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Ricky Ponting must apologise to Mr. Sharad Powar.

Filed under Article Cricket Controversies

I wanted West Indies to win that Champions trophy final. Not because I like Caribbean team more than the fighters from Down Under, but because it's human nature to back the odds against and seek the thrills.

I described that final match while highlighting the ego associated with whoever dominates anything in the World (Lion, Roger Federer and Australian cricket team), and there is nothing wrong with it. You can read that article here, but now when I have watched that video of Australian players pushing/asking Mr. Sharad Powar to take a side on stage during distribution ceremony again, I am sure I need to raise this issue..

First let me describe what actually happened :

-:- First Ricky Ponting flicks his arm and signals Mr. Powar to come and hand over the trophy.
Demien Martyn Pushing Sharad Powar.jpg

-:- Mr. Powar stays his ground and asks Australian captain to come forward and receive it. Ponting comes, shakes hands', takes the trophy and immediately asks Mr. Powar to leave the stage - or at least get a side.

-:- Mr. Powar - a 66 year old veteran, took a while to move and was then (slowly) pushed by Demien Martyn - as you can see in the picture.

Mr. Powar showed his dignity and left the stage and later denied Australian's being rude.

Note :- In that video footage, you can watch Mr. Powar padding Ponting's back in congratulation, while Australian captain paid no attention. That was because that man loves cricket and cricketers. Indian cricket team is very close to Mr. Powar and that is why you have Sachin Tendulkar talking about the issue.

Now know who is Mr. Sharad Pawar :

Food and Agriculture Union Minister from Indian National congress - the ruling party of India. Among the top 10 most powerful person in India and President of Borad for Cricket Control in India (BCCI as you may know it).

Surely Australian captain was not supposed to actually know that man's stature, but isn't it obvious that someone who is handing you over the second biggest cricket trophy in the World - will be someone special himself.

Mr. Powar himself is not complaining :

Let me tell you this man is one of the biggest politician/person of India. Because of his interest in cricket, he has taken on himself the burden of Indian cricket board, and things have started to get better for our cricketers and we Indian cricket lovers.

Mr. Powar knows how to talk or negotiate with such a controversy and says - "media have exaggerated the issue when there was none. Australian team were jubilant of their victory and even when only the captain was called on the stage - whole team came and started celebrating. They were happy. I don't see anything wrong in that".

But as I said, Mr. Powar knows how to talk to people. Even when he is not seeking apology from Australian team, he reminds everyone that Australian cricketers made the first mistake by coming on the stage when only the captain was called for.

A thought from Australian team's perspective :

I have to admit that whenever Australian team come to India, wins a match and attends a prize ceremony - they always have quite a few unwanted designated people on the stage, whom they have to shake hands and talk unwillingly. This has been happening for a number of years and surely Australian team don't like it very much.

But weren't they given media management classes at the beginning of Champions trophy and every single player in Australian team was talking to journalists that evening in Mumbai??

Wasn't manners taught in those classes..??

I admit "Australian team is always in scrutiny for their supremacy" as Dean Jones said but also join Professor Deno to ask Ricky to apologise and commit his fault - as every true winner should.

Update - 10th November.

Ricky Ponting and Demien Martyn made press releases that they have apologised for what happened, but they were not intentional. There was also news that Mr. Sharad Powar not picking up Ponting's call but then, he was entitled to show this much of anger... wasn't he??

End the end, the file is closed.

Its Only Cricket

Ricky Ponting must apologise to Mr. Sharad Powar.

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