It is rather sad to see that like Politicians, the Cricketers especially the Indian Cricket “stars” make such a humbug over their retirement. There is a bunch of “cricketing experts” who make it such a big issue. Competitive Cricket like any other sport ought to be hinged with the youth. Sports is something which we can excel only if we are fully fit in the mind and body. For all the others it is just a leisure and ways to keep fit. The latest has been the Laxman grouse. His so called retirement was in fact a pre-emptive move and it was proved when he made such a big weather of it by “not” inviting the Captain to his home for dinner. Not that Dhoni had to go without food for want of this Invitation, but I really do applaud his strength of character as a Captain to have the spunk to call a spade a spade. Yes VVS was Very Special, but then he was past his prime, and we cannot always be living in the past as we seem to be doing so often. Whenever someone who has laboured for 15 or more years has to quit the “pundits” et all start wondering as to who would replace the vaccuum. Reflecting back, they too did come in for someone who gave way…the old hand changeth giving way to the new…or somewhat similar the idiom goes. Things will keep moving on, is that not proved by the fact that we had “great” cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar. Vishwanath, Kapil Dev but we did not achieve the status in World Cricket that we have achieved today. We need to bury sentimentality and allow “professionalism” to be the basis of bilding the Team. Now that Hockey is a “lost” sport it would be in the Interest of the Country to have at least one Sporting event in which we excel in. In fact if we need to regain the World Cup then it would be better if we replace most of the players who would have crossed over into the 30’s club.