Blood on the Cup

Laggard economy, unique geography, chequered history, logistic and security apprehensions – we did not give them any chance when West Indies raised their hand and said they are ready to host the World Cup in the land of the rum and drum.

They finally have silenced the naysayer and put up a splendid show in cricket’s natural cradle, the West Indies and had every reason to hope that they are hosting the best World Cup ever.

But despite all their efforts, minnows’ heart-warming show and sublime individual performance, the 2007 World Cup would be remembered more for what they call killer cricket.

By now, we don’t know whether Woolmer succumbed to high blood pressure/heart attack or was poisoned/strangled to death by match-fixing syndicate. Toxicologist and histologist have been pressed into service and they are operating in tandem to unearth the truth.

However, we of course know that Robert Kerr, the former Irish Cricket Union president, died of heart attack during the World Cup and thank God, his body has been spared the disgrace of a second autopsy.

Earlier, we lost Manjural Islam, along with a cricketer (!) friend, and it was a road accident that claimed the life of the left-arm spinner was who was part of Bangladesh’s list of 30 World Cup probables but could not make the cut.

Weak, sceptic minds tend to relate the deaths and try to find out the thread that links the mishaps. Be whatever, beyond the glitz and glamour, a pall of gloom shrouds the event. We probably had the bloodiest of all World Cup this time.