Even if you take a cynical view, Andrew Symonds' apology for his behaviour, for which he was sent home in disgrace by Cricket Australia, is credible and dignified. It is unfair to doubt the sincerity of the 'maafi', despite the fact that the volatile Queenslander was stranded between the proverbial rock and hard place after Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi laid down the diktat that there was no place for him in the cash-cow tournament if he turned his back on Cricket Australia.
The 33-year old Symonds may be a boofhead, out of his depth in overnight fame and fortune, but there is no denying the virtuoso all-rounder's was transparent sincerity when apologising to his family, teammates and fans.
"I'm going through the process of trying to improve and become not only a better cricketer but a better person," he said to the media yesterday after emerging from seclusion following his expulsion from the Australian camp in the wake of his "gone fishing" saga in Darwin earlier this month.
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Changed man: Andrew Symonds |
Dropped from the tour of India for lack of commitment to his team, Symonds' demeanour was transparently sincere. He may be naive in many respects, but he is certainly no Oscar winner for emoting.
The virtuoso all-rounder, currently undergoing counselling, said he lived his life "for the moment" and needed to "make some changes".
Symonds was almost sent home on the 2005 Ashes tour of England for turning up for a match against Bangladesh in a drunken state.
He was also involved in a drunken brawl with a fan in South Africa and was fined for missing the team bus for nets during the tour of the West Indies earlier this year.
In a statement which was in keeping with the highest traditions of the game, Symonds said: "I'm in a position of responsibility. I can't live irresponsibly," in his first appearance after being banished for sent home for going fishing and missing a compulsory team meeting.
"I've realised that and it's probably taken me longer than it should have," Symonds said.
He admitted attaining celebrity status in a short time had been hard to handle.
"You get something cast over you which you have no control over. Being recognised is something I deal with well sometimes and other times not so well," said Symonds, adding there were a number of "handbrakes" preventing him from reaching his potential.
"I'm going through the process of trying to improve and not only become a better cricketer but also a better person.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing cricket again for my club, state and country, hopefully" said Symonds who will have to win back his place in the international Australian teams through the ranks all over again."
The word "hopefully" is pertinent in the context of the Indian team in which some players' position is sacrosanct.
All things considered, Andrew Symonds' apology is transparently redolent of contrition. It denotes admirable strength of character on his part.
Many invaluable lessons here for Symonds' alter ego, our own immensely gifted but juvenile, misguided ballistic 'pahelwaan' Harbhajan Singh and his myopic, indulgent mentors in the BCCI.
