'It's A Conspiracy!'

Can't you see the obvious? Do you remember those televised images of the'animated discussions' between Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Greg Chappell?Of course, everybody knows that Ganguly wanted to open the innings, but no bodyknows why. Let me share the secret with you.

It's a conspiracy at the highest levels. The intent was to take SouravGanguly into the team at the cost of the specialised openers who had both scoredassured half-centuries in the only practice match before the Lahore Test, andthen to make it seem as if Sourav was once again chickening out by refusing toopen. Which explains the patently false rumour before the beginning of the Testthat the pitch would favour the Pakistan pacers. The captain was then togallantly offer to open, thus becoming a hero in the eyes of the gulliblepublic, which is what he has gone on to do.

But the dark facts tell a different story altogether. It is reliably learntthat the conspiracy involves the highest echelons of powers that be, includingISI, the sugar lobby in Pakistan, our agricultural minister who's also the BCCIchief, the groundsmen at Lahore and sundry TV channels and journos.

Given the involvement of so many people, the secret leaked and Dada hadbeen tipped off by the Dalmiya camp that the pitch was a graveyard for thebowlers, and a batsman's dream come true, and hence the fight to open theinnings. Highly placed sources tell us that Dada was convinced that he could putup a defiant show and would definitely have at least made a valiant 40 runs hadhe been allowed to open, along with ensuring that at least a couple of partnerswere run out.

It does not just stop there - this vile, vicious, and malicious conspiracyruns deep. Real deep. We all know that the world record for opening partnershipstands in the name of a Bengal stalwart Pankaj Roy (along with one Vinoo Mankad)and it would be apparent to any student of the game that this is an audaciousploy to remove his name from record books.

We, the cricket lovers of Bengal, hereby demand that India should declare itsinnings at 412 for no loss. We should take a leaf from Mark Taylor's book whenhe decided not to break the then highest runs for Australia in an inningsstanding in the name of Sir Don Bradman and had declared the innings. But, to beon the safe side, India should declare the innings only on the condition thatPakistan would enforce the follow on. This time, our beloved Dada, SouravGanguly, should open the innings along with the unscrupulous usurper. All isfair in love and war, and this is war: Dada would not really have any trouble insorting him out with a call for a sharp single or two.

If Pakistan refuses to oblige, the least that Viru and Jai (sorry, Rahul) can do is forone of them to retire at 412 and allow Dada an outing in the middle. This is thebare minimum that ought to be done if the 50 year-old legacy of Pankaj Roy'sworld record is to be preserved and the honour of our only hero, Bengal HridaySamrat, Dada Sourav Ganguly is to be restored. This would also win them theundying gratitude of the Pakistani bowlers who would at least have a fair chanceof not going wicketless.

In view of the above, given the gravity of the situation, we hereby appeal toall to bring all the pressure they can on the BCCI chief toissue necessary directives to the coach, the captain and the vice-captain. Timeis of the essence, and therefore instead of putting this petition onpetition.com, we urge you to circulate it widely to friends and foes alike inthe everlasting memory of Gurudeb Rabindra Nath Tagore and Immortal Hero NetajiSubhas Chandra Bose.

Show that your heart bleeds for Bengal! Act Now!!.Send out this mail toeveryone on your address book immediately!!!

CC:
Shri Somnath Chatterjee, Hon'ble Speaker, Lok Sabha
Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjea, Chief Minister, West Bengal
Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister for Defence, Government of India
Smt Mamta Banerjee, Chief, Trinamul Congress Party
All the Forward Bloc members

Post Script: My attention has been brought to the mischievouspropaganda indulged in by one of our star news channels who apparentlyrequisitioned the services of a lip-reader to show that Dada was actuallygoading Dravid to open the innings. While it is yet another tame and lameattempt to besmirch the fair name of our hero from Bengal on the part of theconcerned channel - haven't we heard enough about how tapes can be doctored fromsay Jaya Jaitley and BJP? - may I please point out the obvious? The lip-readeronly confirms, validates and vindicates my stand. Dada, as I have alreadyrevealed above, had come to know that the pitch was going to be a batsman'sdelight. Which is why, he only showed his benevolence, graciousness, large-heartnessand willingness to let somebody else take credit for his selfless act ofsacrifice. It only shows his spirit of camraderie for the man who till recently was his deputy and proves once again how Dada is willing to put the team's interests above his own. Now, if only the captain had reciprocated his gesture!