Indian Team’s Line-up
Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman, Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra
While west indies had Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Samuels and Chandrapaul
And despite of that
In the 2001 coco cola cup
A Zimbabwe team that did not have Andy flower & heath Streak
They still were the favorites to win
And so started the weirdest tournament in the history of cricket
With India losing a test match to Zimbabwe for the first time in their history
Along with 6 consecutive finals loss, captain Sourav Ganguly’s lack of form and the sudden implementation of rotation policy had put the entire team into upheaval
While west indies had failed to win a single ODI series in the past 2 years
Then having 3 captains - Brian Lara, Jimmy Adams and Carl Hooper in the past one year
And the team manager and board president going to war
While Zimbabwe had Andy flower out injured, heath streak resign from captaincy and his vice captain follow suit
So all 3 teams were going through a major crisis
Along with there respective boards
The condition sure to be exasperated in the upcoming tournament
1st match- A man having 0 wickets, 0 runs and 0 catches would become the man of the match
Cameroon Cuffy - the first man in history to receive such a glory just on the basis of his economy
But the second match would be played in a complete damp pitch due to the groundskeeper mistake
Leading to the match being decided at the toss
Leading to Zimbabwe’s loss
The third
Again a damp pitch
Again the toss being the boss
And again, Zimbabwe’s loss
& so the tournament favorites would be knocked out of the tournament
The final match of the group stage still being embroiled in controversy getting the west Indian wicket keeper suspended by the match referee.
That is an entangled web of umpires, third umpires and rules of protocol.
And finally the tournament ending on the most unexpected of results
With the underdogs - who had lost to a Zimbabwe county team
Missing Lara and Cuffy due to injury
Taking on the mighty Indians
And defeating them in the finals
17 дек 2022
