Loud Thinking

Archive for March, 2014

“There is nothing more wonderful in life than seeing life as an adventure. We should all try things that we’re afraid of. We should all look very clearly into the unknown and enjoy it. Because when you come in contact with things that you really don’t know, that’s when you’re truly living.”

— Brian Molko

Determination is not giving up.

“You must bring every particle of your energy, unanswerable resolution, your best efforts, your persistent industry to your task or the best will not come out of you. You must back up your ambition by your whole nature, by unbounded enthusiasm and a determination to win which knows no failure. ”

Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924);
author, publisher

Sometimes You Have to Be the “Bad Guy”

The best way for mangers to be successful is to build a top-notch team. But when taking on new positions, they often hesitate to replace poorly performing incumbents. New team leaders don’t want to seem harsh, and they’re weary of offending key stakeholders who may have relationships with individuals on their team. In these situations, remember why you were given the reins – to lead your department to a higher level of performance. Assembling the strongest team as quickly as possible is the way to do that. If you have doubts about employees, test them quickly with an assignment, or do a rapid performance assessment by talking with their subordinates, peers, and partners. If you’re still not convinced that you have the best team, it may be time to make some tough calls.

Adapted by HBR from “If You’ve Just Taken Over a Team, Quickly Let Underperformers Go” by Ron Ashkenas.

Why can’t Pakistan hold the “Street Child Tape Ball Cricket World Cup?” : From the mean streets of Karachi to the Brazil World Cup

If Brazil can hold street child foot ball World Cup, why can’t any Pakistani organisation go a step forward and hold a “Street Child Tape Ball Cricket World Cup?” for which we don’t need any approval from ICC or any other such body.

Believe me, if we can hold this innovative World Cup not only it will be a smashing success but the whole world will come to know about the soft image of Pakistan, as well; and Pakistan will emerge as a world sports power on the map of the Earth.

If we can hold different provincial sports and cultural festivals, by spending billions and billions of Rupees, what is the harm in spending a few billion Rupees, for marketing brand “Pakistan”?

One never knows this tape ball cricket may soon get such a large world following that it becomes an Olympic recognised sport, even before the T20 cricket, for which ICC is struggling for many decades.

Come on Pakistan….together we can do it..!

From the mean streets of Karachi to the Brazil World Cup

KARACHI: Sixteen-year-old Mohammad Salman thought he was destined to live his life on the mean streets of Karachi, addicted to drugs, begging for survival and with no prospects for a better future.

Now he is set to represent Pakistan in the second edition of the Street Child World Cup which starts in Brazil this week.

“In my past life I was like a street urchin, using drugs, running away from school and studies. I was an addict,” said Salman, who left home at age 13 after fighting with his parents.

“We didn’t know what we were doing and what we should do. I was staying away from home.”

This photograph taken on March 17, 2014, shows Pakistani street children taking part in a football training camp in Karachi. -Photo by AFP
Salman’s salvation came after he was spotted by the non-profit Azad Foundation that rehabilitates street children in the sprawling Pakistani metropolis of 18 million.

“They helped develop my interest in football,” he said. “I’m excited to be part of the Street Child World Cup.”

The Amos Trust, a British non-profit organisation, convinced football’s governing body FIFA to initiate the Street Child World Cup in 2010.

The first edition was held in South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup and featured Brazil, South Africa, Nicaragua, Ukraine, India, the Philippines, Tanzania and a team from England.

India won the inaugural event, which proved so successful that it was decided to hold it ahead of every football World Cup.

The second edition will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro from Friday until April 6.

Rocks for goalposts
Owais Ali, another former street child, said football has earned him respect.

“When I was living in the street, no one treated me with respect; I did not know anything as I was illiterate,” said Owais, who like Salman comes from Karachi’s troubled Orangi town, a shanty settlement.

“I was confused once I left home and the city was full of problems for me. Then I found a way through Azad Foundation who supported me and helped me in studies.

“Now I am in the ninth grade. After I started football I found new friends and now people respect me.”The seven-a-side Street Child World Cup, to be held in football’s spiritual heartland, represents a far cry from roadside matches in Karachi with rocks used for goal posts.

Away from the pitch, organisers plan to host celebrity guests, a youth participation conference and exhibits featuring Brazilian artists.

Getting Pakistan a place in the tournament gave the children a tangible goal to work toward, said Iftan Maqbool of the Azad Foundation.

“It has turned out to a worthwhile exercise and now our goal is to earn recognition for Pakistan,” he said. According to the Foundation, Karachi is home to roughly 200,000 street children, many of whom fall into gangs linked to political parties engaged in a bloody battle for control over the city.

Coach Abdul Rasheed admitted the task of motivating children from such troubled backgrounds was sometimes challenging.

“It was tough when we first threw a football at them,” said Rasheed. “They were not consistent in their efforts but we kept our mission and regrouped these kids into a team,” he said.

“We have worked hard on these kids as others before going to Brazil and the aim is to fight for the trophy as well as for recognition.”

ICC must stop giving future tournaments and withdraw Test status if BD don’t allow spectators to support the teams of their choice in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup tournament.

This is a ICC tournament and if BD don’t take their orders back the tournament fee of BD should be forefeited.

World cricket lovers salute the Indian Supreme Court for saving the glorious game from being poisoned to death by the Srinivasan gang.

“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.”

— Pamela Vaull Starr

Nauseating that N. Srinivasan continued as BCCI chief:

Supreme Court

Soumitra Bose | Updated: March 25, 2014 16:44 IST

The Supreme Court has asked N. Srinivasan to step down as BCCI president to ensure a fair probe of the Indian Premier League fixing and betting scandal. Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was a team official of Chennai Super Kings, has been indicted by a Supreme Court appointed inquiry committee of betting and sharing team information. (Top-10 developments in the case)

“In our opinion, Srinivasan has to step down for a fair investigation into the allegation of betting,” said Justice A.K. Patnaik in the course of the hearing the Justice Mukul Mudgal report that went into the allegations of betting and spot fixing in the IPL. “It’s nauseating that N. Srinivasan continued as BCCI chief, he should go if cricket has to be cleaned,” the court said. Meanwhile, Srinivasan has refused to comment on the issue, saying he will “study the court observations”. The case will come up for hearing again on March 27. (Pressure on Srinivasan mounts as three vice presidents ask him to resign)

As senior counsel C.A. Sundaram sought to defend BCCI, Justice Patnaik said: “We will show the papers. You see it and tell us as a counsel about your opinion and not as a paid counsel for Srinivasan.”

At one stage, comparing the two reports – one by an earlier inquiry committee comprising two retired judges of the Madras High Court and the other by Justice Mudgal appointed by the apex court, Justice Patnaik asked: “Can we say that the probe report was managed and if we say so, then what will be the consequences.” The apex court added: “Why is Srinivasan sticking to his chair? If you don’t step down, then we will pass the order.”

The Mudgal committee submitted two reports to the Supreme Court on February 10. The first, signed by retired judge Justice Mudgal and Additional Solicitor General of India L. Nageswara Rao, asked the court to “decide the further course of action” because the probe committee did not have the power to impose punishment. Another supplementary report, signed by Nilay Dutta, a vice-president of Assam Cricket Association and a member of the IPL Governing Council, said: “This should not be misinterpreted to mean that the report suggests that the Hon’ble Court would decide on the punishment or penalty to be imposed.”

The BCCI, which is backing Dutta’s comments, wanted the Supreme Court to let it start fresh disciplinary proceedings against Gurunath and Chennai Super Kings under the IPL franchise rules. The Supreme Court is not willing to do and has instead asked Srinivasan to step down. (BCCI requests top court not to divulge the contents of the envelope)

Last July, a two-member BCCI-appointed panel comprising a pair of retired judges (T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian) had found “no evidence of any wrongdoing” on the part of Gurunath and Rajasthan royals co-owner Raj Kundra. However, the Mudgal panel pointed out that the question of whether or not Gurunath had been involved in match-fixing and spot-fixing “not been investigated thoroughly” by the anti-corruption units of the ICC and the BCCI or the Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department of the Chennai police, “even though some information was available for such an investigation to be conducted.”

Story first published: March 25, 2014 11:09 IST

Srinivasan under pressure as former players ask him to resign

NEW DELHI: Pressure mounted on N Srinivasan to quit as BCCI president with former cricketers and administrators asking him to respect the Supreme Court observation that he should step down for a fair probe into the IPL fixing scandal.

After going through the contents of a report filed in a sealed cover by apex court-appointed probe panel into the scandal on Tuesday, a bench headed by Justice A K Patnaik said there are “very very serious” allegations made in the report and unless the BCCI president steps down, no fair probe can be conducted.

Former cricketers Mohinder Amarnath and Bishen Singh Bedi said that Srinivasan should now step down while former BCCI administrator and Rajasthan Cricket Association president Kishore Rungta also joined the chorus.

Srinivasan also faced heat from within the board as BCCI vice-president Shivlal Yadav said they will follow Supreme Court’s suggestion.

“SC has given the order, nobody can challenge it. We have to accept it. Since the SC has given an order, there is no question of going back on it or giving an opinion on that. It has to be carried out in total and BCCI will have to follow whatever the Apex Court has given,” Yadav said.

Asked if he was willing to do the duty, he said, “Absolutely, I am ready to accept any responsibility given to me.”

Former cricketer Amarnath, a member of 1983 World Cup winning team, said that the “game was bigger than an individual” and Srinivasan should step down in the interest of Indian cricket.

“In the interest of the game, one should step aside and let the enquiry go on. As a lover of the game, he should step down. He should respect the law and he should honour what Supreme Court has suggested. Let’s see how it goes,” Amarnath said.

Bedi took to twitter to express his opinion. “BCCI touches lowest low-thx SC’ nudge ‘Srini must step dn’ & out of all matters crkting!What happens2all his cronies in bcci & icc?!Hail SC!,” he tweeted shortly after the court observation.

In his second tweet, Bedi wrote, “Justice MMudgal arrived on Indn crkt scene most providentially/aptly 2 clean up corrupted culture-any culture gd or bad stems frm top down!!”

Rungta was scathing in his criticism of Srinivasan, whose son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was found guilty of placing bets on his IPL team Chennai Super Kings.

“I am happy that Supreme Court has asked him to resign. This was absolute arrogance that he was continuing as president of the BCCI,” Rungta said.

“The conduct committee (earlier) had said no Board member would indulge directly or indirectly with the game (IPL team). An Exception was made for Srinivasan, which was wrong. I wish Supreme Court had taken a view at that time,” Rungta said.

Srinivasan had stepped aside in June 2013 after Meiyappan’s name had cropped up in the fixing scandal, which had to led to ban on pacer S Sreesanth and his two other Rajasthan Royals colleagues. In his absence, former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya discharged the duties of the president.

However, at the BCCI AGM in September 2013, Srinivasan was re-elected as president.

Supreme Court had appointed a three-member probe panel, led by retired judge Justice Mukul Mudgal to investigate into the fixing saga.

The Apex court-appointed panel had replaced BCCI’s own two-man probe panel, which had exonerated Meiyappan of any wrongdoing and its verdict was challenged in the courts.