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NEW DELHI: Protests against the India’s poor show at the Cricket World Cup cooled yesterday after an 83-run win against Zimbabwe overnignt offered the men in blue a fighting chance to make it to the Super Six.
Police, however, were not taking any chances in Calcutta, skipper Sourav Ganguly’s hometown, where anti-riot troops and security cars continue to ring his home as a precaution, officials said from the eastern city.
“We knew he would make it,” said Prasanta Dev of Ganguly’s Barisha Sports Club after India’s emphatic win against Zimbabwe in Harare on Wednesday.
India’s win also revived the sagging betting industry, and a police spokesman yesterday reported the arrests of four illegal punters in New Delhi who were caught accepting bets on the Harare clash.
In Harare, a pensive Sachin Tendulkar repeated, after being declared man of the match, his appeal to the tens of millions of emotionally-charged fans back home to root for the under-fire squad at the World Cup tournament.
“They should support the team and the team will do its best and fight till the last,” the master-blaster said in Harare, the second such appeal in as many days to cool tempers back home.
Fireworks erupted across India after Ganguly grabbed three wickets in six balls Wednesday to resurrect his team’s World Cup campaign.
The Indians bowled out hosts Zimbabwe for 172 in 44.4 overs after Tendulkar’s 81 had steered them to 255-7 in a match India had to win to stay in contention for a place in the Super Sixes.
The win helped restore calm in India after fans mounted angry protests at the dismal performance in the first two matches when the batsmen failed to last 50 overs against Holland and were shot out for 125 by reigning champions Australia.
“India relieved,” said a headline on the mass-circulation Hindustan Times yesterday. Many national dailies devoted their front page to India’s reviving fortune.
Most advised caution, warning that celebrations should begin only after India beat England or Pakistan to find a berth in the Super Sixes.
“A bit too premature for the bubbly maybe, but by all means let’s pop a can or two of the official soft drink... until the next match rolls around,” the Times of India said.
Police in the southern Indian city of Bangalore decided against lifting the rings of security placed around the homes of vice captain Rahul Dravid and bowlers Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble.
Angry fans attacked batsman Mohammad Kaif’s home on Sunday in the northern town of Allahabad after India’s humiliation by Australia.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was forced to appeal for calm as the national parliament appealed for more security to relatives of the team members.
“I am dismayed at the improper manner in which cricket fans in some places have given vent to their feelings at the performance of our team in the World Cup matches so far,” Vajpayee said in a statement.
“Victory and defeat are all a part of the game. Sportsmanship lies in showing confidence in our team and cheering it to do better,” he added.
“Nothing should be done to put players under pressure,” said cricketer-turned-MP Kirti Azad. – AFP