As a precursor we now have Ponting’s statement supporting Hair. The same Ponting who a few days ago let loose a few words for Assad Rauf because he had called a wide. The irony cannot be missed: An Australian now questioning a Pakistani umpire on something that is routinely carried out by umpires in one day games. He did apologize to Rauf, which I suppose conspiracy theorists might argue was supposed to show how Inzamam should have behaved. However, if this is Ponting’s behavior on a wide one wonders what he might have stooped to if accused of cheating. And ICC issued no statements to Ponting that he should not comment on the issue since it has supposedly gagged all parties.
Then there is Martin-Jenkins and secret meetings in the lavatory between Inzamam and Waqar, Waqar coaxing Inzamam to protest.
Let’s see whether Madugalle proves to be the Solomon everyone is hoping for or he is vilified as the instrument of the goras or the Asian who does not know his place.
Belt Begone
In the olden days belts served the useful purpose of child abuse but since that practice has fallen into disfavor it has become an accessory that matches your shoes or an ornament bandied about by boxers, wrestlers and cowboys. So leaving the boxers, wrestlers and cowboys alone and considering the fact that you have to take the damn thing on and off so many times through airport check in lines I propose that it is time for the belt to go the way of the clothing dinosaur, the hat. Infact the hat may be more useful since atleast in very cold and hot weather it provides protection especially to those of us whose hair, unlike Darell Hair, is gone. Truly, the belt has become as useless as the seat belt on an airplane that the flight attendant insists you buckle.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
The Most Useless Current Discussion in Science
What's in a name? A few days back the astronomers classified the planets in a way so that there were twelve of them. Then they reclassified so that there were eight. They actually had a conference for this. So much effort for so little. Things such as roundness, and curves of orbits were considered in determining the classification. To me it seemed that people had made up their minds whether they wanted Pluto as a planet or not and based their criteria for classification on that instead of it being the other way around. But who cares? If a body is interesting because it has some interesting properties, and I do not mean Sharapova, then it should be investigated if not then no one will care about it. Raising it to the status of planet or degrading it to a planetoid is just silly bookkeeping.
It was reported that, "It was unclear how Pluto's demotion might affect the mission of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which earlier this year began a 9 1/2-year journey to the oddball object to unearth more of its secrets." (See http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/08/24/pluto.ap/index.html ). Now this is a rather silly thing. If Pluto has some interesting qualities that need exploration then it should be explored whether today it is classified as a planet or not. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet and sewage by any other name would still be pretty bad.
What's in a name? A few days back the astronomers classified the planets in a way so that there were twelve of them. Then they reclassified so that there were eight. They actually had a conference for this. So much effort for so little. Things such as roundness, and curves of orbits were considered in determining the classification. To me it seemed that people had made up their minds whether they wanted Pluto as a planet or not and based their criteria for classification on that instead of it being the other way around. But who cares? If a body is interesting because it has some interesting properties, and I do not mean Sharapova, then it should be investigated if not then no one will care about it. Raising it to the status of planet or degrading it to a planetoid is just silly bookkeeping.
It was reported that, "It was unclear how Pluto's demotion might affect the mission of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which earlier this year began a 9 1/2-year journey to the oddball object to unearth more of its secrets." (See http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/08/24/pluto.ap/index.html ). Now this is a rather silly thing. If Pluto has some interesting qualities that need exploration then it should be explored whether today it is classified as a planet or not. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet and sewage by any other name would still be pretty bad.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
A Matter of Opinion
It has been said that the pope does not agree with Manuel II’s statement which he had quoted in his speech. After reading the transcript of the whole speech (http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=46474 ) it is unclear why he would use it if not to agree with it. He calls the emperor erudite and as far as I can tell is trying to make the point that the emperor was trying to make.
If he wanted to have a debate he has one now on his hands. If he wanted a dialogue then he is now further away from his goal than before the speech. If one begins with the approach that I am right and you are wrong then dialogue is dead on arrival. He painted Christianity as a religion where rational thought goes hand in hand with God and Islam as a religion where God is transcendent. Both are only subcultures. He obliquely makes the point that this is the reason for violence in Islam. There are certainly Christians who believe in the transcendence of God and Muslims who want to conjoin rationality with God. Why not bring up many of the incidents from Christianity to make the point that he was trying to make? Have not certain groups belonging to all religions at some point advocated violence? This is one of the central problems of religions: Each group apparently has a direct line to God and it seems he is telling them the so called truth while the other group’s line has been connected to the devil.
However, if the pope meant what he said then he should stick to it. That is his opinion and he is entitled to it. If people wish to oppose him then as long as they do it nonviolently it is their right to do so.
The colleague who mentioned, "there was something odd about our university: it had two faculties devoted to something that did not exist" appears to be more rational than the either side here.
Postscript: The media coverage on this issue was really bad. Everyone repeated the quote without actually making an attempt at explaining the context of the quote.
It has been said that the pope does not agree with Manuel II’s statement which he had quoted in his speech. After reading the transcript of the whole speech (http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=46474 ) it is unclear why he would use it if not to agree with it. He calls the emperor erudite and as far as I can tell is trying to make the point that the emperor was trying to make.
If he wanted to have a debate he has one now on his hands. If he wanted a dialogue then he is now further away from his goal than before the speech. If one begins with the approach that I am right and you are wrong then dialogue is dead on arrival. He painted Christianity as a religion where rational thought goes hand in hand with God and Islam as a religion where God is transcendent. Both are only subcultures. He obliquely makes the point that this is the reason for violence in Islam. There are certainly Christians who believe in the transcendence of God and Muslims who want to conjoin rationality with God. Why not bring up many of the incidents from Christianity to make the point that he was trying to make? Have not certain groups belonging to all religions at some point advocated violence? This is one of the central problems of religions: Each group apparently has a direct line to God and it seems he is telling them the so called truth while the other group’s line has been connected to the devil.
However, if the pope meant what he said then he should stick to it. That is his opinion and he is entitled to it. If people wish to oppose him then as long as they do it nonviolently it is their right to do so.
The colleague who mentioned, "there was something odd about our university: it had two faculties devoted to something that did not exist" appears to be more rational than the either side here.
Postscript: The media coverage on this issue was really bad. Everyone repeated the quote without actually making an attempt at explaining the context of the quote.
Monday, September 18, 2006
The Way Forward
On March 24, 2006 I wrote about Iraq:
"1. Divide the country into three states. The shia state, the Sunni state, The Kurdish state. Let each run their daily lives and local policies.
2. Divide oil revenues between the three states based on population. This way oil is not controlled by "whoever's land" it is on but is a national asset divided equally among the people. The ratios can change based on a census every 5 years.
3. The military has equal numbers from all three states.
4. Each state has its own assembly. An initial constitution must be approved by two thirds majority of each state's assembly and the national assembly. Any change would require the same measure. That is if it is not acceptable to any one state it is not acceptable.
5. Elections are every six years for the state and national assemblies. Prime minister's serve for two years each. One shia, one sunni, one kurd. The "national assembly" would consist of the national assembly and the state assembly of the state from where the prime minister is chosen. The ratios of the assemblies must be such that the prime minister has the majority to carry out most of the governments work (except for changes in constitution which has been highlighted above). And these five points are part of the constitution.
If the Iraqi leadership is sincere it should have no problem adopting such a measure. But if people are going for an oil grab and a military grab it would be pretty obvious.
I don't think it is workable because I don't think that the leadership or the people are sincere but if they can adopt such measures and then stick to them then they may have something to work with. Infact if they do not adopt such measures the US should force such measures in the initial constitution since Iraqi's will always have the choice to change it if all three states agree."
On May 1, 2006 I wrote:
"Apparently Biden has come out with a proposal to divide Iraq into three autonomous zones, yes you guessed it, one for the Sunnis, one for the Shias and one for the little Kurds who live down the lane."
At the time Biden's proposal was panned. Now the environment is looking more hospitable for it, with the second proposal I mentioned also being discussed by some people, including Al Franken on Air America.
The military and constitutional proposal's have not been talked about yet but that will come. These proposal's will not solve everything since it is very hard for people to get along if they hate each other. Infact they will initially even isolate the three feuding parties but that is the first step to reconciliation of any sort.
On March 24, 2006 I wrote about Iraq:
"1. Divide the country into three states. The shia state, the Sunni state, The Kurdish state. Let each run their daily lives and local policies.
2. Divide oil revenues between the three states based on population. This way oil is not controlled by "whoever's land" it is on but is a national asset divided equally among the people. The ratios can change based on a census every 5 years.
3. The military has equal numbers from all three states.
4. Each state has its own assembly. An initial constitution must be approved by two thirds majority of each state's assembly and the national assembly. Any change would require the same measure. That is if it is not acceptable to any one state it is not acceptable.
5. Elections are every six years for the state and national assemblies. Prime minister's serve for two years each. One shia, one sunni, one kurd. The "national assembly" would consist of the national assembly and the state assembly of the state from where the prime minister is chosen. The ratios of the assemblies must be such that the prime minister has the majority to carry out most of the governments work (except for changes in constitution which has been highlighted above). And these five points are part of the constitution.
If the Iraqi leadership is sincere it should have no problem adopting such a measure. But if people are going for an oil grab and a military grab it would be pretty obvious.
I don't think it is workable because I don't think that the leadership or the people are sincere but if they can adopt such measures and then stick to them then they may have something to work with. Infact if they do not adopt such measures the US should force such measures in the initial constitution since Iraqi's will always have the choice to change it if all three states agree."
On May 1, 2006 I wrote:
"Apparently Biden has come out with a proposal to divide Iraq into three autonomous zones, yes you guessed it, one for the Sunnis, one for the Shias and one for the little Kurds who live down the lane."
At the time Biden's proposal was panned. Now the environment is looking more hospitable for it, with the second proposal I mentioned also being discussed by some people, including Al Franken on Air America.
The military and constitutional proposal's have not been talked about yet but that will come. These proposal's will not solve everything since it is very hard for people to get along if they hate each other. Infact they will initially even isolate the three feuding parties but that is the first step to reconciliation of any sort.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
A Song for Barbara
(With Apologies to Willie Nelson and Real Cowboys)
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick mean fights and strive for ill-gotten bucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They're always at the ranch and they're always alone
Even with the kings they love
Cowboys ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold
And they'd rather give you a song and dance than the truth
Washington belt buckles and old jaded men pick a new fight every new day
And if you don't understand him and the gibberish he’s sprung
He'll probably just ride away
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick mean fights and strive for ill-gotten bucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They're always at the ranch and they're always alone
Even with the kings they love
Cowboys like oil in deserts like Iraq and what Alaskan mountains promise
Little warm soldiers and children and girls dying in the night
And them that do know him won't like him
And them that don’t sometimes won't know how to take him
He ain't different he's just wrong but his pride won't let him do things to make his wrongs right
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick mean fights and strive for ill-gotten bucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They’re always on the ranch and they're always alone
Even with the kings they love
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick mean fights and strive for ill-gotten bucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
No mention of engineers in there
(With Apologies to Willie Nelson and Real Cowboys)
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick mean fights and strive for ill-gotten bucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They're always at the ranch and they're always alone
Even with the kings they love
Cowboys ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold
And they'd rather give you a song and dance than the truth
Washington belt buckles and old jaded men pick a new fight every new day
And if you don't understand him and the gibberish he’s sprung
He'll probably just ride away
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick mean fights and strive for ill-gotten bucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They're always at the ranch and they're always alone
Even with the kings they love
Cowboys like oil in deserts like Iraq and what Alaskan mountains promise
Little warm soldiers and children and girls dying in the night
And them that do know him won't like him
And them that don’t sometimes won't know how to take him
He ain't different he's just wrong but his pride won't let him do things to make his wrongs right
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick mean fights and strive for ill-gotten bucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They’re always on the ranch and they're always alone
Even with the kings they love
Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don't let 'em pick mean fights and strive for ill-gotten bucks
Make 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
No mention of engineers in there
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