INTERNATIONAL cricket cannot afford to have lop-sided encounters in the name of promoting the game. I may sound harsh but this is the reality of today's cricket where teams like Kenya and Bangladesh are faced with incredibly tough tasks.
In the on-going tri-series, I am sure cricket lovers have been disappointed at watching Kenya being lambasted by India and South Africa. Even before the first ball is bowled you know the result of the game and that is not a good development. True Kenya has pulled off a couple of big victories in the past, but to expect it to repeat the acts frequently would not be fair. Kenya simply does not possess the strength to withstand the onslaught from strong teams like South Africa and India when competing in a tri-series.
Now, let it not be assumed that the idea here is to rubbish Kenya or Bangladesh. Being a cricketer, I can well understand the thoughts of players from these teams as they step on to the field to take on the mighty opponents. The aim is obviously to make a name for yourself, but you don't achieve your goals with such thoughts alone. You have to go out in the middle and perform and this sadly is where the Kenyans and the Bangladeshis have been found wanting.
The Kenyans have two quality players in Maurice Odumbe and Steve Tikolo. I had watched them bat earlier and was convinced that they had the calibre to excel in international cricket, but then cricket is a team game and Kenya cannot be expected to tackle its opponents on the basis of just two quality players even though Odumbe and Tikolo can be proud of their individual performances.
To try and take the game to more and more countries is a noble idea, but the International Cricket Council will have to view Kenya and Bangladesh differently when organising tri-series or four-nation tournaments. To place these teams in the company of formidable opponents will hardly serve the purpose of enouraging the smaller nations to take to the game in a big way.
I have regard for the cricketers in Kenya and Bangladesh. They have had to work very hard to gain recognition and their effort to improve has been very honest, but then they have not been getting the right opportunities to achieve their ambitions.
Take this tri-series where Kenya has struggled to put up a fight on the field. The reasons could be many - loss of form and loss of confidence - but then the paying public cannot be expected to understand these problems. They come to the ground expecting a decent contest and unfortunately Kenya has not been able to measure up to the standards of an international team.
Even when Kenya was granted the status to play one-day internationals, there were mild protests. It was widely believed that the team was not yet ready to play in the big league but the ICC was on a course to promote the game. In the process it ended up promoting mediocrity because Kenya's contests have remained one-sided.
I know Kenya upset the West Indies in the 1996 World Cup, in its maiden appearance in the competition and then beat India too in a match at Gwalior, but it has not been able to learn and improve. True, lack of opportunities could have been the prime reason, but then Kenya has also not been able to produce the kind of talent that keeps a team going at the international level.
It must be tough on the Kenyan players as they are subjected to criticism from all quarters. But let me assure them that it is well meaning criticism. The idea is to help Kenya understand that it has a long way to go in international cricket and it would hardly serve the purpose if it is pitted against strong oppositions in a triangular competition.
Look at Bangladesh, which is now a Test nation. It has a better cricket structure than Kenya, far more players to pick the team from, but then its progress has not been on desired lines. The Asian Test Championship did highlight the big difference between Bangladesh and the other Test nations. But Bangladesh sure has the potential to improve because it is a cricket crazy nation and has a few young players who promise a lot. The same cannot be said of Kenya where attracting the locals to cricket has been a challenge for the administrators.
I would love to see Kenya and Bangladesh grow into strong teams because it will be good for the game. But it cannot be achieved by involving them in stiff competitions. Can you imagine the scenario when Bangladesh is required to play a three-Test series against Australia? There are ways for the weaker teams to learn and the first step in this direction could be organising more matches for Kenya and Bangladesh with the 'A' teams of the stronger nations.
The concept of 'A' tours should be revived by all the nations and the weaker teams should be encouraged to play more. The established Test nations have a responsibility towards promoting the game but it need not be in the shape of listless contests. There has been talk of too much cricket and such meaningless competitions will only drive the spectators away.
The Indians too must learn to provide better cricket opportunities for themselves. Playing mediocre cricket will not help India raise quality players and it should be the Board's responsibility to guard against such fixtures which tend to make the players complacent. They can take a lesson from Australia. In the last nine years, the Australians have played just one Test against Zimbabwe and I don't know when they will meet Bangladesh in a Test match or a tri-series.
Give teams like Kenya and Bangladesh opportunities at the highest level but do so sparingly - the idea should be to encourage the players and not demoralise them. As a cricketer I would be happy to see Kenya and Bangladesh grow into competent teams in limited overs cricket.
This piece was written before Kenya shocked India in the Standard Bank Tri-series in South Africa recently.
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