Reverse Apatheid

South Africa was very greatful to Nelson Mandella for his struggle against the racist policies in the country in the 60s. The entire world boycotted South Africa for 20 years for its racial policies. Imagine loosing 20 years. Sportsmen couldn't be in Olympics for that time, not participation in business sumits, no governmental contracts, no nothing. The impact on social, economic developement is beyond imagination.
But now from what I read there is reverse apartheid in South Africa. Cricket team has to have certain mix of colored and white players. So when one wonders what happened to South Africans after 2000... there lies the answer. There are similar examples in other fields. The have a Kolpak agreement to which SA professionals can go and work unrestricted in some of the European countries. This arrangement coupled with the reverse apertheid saw several of the promising professionals (cricketers for sure) abandon SA. Just for kicks.. Kevin Peterson who now represents England in cricket was born and brought up in SA went to England and got naturalized for better oppurtunity!

Surely India can take leads from whats happning to South Africa! We don't need to be kicked off the train this time....

Think something new!

When Dravid-Chappel formed their partnership the mantra was new blood, new ideas, new methods, new strategies, new everything. After the disaster in the one-day series it was kind of disappointing to see Dravid come up with old and stale reasons for the defeat. I was expecting the duo to have new excuses for defeats as well!

Read that California was planning of increasing taxes on cigarette sales. So much that a pack of Marlboro Lights that costs $4 in Texas would cost $7 in California. The rationale behind the tax increase on tobacco products all over the world has been that it help making people quit smoking. Now I agree that somking kills, but for me alcohole is an equal, if not bigger killer than cigarette. Just look around for drunk driving related accidents and other crime that happens under the influence of alcohole. Then why do they not increase the taxes on alcohole products as frequently and as high as tobacco. Isn't it in a way supporting social abuse due to alcohole or may be just that the alcohole lobby is stronger!

Also read Wasim Jaffer's interview on cricinfo. It says that he does his namaz everyday. Did we need to know this? That too in an interview about his cricket. Did anybody ever mention about how many times Tendulkar prays or whether he goes to the Siddhi Vinayak temple. Why this obsession with unnecessary details when it comes to minorities? I know only one thing about Jaffer, which many do not know. He once scored 405 runs and remained not out in an inter-school Harries Shield match.