Oh the rain God! Please don't smile!

So, the World Twenty20 has entered into the Super 8 stage. Eight top class teams will battle on cricket’s newest format’s biggest extravaganza to prove a point. Till now there has not been the kind of spark which a World Cup usually possesses. So far, the spectators have been treated to mediocre performances, except few, and obviously the interference of the rain has been an absolute irritation.

The minnows of the tournament were frustrating. Except Afghanistan none could live up to the expectations of their respective fans and critics. The Zimbabweans were down and dusted, the Irish seemed to have lost their Mojo and Bangladesh still remains the underachiever despite showing a lot of promises.

In the first round the World Cup seem to have caught fire when Gayle, Samuels and Watson were on a murderous mood. The West Indian target was given a gutsy threat by the Australian superman Watson but sadly the rain showed up and poured boredom all over the electric environment – dullness prevailed. The rain made the clash between South Africa and Sri Lanka a total joke. Seven over a side doesn’t make any sense. I wondered whether a cricket match was going on at Hambantota or not.

No matter how many times the ICC is going to defend its logic behind organizing such a major tournament during the monsoon season, in my opinion it should’ve been arranged other than the monsoon season. Yes, we don’t have any control over the weather, but there’s no point in organizing a major tournament in such a month where there are risks of abandonments.

The tournament got a fair bit of momentum when the Pakistanis kicked off their mission. They are just a versatile unit who are born to entertain. There were flashy batting, magical bowling and obviously comic fielding display to make the tournament spicy. Pakistan’s neighbours, India followed their footsteps and dished out an extraordinary performance to pummel England in the most shameful manner. Thankfully, on both the matches, the rain god didn’t smile and also two evenly matched sides do script some good contests.

 

In the Super Eights the teams are all evenly matched and there will be definitely some close shaves to take a permanent place in our memory banks forever. The most exciting and nerve-jangling match would be the clash between India and Pakistan on September 30 and not to forget the battle between the Proteas and Kangaroos. Undoubtedly mouth watering stuff! The Super Eights have all the materials to let this tournament catch fire and burn dullness.

But my optimisms must not get buried by the smile of the Rain God.

The Monsoon rain of blessing, sadly, is the only thing that will keep the dullness intact.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar