Bussiness as usual!

Two Nations, two neighbours, two beligerent enimies, with one thing in commong. Love for cricket. Its not hard to guess, which two nations are we talking about.

Despite, the passion of over a billion people, both the nations find themselves out of the world cup. But why is it, that the reactions of the people involved in defeats are totally different. While the crisis in Pakistan cricket can best titled as "All in a days loss!", the reactions Indian cricket team can ony be title as "Bussiness as usual!"

In just one loss, Pakistan lost its renowned foriegn coach, one of greatest players in ODI cricket and thier captain resigned. In a short matter of 8 hours, a team which was favoirite in its group, and capable of defeating any team in world on its day was out of the world cup. Even though, it would be hardly a consolation Pakistan defeat in second ODI was a shocking one, and an unexpected. Pakistan did not know what hit them in the second ODI.

While look at India. India was shocked in the first ODI itself. India very well knew, what it had do to qualify. Yet it lost the crunch match, to the same team, who they bashed 3-1 and 6-1 in the last two series. And at end of the day, it was still business as usual.

Take reaction of "The Wall" to any loss. It starts with we were 20-30 run short, and ends up with the congratulation to the opposition team. No emotion, no passion, no hint of an intent to bounce back. Only a pale blue face (none of the blue billion fame!!!) reflecting disappointment, depression and submission to the fate. After all, its a just a game. Only a game where around billion of crazy fans, spend 8 hours sitting in front of TV, hoping that India wins. Only a game that brings billions of dollars to these players via advertising contracts. I guess, if Indian players were playing on the field, like they play larger than life roles in ads, the billion fans would not even one day of disappointment and frustation.

Was Dravids reaction any different this time around. Not any different. What about the big-3? One of them expressed a desire to play 2011 World Cup, even if he had to be carried on stretcher! While the other 2 shamlessly retain their place in the side. And for the coach, the self obsessed, cynical architect of Indias exit of the world cup, its just part of the process.

Yaa process it is. May be process, by which the billion people come back to thier senses, and stop wasting thier precious 8 hours in front of TV, and start investing in in something more productive (dont take literally, otherwise billion might become trillion)!