Smith
Banned
I am extremely sad at reading the story in this week's Outlook. I had read somewhere that in England, a survey suggested young cricketers were the most prone among sportsmen to depression and suicide. And to hear that is being replicated in India, the glamour house of cricket, shows how murky the waters are on which a few lotuses deceptively catch the whole attention.
Rambabu Pal: A prolific batsman from UP, he couldn't make use of the few chances he got in first-class cricket. Committed suicide at 34 in 2007.
Manish Mishra: Was acutely depressed after he failed to make the Uttar Pradesh Ranji Trophy team, committed suicide at 24 in 2007.
Subhash Dixit: One-time captain of India U-17, his career stalled before the Ranji level. Committed suicide at 22 in 2007.
Jhuma Sarkar: A regular in Bengal Under-19 women's team, failed to progress. Committed suicide at 23 in 2007.
With the glitz that has become commercial cricket, with the promise of wealth and fame beyond imagination in a cricket crazy country, these are also stories which every aspiring cricketer should give attention to. The familial pressure, compounded by the agony of having little alternative source of income, leaves these cricketers really desperate for anything.
Comments please.