Cricket was like Amitabh Bachchan, IPL turned it into Rakhi Sawant

Cricket was like Amitabh Bachchan, IPL turned it into Rakhi Sawant
By Rupang Bhatt
Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat, 22 March, 2010



IPL nights party in Ahmedabad


If cricket was like Amitabh Bachchan, the IPL is like Rakhi Sawant. If the game of cricket was like a cotton saree, the IPL is like a micro mini skirt. Looking at the current state of IPL cricket, it seems the IPL bubble will burst one day. It brings too much cricket and kills the excitement of cricket that we witnessed in past when cricket was gentleman’s game and was played with dignity.

The IPL has brought cheerleaders and midnight party culture in the game of cricket. The parties called IPL nights provide opportunity to young cricketers to mingle with the cheerleaders and fashion models. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has rightly said that he would not allow cheerleader culture of cricket on his land.

IPL organizers believe their event is more important than Indian parliamentary election. We saw this superiority complex in action last year when they took IPL cricket to South Africa.

IPL is perfect example of game turning into a business. It’s a game of rich people. ‘Paisa fenko tamasha dekho.’ There is no spirit of feelings connected to land involved. A player with die heart feeling for Gujarat would play for some team called Chennai Superkings or Rajasthan Royals. How ridiculous it is when just because of money power, some people buy their team and hire their players! When auction results of IPL were announced on Sunday, one of the finest cricket commentators Harsha Bhogle in his TV interview said: “man this is business, don’t ask me about it. Ask me about the game. This is a piece of news fit for business page, not for sports page.”

Perhaps the greatest achievement of IPL is that it provides a good business season to underground operators involved in betting. Earlier underworld could enjoy a lucrative season to operate betting business only once in four years during the cricket world cup. But thanks to IPL, now the underworld gets a season for satta-betting every year. People often point out that IPL cricket franchisees are in loss. But what about those sitting in Dubai or Karachi who are making huge money through betting?

When Ahmedabad’s inclusion in IPL was dam sure, the Lalit Modi brigade suddenly scraped existing bids and declared a new date without sufficient explanation! Then the next date arrived and suddenly Kochi popped up as a surprise winner! Gujarat Cricket Association Vice President Parimal Nathwani has rightly raised this issue of politicizing of the IPL bidding process and injustice to Gujarat, but Parimalbhai has done this bit late. He along with the others from Gujarat could raise their voices when the first bunch of bids was scrapped.

No worry, if the team Ahmedabad couldn’t win IPL bid. It just saved this state, and of course it saved Adani from a bubble called IPL that is likely to burst one day.