Watching the IPL ‘auction’ one starts wondering if all changes in this world are for the better. Disturbingly, it would appear that the latest trend in professional Cricket namely the IPL marks the end of the Cricketing spirit in Cricket. Gone were the days when an outstanding Cricketer was a Police Officer, a Railway Official or an employee of a company by profession. It was never the main source of livelihood for a sportsman. That is the true spirit of sportsmanship. Any professional can develop his interest and skill in a game and become a sportsman.
But now, Business interests have totally taken up Cricket driving the real charm out of the game. We see the pathetic sight of Cricketers of the world being bought in the Auction as if they are commodities. It is surprising that no one concerned with this sordid business has found this process degrading.
A sporting team usually represents an identifiable group such as a school, a college, a Government Department, a private company, a state or a country. Spectators would relate themselves to the playing team and root for its victory. But now, an IPL team consists of Cricketers bought by shroud businessmen out to make money. One wonders how it is possible for spectators to relate themselves to such a team. We have always seen a natural instinct in every human being to take to playing as an amateur.
In traditional India, when relatives gather for a few days for an occasion in the family, men and women would engage in different forms of games like cards, quizzes, musical chair etc. just for the love of it. A grand father and a grand child may find themselves playing hide and seek. This indicates that ‘playing’ is part of a natural instinct. Turning Cricket into a professional game has made it a serious pursuit which goes against the grain of such an instinct.
One aspect of the recent IPL Auction demonstrates that we have still not fully realized how serious a business Cricket has become. Today Kolkata is outraged their darling Saurav Ganguly has not been bought. The charmingly sentimental Ganguly has not realized crass commercialization has overtaken sentiment in this game. Businessmen who have entered this field have applied clinically correct considerations in buying Cricketers. Apparently Ganguly did not pass ‘their test’ and has been left out. The entire spectacle should leave genuine Cricket lovers rather sad.
- Anusha Gunasekaran
For similar stories;
http://www.moneyweek.com/online-trading/spread-betting/spread-betting-on-cricket-03502
http://www.aaj.tv/2011/02/players-involved-in-cricket-scam-tarnished-countrys-image-iqbal-qasim/
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