Well....well....well..
This irrelevant battle now is getting more interesting. With the Delhi high court passing its judgment on the matter of companies firing their employees (read players) who join ICL. It is heartening to note that the Judiciary has seen the matter in a different light. For a cricket crazy nation that is united by this single sport, it is invaluable that talent be given opportunity to shine and show itself to the world. This is not happening today. You either need a godfather or lots of money to even get a bench seat in a Ranji Team today.
The format of ICL is not unique, neither is it path breaking. New to India, it may be but is common and a proven successful formula in all competitive sports like Soccer and Hockey. A competitive league will give tremendous opportunity to young stars budding across the horizon. Why did the Indian Hockey Federation not take similar action when the Premier Hockey League (PHL)was formed? BCCI is scared for many reasons. My list of what they could be:
1. Obviously, number one is that their monopoly on this Game of cricket in India will go. With it will go the Sponsorship and other lucrative contracts.
2. The wayward and high-handed ways of BCCI will be out in the open. With players now having an option, will open up and come forward and share information on anything wrong.
3. The corruption and sycophancy will have to go. No more boxes or cartons of "sweets" will be delivered.
It is high time that the Parliament steps in and forms a central regulatory authority for promotion of Cricket in India. This body will also be empowered to select and form the "National Team" and not "BCCI's Team" as submitted by them to the honourable Supreme Court of India recently. BCCI can either choose to become a part of this body and share its expertise with the Central body or it can choose to compete with ICL and any other league that comes in the future for good quality players and viewer's eyeballs.
I am glad that players of the stature of Lara, Inzamam and Klusener have joined the ICL and am looking forward to seeing them in action.
Let the fireworks begin....
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
The cricketers will benefit. But Cricket will not be the way we know it today. There will be less of sport and more of entertainment. The 'oh-so-british' sport will rapidly slide down the american way (its already begun). In anycase, I have already lost interest in the sport...so dont really care.
Post a Comment