It not only highlights the ridiculous rules that limited overs cricket follows, but it also brings to the fore what a joke this cricket competition at the Commonwealth Games has turned out to be.

Add to this facts like Richie Richardson, who hardly played any competitive cricket recently, is back donning pads and swishing his bat, which fails to do his bidding as it did some years back; or that some teams would be hard-pressed to score 100 runs in an entire innings.

It's all a bit silly. The rain, the wickets and some of the teams here make a mockery of cricket. And the irony of it all is that cricket is essentially a Commonwealth game. Little wonder then the disinterest on the face of the India's cricketing superstars. Protestations that theyare enjoying the experience really seem hollow. The body language, the enthusiasm and the general demeanour are a giveaway. Only the Indian coach, K Srikkanth, seems enthused by the whole exercise. ``It will be great if we can win the gold medal, despite not having the entire top team,'' said he, while waiting for the rain to abate on Wednesday.

But one look at our superstars is enough to it clear that they would rather be elsewhere. Like the Sahara Cup, which clashes with the Commonwealth Games, and it is more likely to elicit some interest from them. Second, there must be the obvious worry of whether or not they will be compensated. After all the Indian cricketers unlike their counterparts in South Africa or Australia and elsewhere are not paid by the season. Instead, they are more akin to highly-paid daily-wage workers, who have to bat, bowl, field and wear logos to ensure the cheque at the end of the day.

Accustomed as they are to five-star comfort, they might on the face of things maintain they arehappy staying in the village with the rest of the members of the Indian contingent. But then what other option do they have. If they did move out or say they wanted to stay in conditions that are closer to their life-style, they would ``lynched'' by the public and media. So, they have to grin and bear it.

A fellow scribe, excited at the prospect of seeing cricket make its debut in a multi-discipline, went all the way to the Games Village for some reactions from the cricketers. He returned empty handed. The reason: nobody wanted to talk. The only quote he got was: ``When I say no, it is no.''

On Wednesday when India was playing Antigua, the players were waiting for the rain to stop or the match be declared as ``abandoned'', when one of the senior IOA members mentioned the official opening ceremony. The cricketers like the rest of the contingent were expected to turn up. The prospect of having to go through a ceremony, where they would have turn up in suits, and which might last more than a couple of hoursin hot and humid conditions was enough to raise eyebrows. Plus, there could always be rain. And if there is anything the cricketers hate, it is rain. So the look on the faces of the players seemed to ask: ``Do we have to?''

When S M Bali, the deputy chef de mission, says the cricketers have adjusted to the Village, where they have to live five to an apartment, each of which has two double and one single room, it seems a laugh. These are millionaires accustomed to suites, so living in a Games Village is like, well living in a village. Bali informed the media, that he had even arranged for one TV set for the cricketers. ``They are very happy, they told me themselves,'' he said smilingly.

Poor Bali. Obviously he never played cricket for India, so he even believed them. But do we also have to: that they are having fun, enjoying cricket in the rain and against opposition that would find it difficult to make it to a Ranji B team. Plus, they may not even get paid. Well that's what the Board secretary, JaywantLele told the entire nation.