cricket

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.”

Freddie Flintoff: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Freddie Flintoff Has Baggy Issues

What he said:

“I don’t accessorise and I don’t have a man bag.”

Freddie Flintoff claims that he’s not one to go down the metrosexual route, unlike some of his teammates. The former England allrounder was at the fashion shoot of Jacamo. Flintoff is its new face.

Flintoff added:

Rachael bought me a "weekender" bag last year, but it’s the worst present I’ve ever had. Expensive, but wasted on me. I just use a sports bag.

Freddie on his teammates:

It got a bit daft.After a day’s play the hair straighteners, moisturisers and grooming kits were coming out… I’m ’aving none of that.

What he really meant:

“Nice clothes, that’s all I need.And a sports bag.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Now, if I had a girl like Liz Hurley, I’d reconsider.”

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.”

Paul Nixon: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“I know all the Leicestershire players inside out, but I held Josh Cobb in my arms when he was born, which is scary. Luckily I didn’t drop him.”

Leicestershire wicketkeeper, Paul Nixon—on his retirement—discloses that the hardest catch he ever held was young ‘un, Josh Cobb, when he (Cobb) was a newborn. Nixon quit the game on a high with his side clinching the Friends Life T20 title beating Somerset by 20 runs.

What he really meant:

“I know it’s time to quit the sport when I find (erstwhile) coddling babes toddling alongside me.”

What he definitely didn’t say:

“Now I’m dismissing batsmen off Cobb’s bowling. Oh, how times have changed.”

Darren Lehmann:What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“They’re going to have to play with plans to face all those sorts of bowlers, and really live or die by the sword.”

Former cricketer, Darren Lehmann, has words of advice for the current Australian team on how to tackle the Sri Lankan tweakers on slow home pitches.

Lehmann adds:

“Whatever plan it is, have it, believe it and implement it.”

What he really meant:

“If cricketers are gladiators, then willows are sabres. Wield them like rapiers and scythe through Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Hoist yourselves on your own petards and collapse upon your wickets.”

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.”

Ricky Ponting: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“If you were averaging 35 when I was playing your dad would go and buy you a basketball or a footy and tell you to play that.”

Ricky Ponting illustrates that the standards of Australian cricket have dropped in recent times with an apocryphal anecdote.

What he really meant:

“If you’re not averaging 40+ in Shield cricket, then you might as well pack it in.”

“Hmm, I wonder what I would have aggregated if we were playing T20 then.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Now that explains why Australian rules football is more popular than cricket. ”