March 22, 2004
Jumpers for goalposts
One of the biggest news stories here is the cricket test series between India and Pakistan. It’s part of a tentative rapprochement between the two countries, and the series is tied with one match to go. I was in a restaurant during the week where the last match was being shown on a TV. At one point, Pakistan bowled out an Indian batsman – a deed watched in stony silence in the restaurant except for one man, who gave a half-roar of joy almost despite himself. The whole restaurant stared at him in a not altogether amiable manner, and he quickly hurried out, thereby ensuring that he might live to see the next match.
There is an unholy row over the broadcasting rights. Despite the desire of one billion people to watch each of the matches (and this is a country where people do not slope off from work without having a really good reason), it is a subscription channel that owns the broadcasting rights. And they are not feeling too generous. And despite visits from government officials, and a late night visit by three supreme court judges to the home of the TV channel’s owner, the match is still restricted. Couldn’t happen at home, eh?
Posted by Monasette at March 22, 2004 04:08 AM