Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “what happened in Pakistan?”
“Well,” Bindu’s father Percy said, “our cricketers had a narrow escape when their bus was shot at...”
“Yes, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “but who is to blame for that?”
“The terrorists who did it, of course...” Percy retorted.

“That is true,” Bindu said, “but who is to blame for the circumstances that led to the attack?”
“Why do you want to find that out?” Percy wanted to know.
“Why, thaaththa, everybody is blaming everybody else for the attack, aren’t they?” Bindu said.
“Who is blaming whom?” Percy wondered.

“Well,” Bindu said, “India is blaming Pakistan, to begin with...”
“That is their own little battle isn’t it?” Percy asked, “When terrorists attacked Mumbai, once again they blamed Pakistan, didn’t they?”
“Yes, thaaththa,” Bindu pointed out, “but now Pakistan is blaming India for the Lahore attack...”
“And who are we blaming?” Percy inquired.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “our Foreign Minister has said that the involvement of the Tigers cannot be ruled out...”

“Oh, so he wants us to believe that while the Tigers are fighting a do or die battle in Mullaitivu, they are busy planning attacks in Lahore...” Percy observed.
“Or else, he wants to get some mileage in the media when world attention has been focused on Sri Lanka...” Bindu suggested.
“So,” Percy said, “India says Pakistan is to blame, Pakistan says India is to blame and we say the Tigers are to blame...”

“That’s not all, thaaththa...” Bindu declared.
“Why, who else is blaming whom?” Percy asked.
“Why, the opposition is blaming the government for sending our team to Pakistan at a time when other countries had refused to go there...” Bindu said.
“But I thought that was a gesture of goodwill towards Pakistan because they helped us when Australia and the West Indies refused to come to Colombo during that World Cup which we won...” Percy recalled.
“It may be a gesture of goodwill,” Bindu said, “but some say it was an opportunity to make some money for the Cricket Board and we just went ahead with it without assessing the situation properly...”
“Is that why the opposition is blaming the government for this?” Percy wondered.

“At least, they are blaming the Minister of Sports for it...” Bindu said.
“But,” Percy said, “I thought that would be the decision of the Cricket Board...”
“That is part of the problem, thaaththa” Bindu said.
“Why is that?” Percy asked.
“Why, thaaththa, there is no proper Cricket Board now and the minister’s nominee is running it...” Bindu explained.

“And why is that?” Percy demanded. “Why, thaaththa, the minister got rid of Captain Cool because he was talking too much and criticising everyone including the minister...” Bindu recalled.

“So, shouldn’t the minister set up a new Cricket Board now?” Percy asked.
“I suppose he should, but selecting someone to run it will be more difficult than choosing a chief ministerial candidate for the Western provincial council elections...” Bindu said.
“Ah,” Percy said, “speaking of elections, I suppose our Foreign Minister is also becoming like Uncle Ranil now...”

“Why do you say that, thaaththa?” Bindu was puzzled.
“Why, he is saying that we will be sending a cricket team to Pakistan again, if we are invited to do so...” Percy said.

“Yes, he has said so even though the team nearly got massacred,” Bindu said, “but why do you say he is becoming like Uncle Ranil because of that?”

“Why, Bindu,” Percy explained, “Uncle Ranil also wants to contest the Western provincial council elections despite getting massacred at the Central and Wayamba elections...”
Bindu didn’t quite know what to say to that.