In the carnival of cricket mishaps that was Silchar DSA’s Super Division Prize Money League-Cum Knockout Tournament 2024, when I took my metaphorical cricketing scalpel and dissected the initial proceedings in my last article, I harbored more hope than a seagull eyeing a beach picnic. A hopeful prophet, envisioning the rise of cricket standards as the tournament unfolded, I expected a metamorphosis from the clumsy caterpillar to the majestic butterfly of sporting excellence. But alas, dear readers, what unfolded was more like a cricketing soap opera with a script penned by chaos itself.
Ah, Silchar DSA’s Super Division Prize Money League-Cum Knockout Tournament 2024 – the cricket extravaganza we all hoped would rise like a phoenix from the ashes of mediocrity. Alas, what we got instead was a spectacle so lackluster that even the town’s pigeons might have yawned in boredom.
Let’s talk highlights, or rather, the lack thereof. India Club’s resilience and Nihar Paul’s bowling beauty, Shambu Roy’s raw but allround efforts, stand out like diamonds in a sea of pebbles. But, truth be told, that’s like praising a lone firefly in the dark; it’s charming but hardly illuminating. And as for the semi-finals, well, they were meant to be the turning point, but instead, they took a detour into the abyss of dismal performances.
First up, Town Club – a team that seems to have mistaken the cricket pitch for a runway to nowhere. Chasing 166 against the India Club, they got bundled out for 27! That’s supposed to be a derby match wrapped in history of interclub rivalries and match-ups. If cricket had a ‘facepalm’ emoji, this would be the moment to use it. And Itkhola AC? They managed to set a new low, collapsing for a measly 42, with United Club chasing the target with 10 wickets to spare. It’s almost as if the batsmen were auditioning for a horror movie – disappearing faster than a cricketer’s commitment to practice.
Talking about commitment, or the lack thereof, let’s address the elephant in the dressing room – players’ loyalty. Gone are the days when Niranjan Das played on and on for Bijoyi Sangha, or Alok Sarkar went crazy for Town Club. Now, it’s all about players casually planning their club-hopping escapades between overs. “Let’s log in for this club and that club next year,” they say, as if choosing cricket clubs were as easy as ordering from a menu.
Also Read: Silchar Cricket’s False Dawn: Super Division Opens To A Disheartening Prelude
But the real stumper comes when we talk about practice, or rather, the absence of it. The Super Division is supposed to be cream-of-the-crop cricket, like the Times Shield in Mumbai or the Invitation Shield in Pune or the GSA Champions Trophy of Guwahati. Players are on contracts for the season – some even sign up for multiple seasons. Yet, the onus is on the clubs to drag these professionals to practice sessions. On, but do we even have practice pitches?
Picture this! In last year’s Barak Premier League, Barak Bulletin Strikers had played four players from Mohunbagan AC, which is a CAB Super Division Club. Now all these players had a clause from Mohunbagan: miss a practice, face a pay cut, and potentially get blacklisted. The management of Barak Bulletin Strikers had to book flights between from Silchar to Kolkata and back like a travel agency for these players after every BPL tie. That’s professionalism, right? Or perhaps desperation.
And then there’s the sorry state of fielding, batting, and bowling – a trifecta of disappointment that leaves us wondering if organizing a Super Division is like hosting a party where no one bothers to dance.
Let’s not forget the cherry on this cricketing cake – the Super Division is the selection tournament for the Senior District Cricket Team. When selectors in Guwahati flip through the Cricheroes summary, what impression will they be left with? A town where commitment is as rare as a straight ball in T20 cricket, perhaps?
In conclusion, Silchar DSA’s Super Division 2024 has been more of a comedy of errors than a cricketing carnival. It’s high time the powers that be take a good hard look at the state of affairs, or else the only thing rising will be the collective disappointment of cricket fans in Silchar.
All the best to United Club and India Club, hope the Final match will be bout worth reporting!!!
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