Indian Premier League 2009 / News
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Indian Premier League 2009
Shah Rukh Khan lashes back at Gavaskar
Cricinfo staff
April 5, 2009
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Kolkata Knight Riders
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Shah Rukh Khan, owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, has hit back at Sunil Gavaskar over his comments about franchise coach John Buchanan, and asked Gavaskar to stay away from issues concerning his IPL team.
In his column for the Hindustan Times, Gavaskar termed Buchanan a "failed former cricketer making a living telling international players to do what he couldn't do". It has not gone down well with the IPL franchise, which last week tried to put a lid on the controversy generated by Buchanan's theory of multiple captains by releasing a statement that during a game the team would resort to a group of "strategists" who would report to one on-field captain while making decisions.
Khan has come to Buchanan's defence, saying there was a marked difference in the time Gavaskar played and now. "I respect Mr Gavaskar - his knowledge about cricket is a billion times better than me," Khan told reporters in Mumbai. "But this is an era where Mr Gavaskar has not indulged in; nevertheless his knowledge about the game does allow him to make comments.
"This is a new format that's being tried out. Please give it some breathing space. I am the owner of the team, I bought it. If he wants to implement something, let him buy a team."
Gavaskar was scathing of Buchanan in his column, saying the former Australian coach had a way with words in India, a country Gavaskar said had few people capable of defusing opinion makers. "To comment on his multiple skipper theory is to give it the importance it doesn't deserve but what does require comment is how he has got his Queensland pals lucrative jobs with KKR," wrote Gavaskar. "They have a very big support staff which includes his son and most of them are from Queensland. The owners - poor souls - have little idea that they are being milked."
Gavaskar also said the Indian media granted unwarranted importance to Buchanan. "In India, where the media lives by the sound bite, Buchanan is a regular," he wrote. "If the Indian media had not made him out to be a 'super coach', he would have been just another failed former cricketer making a living telling international players to do what he couldn't at the first-class level."
Buchanan's radical theory had stirred a controversy on the eve of the team's departure to South Africa, forcing a nearly four-hour long meeting between Buchanan, Sourav Ganguly, Khan and Jai Mehta, who owns a stake in the team, in Mumbai. A subsequent statement released by Kolkata stressed that there would be only one captain, who would be fed with suggestions from this core group of strategists.
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I totally agree with itsankush. Its a very simple case of commercialisation flexing its muscle over pure talent and genius of cricket. I think the Indian public and every Serious cricket follower should come out in open and protest on this childish remarks made by a film star who dances arround trees and uses doubles for doing his stunts. Give a break shahrukh. You are too miniscule and trivial in the world of cricket. A school team cricketer probably has more knowledge on cricket than this joker calling himself the owner of a team. What is world comming to. Now people with amateur skills will teach Skilled Professionals what to comment on their field of activity.
Posted by Kal77 on (April 07 2009, 14:24 PM GMT)Mr Khan was right in defending his team and management, however Mr Gavasker has analyzed (as he should) Mr Khan's team and being a true and hardcore citizen of his country defending the resources utilized/wasted on overseas imports. Being from Melbourne Australia I can tell you Mr Gavasker's analysis is spot on and very high level, it is a generalized perception over here that Indian's are not natural leader and lack leadership skill as a result have this dependence (if you can call it) on imports to fill this gap. Unfortunately you have been doing this for way too long and have yet to skill local leaders. Above is the core issue and have strong reasons to believe Mr Gavasker is trying to address it. Cheers - Khaleel
Posted by HOTCHA on (April 07 2009, 13:56 PM GMT)Buchanan, Khan, Gavaskar? Who cares who said what! IPL in South Africa might be played to empty stands. Enjoy it, if you can.
Posted by Kafir on (April 07 2009, 13:33 PM GMT)Why is Cricinfo using Times-of-India-like cheap journalism to attract readers? I did not see anything wrong with SRK's response... He didn't sound upset... he was polite... remember he has spent millions on his team. Likewise SMG is ok with his opinion. Team India captain MSD allows Zak to lead bowlers on field....
Posted by Sola on (April 07 2009, 12:15 PM GMT)SRK's comments that there is a marked difference between the game what SMG had played and what it is now can well be substantiated by SMG's self oriented innings of 36 not out off 174 balls in the Prudential World Cup-1975. He can ideally refrain from unwarranted comments.
Posted by SMAK666 on (April 07 2009, 12:13 PM GMT)Dear Mr. Gavaskar, or shall I address him as Sir Gavaskar? Can U tell me who bought the maximum changes in the game called Cricket? Aussie's I assume!! The ODI format, The Colored cloths, The white Ball, The Day-Night games etc.. Yeah right, Y is Sir Gavaskar not appointed as a coach for any of the IPL franchise?? Busy may be or no one interested.. Remember friends, anything new is always opposed first but later mostly its enjoyed, take 20/20 for an example. On Mr. Buchanan, it's a risk, if his idea works he has no need to explain anyone but if it doesn't than he will not be there to explain. Go ahead SRK, U own the team and has a right to run it as U like.
Posted by vedanthy2 on (April 07 2009, 11:51 AM GMT)Mr. SMG has a specific bias for Aussies.He must not mention "failed cricketer"while referring to John Buchanan.Let him think how successful the coaches were who trained him and Tendulkar.Was Dave Whatmore a Successful cricketer?Never sit in Judgement of your teacher.He sees what you cannot and will not.That is the talent that is reqd. in a coach.Another remark" milking the owners "is very churlish and immature.The owners know their onions and have given the space the Mentor mr. Buchanan needs.Under Mr Buchanan Aussies swept everything in front of them.Shane Warne criticised him endless but had to bow and train the way Mr. Buchanan wanted.SMG pl. note to learn one must have an open mind and believe the teacher is there as one becuse he has been identified as one who can teach.pl. read Goldsmith s Village Preacher and Village School master,you will understand. Pl. follow gentlemanly methods and no diatribes when you express your opinion.You know that better than any of us common men
Posted by sac2009 on (April 07 2009, 05:33 AM GMT)This is a Private tournament, the owners spending big $$ from their pocket and trying prove them self, Its irrelavent that how many runs Sir Gavaskar scored what experiance he have, owners are the only desition makers for what and how they need to arrange the team within the limitation of general rules of this tournament.
Posted by sriram105 on (April 07 2009, 05:20 AM GMT)SMG is way too acidic. Why must he choose to be so hurtful? His points can be better made. To me, it appears SRK, has requested for 'some breathing space'. Nowhere, it appears to me as though he has 'lashed out' at SMG.
Posted by hcareem on (April 07 2009, 05:13 AM GMT)Its obvious that Gavaskar is a master in cricket but the curren days cricket is something fantastic in diffrent versions from its old. so trying new thinks is needed to keep the game alive. so we welcome new positive approaches rather than talking over the past. we never forgottn Gavaskar and SRK.