20 July,2009 08:16 AM IST | | A Correspondent
Two polls conducted by MiD DAY on the Kambli-Sach ka saamna controversy reveal thatu00a0most feelu00a0theu00a0mavericku00a0cricketer should not be taken seriously
It's a moment of truth for Vinod Kambli today as Sach ka Saamna, the game show which has attracted the attention of cricket lovers for the last five days, will be aired on Star Plus at 10.30 pm.
Kambli has vehemently denied saying anything against his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar despite clips of the show indicating that he replied in the affirmative to a question on whether he would have been better off had the master batsman helped him. Whether Kambli is being miserly with the truth or is he framed by some smart editing to turn up the spice, one doesn't know as yet. But the former player (incidentally, he hates to be called that) has certainly become the talk of the town among believers and non-believers of his revelations.
MiD DAY conducted a survey among Indian Test and first-class cricketers, many of whom have played alongside Kambli.
A high percentage of them (84.21) believe that Kambli may have said things about Tendulkar but he should not be taken seriously considering his love for playing to the gallery. Also, there are gimmicks associated with game shows the world over. Not one cricketer said that Kambli has not said anything against Tendulkar, something which the left-handed batsman has stressed throughout the controversy. And 15.79 per cent feel he has indeed spoken against his friend.
According to the www.mid-day.com poll results, 53 per cent felt he had said uncomplimentary things about Tendulkar and 31 per cent did not believe he said anything while 16 per cent reckoned Kambli should not be taken seriously.
The controversy surrounding Kambli has attracted a lot of comments from cricket lovers on www.mid-day.com. We reproduce some of them (some comments needed editing to sound proper):
' It's a complete fake show in the name of truth. Nobody is telling the truth. Don't waste your valuable time.
' All questions and answers are already fixed by the show's host. The contestant is only acting.' lKambli's inflated average is due to heaps of runs he scored against sub-standard bowling attacks like Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka teams of old and a hapless England team on dead Indian pitches. Once his weakness against the short ball was found out, he was lost.
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' A few minutes of fame at the cost of disrespecting your dearest friend? I would say it is really so pathetic that Mr Kambli chose this way to get himself into the limelight.
' These are all gimmicks for people to watch the Kambli show otherwise who will watch a Kambli interview? In western countries, a girl marries a celebrity for one night to gain publicity and into the limelight. Here, Rakhi Sawant slaps her boyfriend on camera, and to get cheap publicity, she does anything. And our media
covers her idiotic antics.
' I feel sorry for Vinod Kambli after reading his statistics. He averages more than Hemang Badani, Wasim Jaffer, S Ramesh, Amay Khurasiya, Akash Chopra. etc who were given so many chances to play for India. Do those selectors have any answers? Why was he dropped?
' He deserved a lot of opportunities and maybe he might have been a legend among the current players.
' I'm with you Kambli after reading your stats. You did talk with your bat.
' Now Kambli should be asked after Sach ka Saamna: How he would do Sach-in ka Saamna.
' How can you (Kambli) carry so much negative energy in your heart?
' Clear publicity stunt. Only fools will fall for this!
' Kambli cried during the 1996 World Cup. I was just 13 at that time but I remember the ball-by- ball update of that match. Winning and losing is a part of sports but the spirit in which you play matters the most. In 1996, Kambli faced 25 deliveries for his 10 runs.u00a0 India had already lost eight wickets and the slow-scoring of this player got the crowd angry.
' Blaming others for one's failure is nothing new. Sachin has worked his tail out since the age of 16. If Kambli had worked even half as hard, given his immense potential and talent, India would have had two great players. It is his loss and India's loss of not having his ability and talent.
' Today people are being blaming Sachin. Mr Kambli, you got many comeback chances in your short career. But you ruined your own future.
' In the beginning, people used to say Kambli is more talented than Sachin. That was true. But Sachin channelised his talent with determination, self-discipline and hunger for runs. If Kambli had this quality, he would have been a greater batsman than Sachin.
'Kambli's place was taken by Sourav Ganguly and he ended up a successful batsman and
captain.
'I feel pity for Kambli, but he should blame himself.
While Sachin used to practice on the field, Kambli would frequent the glamour world. And it was ridiculous to read Kambli bringing up the caste factor. India always respected Kambli for his talent and I never knew of his caste until yesterday. Cricket in India has become a politicians' game. I say give other sports a chance. Wake up sport ministry, we want change!
