Super Series XI

The ink is still drying and yet the arguments over the selection of the Super Series XI have already begun. Osman Samiuddin, Pakistan editor for Cricinfo, is pretty het up at some of the selections - particularly over the exclusion of Chaminda Vaas. Meanwhile an Indian press agency (in an article picked up by a number of papers) has stated that Pakistan is "in shock" over the exclusion of Inzamam-al-Haq from the squad.

The organisers must be well pleased. The entire selection process, with its slow stripping away of layers upon layers of players, appears to have been carefully orchestrated to maximise interest in the selection of the final teams. Controversey means interest and interest will mean viewers.

I agree that Inzamam was unlucky and that some players have been included more on the entertainment value associated with their names than their actual form (Shoaib Akhtar and the out of form Sachin Tendulkar being the two most obvious), but that doesn't particularly worry me. These matches are all about entertainment and should not confused with anything more serious than that.