Cricket is so utterly irrelevant now.
When Lendl Simmons carried West Indies to a nail-biting seven-wicket win in the last over against India in the second semi-final of the World Twenty20, a few hours prior to that, an under-construction flyover collapsed on to vehicles and street vendors below in North Kolkata, killing at least 25 people with more than 100 injured.
I sat in front of the TV and social media for the past 24 hours watching the rescue operations unfold. I have felt a sense of rage. My family and I are safe at home, my friends were not there at the accident site.
But I am numb. Not with fear, but something far deeper.
These are sad times we live in, where we take everything for granted. The most basic of rights. The freedom to walk the streets with no fear.
Life is much larger than cricket
I am a die-hard cricket enthusiast but yes, cricket can wait. We have bigger issues now. We have to understand it is a game after all.
The death toll is likely to increase as scores of people are still trapped under the collapsed bridge. The flyover is a Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority project that was nearing completion after seven years.
The Indian Army worked through the night along with other rescue teams trapped under the debris. While the contractor blamed God for the mess, the political blame game started soon after.
CM Mamata Banerjee announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for families of the deceased, Rs 2 lakh each for the critically injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those with minor injuries.
Knocked out: Blessing in disguise?
What if India had played England at the Eden Gardens on Sunday and healed the wounds to a certain extent?
I am not sure if the final of ICC T20 World Cup 2016 could have brought solace to the victims. It is perhaps a blessing in disguise that India lost against the West indies at the Wankhede last night.
It would not have been fair if India lifted the T20 World Cup in the 'City of Joy' amidst the grief prevailing here. For most people in Kolkata, the death of helpless people is valued more than World Cup final.
I agree people here love the sport and it is the passion that keeps the sport alive. But, I wonder what Kolkata have done to deserve so much heartbreak.
Let's hope for a quick recovery
Cricket can uplift everyone in this nation. It has always responded by carrying on.
Maybe fate had this in store. The hitters of West Indies were way more fierce than ours.
Whatever the case is, let’s wish luck for the England and West Indies cricket team. But, three cheers for the Indian team.
I hope they won it here. But then they already have.
It has been an unfortunate day and though these eleven players could not be of assistance, the Indian cricket team has certainly sent a positive message from their hearts.
My heart and feelings go out to those who have to endure the loss of their near and dear ones. If anything, the last two days have made me realise is the depth of the spirit of Kolkata.
So why not dedicate this World T20 performance to the families of the victims killed and injured?
Let's hope for a quick recovery. Our thoughts are with them at this pretty difficult time.
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