India

Nasser Hussain: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Nasser Hussain Goes Gold-Digging

What he said:

“When you get a bowler, it’s like gold dust. You do not just let him go.”

Nasser Hussain compares bowling talent to the discovery of a gold vein.

What he really meant:

“Have you seen the price of gold lately? A good bowler’s value is like that. It keeps appreciating—with experience.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Stake a claim and exploit them to the hilt.”

N Srinivasan: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

N Srinivasan Is Taken For a Ride

What he said:

We were taken for a ride. I know we cannot plead before you that we did not know all this was happening. Your question would be, were you not vigilant? What did you do? I am sorry, sir, there is no defence for me. No defence in front of you. So, I am not pleading that at all. We just put our heads down.

N Srinivasan, BCCI Secretary and owner of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), claims that he and his colleagues were hoodwinked by ex-IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.

His remarks were made to Parliament’s Standing Committee on finance  when it was discovered that all cheques were signed by Srinivasan—then treasurer— and his successor, MP Pandove.

What he really meant:

“So what if I’m MD of India Cements. Lalit Modi outsmarted us. Believe us, we’re innocents.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“The IPL Governing Council was farcical.”

Graeme Swann: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Graeme Swann Feels Like a Nursemaid to his Younger Teammates

What he said:

"When they take their tops off you can see they’ve barely started puberty."

English off-spinner, Graeme Swann, likes to believe that he is the grizzled old veteran in the ODI squad likening his younger team-mates—Eoin Morgan and Jade Dernbach—to pubescent adolescents.

What he really meant:

“That’s what you get what calling me ‘Granddad’”.

What he definitely didn’t:

“You guys can always come up to me for advice on what to do for pimples and dandruff.”

Poonam Pandey: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

Poonam Pandey Issues A ‘Siren Call’

What she said:

The world will see that I lived up to my inspiration. Now, I am sure my team will beat England. Our time has come… the Pics r in Series every Match they win in England will release More… but for now its a Inspirational one for them.

Poonam Pandey only half-lives up to her promise of stripping for the men-in-blue (Indian cricket team) posting a Twitpic to “inspire” them to victory in the ODI series against England. The ODI World champions crashed to a humiliating 0-4 defeat to the hosts in the Tests.

What she really meant:

I’m done with all the TV shows accruing from the free publicity I received from the promised no-show and was left twiddling my fingers. Twiddling a bit more led to these tweets and this pic.I’m more famous than Chunky and Manish Pandey now, ain’t I?

What she definitely didn’t:

“If you boys win, I’ll lose (clothes). If you don’t, you’ll find me resplendently Victorian in a burkha.”

Nasser Hussain: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Nasser Hussain Is ‘Asinine’

What he said:

“I do believe that India have a few, three or four, very good fielders and one or two donkeys in the field still.”

Nasser Hussain’s remark comparing Indian fielders to donkeys has drawn flak from the Indian media,ex-cricketers, BCCI administrators and even Bollywood superstar, Amitabh Bachchan.

The Big B tweeted:

“Did not like Nasir Hussain ex cricket Captain of UK, refer to Indian fielders as ‘donkeys’, as he commentated on tour of our team.”

BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla said:

Hussain’s comment was totally uncalled for. One should adopt restraint while making observations about players. Commentators should not make such comments. We will definitely look into it .Every player has to be respected irrespective of his performance. I don’t think this comment was appropriate.

Former teammate Michael Vaughan tweeted his support for Hussain:

“Just seen that Nasser said the Indians have a couple of Donkeys in the field… How wrong can he be!!!! I have seen at least 4….”

Vaughan’s re-stoking the ire of Indian fans’ was met with jibes online.

Sample a couple of his responses to Indian fans:

@vivekramindian Very true… I was useless in the field.. But I would be a superstar at cover point in this Indian team.

@kundankumar21: @VaughanCricket corrctly said.. when england also have a DOG like you on field in recent past…” my dog is very fast…

What Hussain really meant:

“When I say donkeys, I mean laden ones. They’re quite quick otherwise.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I hope the SPCA doesn’t take umbrage.”

Sunil Gavaskar: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Sunil Gavaskar is Seamingly Speculative 

What he said:

“Might be a seam bowler coming in.”

Sunil Gavaskar is conversant with the quirky ways of Indian selectors. The former Indian opener was speculating on who would replace Rohit Sharma in the Indian line-up following his finger injury in the first ODI against England at Durham.

What he really meant:

“RP Singh’s no use. Get another seamer in and quick.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“’Oranges for oranges, apples for apples’: That’s our selectors’ motto.”

Andrea Petkovic: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

"If I feel like dancing, I dance. If I don’t feel like it, I don’t. I don’t care what other people say about me, so I guess that’s being me."

German Andrea Petkovic can dance but will or will not prance on court—whether you like it or not.

Petkovic said:

“Well, I just try, you know, to    I’m obviously very emotional, and I just try to live my emotions even if it’s negative.  Sometimes it’s positive.  I am I’m very free minded when it comes to this.”

What she really meant:

“Dancing under the New York stars—that’s my prerogative.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“Just call me twinkle toes. I’ve no left feet.”

Sanjay Dixit: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I did not know whether I was looking at a draft legislation or an operations manual of a sports association.”

Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) secretary, Sanjay Dixit, writes that the draft Sports Development Code framed by the Indian sports ministry attempts to cover all bases (read loopholes).

Dixit added:

“Here we had a compendium which seemed to address every micro detail.”

“I learnt that an argument had been advanced that since certain associations got free land, they were amenable to government control. Taking this logic further, almost every hospital, educational institution, most industries, and many NGOs should also come under government control and RTI. In legal parlance, it is called perverse logic.”

What he really meant:

“It’s about control, more aptly put a tussle for control. The government wants IN, the sports bodies want (the government) OUT.”

“Autocracy is all right—as long as I’m the one ruling the roost.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“It’s an open door policy for sportsmen administrators. Don’t even bother to knock.”

Shashank Manohar: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“It is not as if the BCCI is a closed-door body.”

BCCI President, Shashank Manohar, defends the cricket board’s right to stay independent. The Indian sports ministry is seeking to classify the richest sports body in the world as a national federation under the proposed National Sports (Development) Bill 2011. It is believed that the move would make the BCCI accountable under the Right To Information (RTI) act—a view contested by the BCCI.

Manohar reacted claiming that the BCCI “being a non-governmental organization, which has its own constitution and generates its own funds” does not fall under any of the applicable categories.

“In fact, there are two orders passed by the country’s Chief Information Commissioner wherein it has been clearly stated that the RTI Act doesn’t apply to the BCCI."

The Board President contended:

“All said and done, cricket is the best administered sport in the country.”

What he really meant:

“How can we have a closed door policy? There is no door. Lalit Modi’s generous tweets and disclosures (from UK) battered it down.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“The BCCI is sanctioning the building of a fresh office—all glass.”

Shivraj Singh Chouhan: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"In my view, Sachin Tendulkar should not play in IPL if his name is being considered for Bharat Ratna."

Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister (CM), Shivraj Singh Chouhan, believes that Sachin Tendulkar should “deservedly” receive the Bharat Ratna if the rules are changed to accommodate sportspersons.

This remark was made following demands from the hockey fraternity that if a sportsman is to receive the award, first-in-line should be Olympian legend, Major Dhyanchand.

The MP CM added:

“When players like Sachin Tendulkar are sold and bought, it really hurts. A player plays for the country and not for companies.”

What he really meant:

“The Bharat Ratna is the foremost honour the country can bestow upon its citizens. It should not be trivialised. It cannot be auctioned nor is it for sale.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“More free publicity for my party and me. Thank you, Sachin. Thank you, Dhyanchand.”