Cricket.

Cricket.

Cricket – the game with eleven players each side,

umpires ‘two’ and few reserve players too,

with a referee to control,

playing away their natural talent;

to cheers from fully excited,

unbiased crowd;

only wanting the sport,

to win.

Tender strong hands,

may they be of a child or a youth,

at every given opportune;

they would grab a bat

to hit fours and sixes,

or shine the leather ball

to deliver fire and claim wickets,

and the older men and women,

enjoyed every moment played.

Alas!

The game with a willow, a ball, and six wickets;

once used to be a source of living a disciplined life,

for it’s great players and numerous fans,
until the day; it was slapped black and blue,

with it’s rules and playing area, bended –

to make quick bucks,
was thrown to disgrace by few polished gangsters;

hiding –

a gun, in their hind-pocket to spread fear,

international currencies, in their side-pocket to bribe,

hookers, in their expensive cars for adultery.

Ah!

The thrilling sport went more murkier,

when troupers joined hands,

with bloody hoodlums

and stepped on the podium,

not to give away cups or trophies,
but to hypnotize and drag one and all,

in their beautiful rotting Worlds.

Sigh!

That refreshing gentleman’s game

is not the same anymore,

which it used to be,

few decades ago.