Ball tampering- the Australian way!

If cricket is a religion in India, then its a way of life down under. This is a country which prides itself in the raw and in-your-face brand of cricket that it plays. A country which sets the bar and stews in its own arrogance for so long, that the bar is now invisible to it. There is nothing gentle, or pristine about the way the Aussies play their cricket. They are brash, they don't mind some verbal abuse, or 'banter' as they apparently call it, and take the occasional sojourn to the dark side. When Australia toured India in 2017, and Steve Smith had his 'brain fade', many people interpreted it as an honest mistake; a momentary lapse in concentration. But it was representative of a much bigger strand of DNA that the Aussie cricketers imbibe. A trait of entitlement, and an air of superiority over the other cricketing nations. But pre-meditated ball tampering is a different animal altogether. This ongoing series between South Africa and Australia was dubbed as the dual of pace. With a literally seducing roster of players on both sides, this might have ended up becoming one of the most competitive test series in recent times. But instead, this series will be canonised for 'sandpapergate'. The distasteful footage of a novice in international cricket, tampering the ball with a pre-determined plan, and then shoving the tool of mischief inside his trousers will haunt every cricket fan alive. But is this the first time a cricket ball has been tampered with? Is this the first time a captain had been in the know-how about such a dubious plot?

Ball tampering is as old as the game itself. While the modern day cameras and ever-vigilant officials have made it a dangerous affair, one would imagine that in the good old days of un-televised sports, it was a regular affair. But that does not make it right. Indeed the sight of reverse swing is glorious. The red cherry darting in late and castling the batsmen is what made legends out of Akram, Waqar and even young Starc. Make no mistake, reverse swing is one of the most febrile aspects of test cricket, and if executed properly, pristine to watch. But does that make ball tampering alright? Surely you can't give A B De Villiers two wickets just because the fans love watching him bat! There are legitimate and proper ways to make the ball reverse. None of them involve sand paper! Even the South Africans managed some reverse swing when they were bowling; so surely it wasn't so unobtainable. The truth is, that the mental state of most of the Aussie players was mixed up. Smith has been churning out hundreds with alarming frequency, yet this series had been a bad harvest. Warner has been in the news, but for all the wrong reasons. The Australian side which had made the English team look like a bunch of schoolboys, was struggling! The odds of going down 2-1 seemed all too real. And tampering the ball, seemed all too easy. To say that Warner was the chief conspirator wouldn't be far fetched. He has had a dismal series, he isn't new to controversies, and his mental state is vulnerable given the vitriol he has received from the African public. To say that Smith was probably unaware of the entire plot, also seems plausible. But would the number one ranked Test batsmen, with half a dozen good years of cricket left in him, take up the blame for a plot he had no clue about? Many players have been caught while tampering the ball, but none of their captains have taken responsibility for their actions. So why would Smith make the ultimate sacrifice? And why would he burst into tears of guilt for a crime he didn't commit? Smith is definitely to blame for the atmosphere that prevailed in that Aussie dressing room. The game of cricket is the true representation of the English culture. It is played in a very punctual and orderly fashion, with neatly pressed whites and tightly combed hair. A sport, where contact between the players is frowned upon (imagine football) and where courtesy and graciousness accompany failure. Cricket truly is a gentleman's game. And this is where Smith failed as a leader. Winning is the ultimate goal, but competing is the true objective. The Aussies got so held up in winning the prize, that they never realised what they were giving up-the unflinching pride of the Kangaroo nation.

Cricket has survived two world wars, many economic depressions, the fall of its maternal empire, and the hegemony of a behemoth called soccer, all due to the unwavering army of fans that the game boasts of. One can describe basketball fans as deeply analytical, soccer fans as die-hard, but there is only one word for a cricket fan- pious. There is a reverential relationship between a cricket fan and the players. Sachin is indeed a god to many, in the sense that he represented the best of India. But when gods are caught cheating, the blow might be too severe to recover from. One thing about India and Australia is that we take our cricket very seriously. We disregard a life-taking drought to water the plush grass at Wankhede. We disregard our exams in the hope of seeing Kohli take apart bowling attacks. And i have seen that very zeal in the eyes of my Aussie counterparts. The passion and vigour, as they furiously wave their hands and spill the fizzy beer that they later down in joy! Aussie fans are a religious lot! So what happens when a guy who holds an office older than that of the country's Prime Minister's owns up to cheating. Pandemonium! From scathing tweets to public protests, the Aussies were up in arms. Even the Prime Minister got involved. At this point, there was very little that Cricket Australia could do. The world was baying for blood. They wanted a high profile casualty, and that happened to be two blokes who accounted for more than 40% of the runs that Australia had made in recent times. The entire world, which now apparently means only social media, is now batting for Steve Smith. While a one year ban does seem a bit harsh, it was also a bit hurried. If Bancroft was given a lesser sentence because he was only doing the seniors' bidding, shouldn't Smith also have been given a reduced sentence, considering even he wasn't the agent provocateur? There is, or was mischief in the Aussie dressing room. Whether it was Warner or Smith, or both of them together who hatched this conspiracy, the pride of the game has been stained. Steven Smith is too good a batsmen to miss out on one whole year of international cricket. And he doesn't need a lawyer to convince Cricket Australia, as the current crop of Aussies playing in his place, are doing it for him. The sentence will be reduced, and Smith will be back, with his awkward stance, and leg-side flair. But will the world see innocence in his idiosyncrasies, or will they see the shadow of a man who once betrayed their trust?

What happened in South Africa is a message to the world. No one is incorruptible; and not a 100 year old wine, but the winners' champagne is the tastiest drink in the world. Sports shall always be marred with questionable choices and regrettable decisions. The yearning to win will again drive many sportsmen to explore the boundaries of 'what is legal' and 'what is illegal if caught'. But in the name of victory, values must never be compromised, ideals must never be forgotten, and the baton which legends have so gracefully carried.....must never be dropped!

The IPL and the drought!

The 9th edition of the IPL has kicked off. The first match of the season almost mirrored the plight of the drought-struck farmers in Maharashtra. The defending champions were easily humbled by a team that was making it's IPL debut. Since 2008, when the league first kicked of, controversies always seemed to follow it. The infamous fixing allegation and the 'conflict of interest' observation were the ones that were actually uncovered. Just as the die-hard Indian cricket fans were longingly hoping for the IPL to subdue their hurt egos from the World T20 exit, the High court of Maharashtra made a scathing observation. The paradox was quite visible, but maybe people just chose to ignore it! At a time when the farmers are committing suicide, a billion dollar entertainment league does seem a bit reckless. The cost of the IPL has always been an ambiguity. The auction, the advertisements, the cheerleaders, the fan army, everything seems alluring, but the expenses have always remained a mystery. A few things however are within our realm of understanding. Having followed the IPL since it's inception, one of the greatest things about the competition is the lush green outfields which are often as quick as an oiled marble. The question however is, how the outfield remains lush at the Wankhede and  Pune, while the fields of Maharashtra stand dry and worn out. The answer lies in the gallons of water that BCCI has been using to keep the outfield green and lush. What appears to us as green and appealing, is actually at the cost of thousands of farmers in Central India. The basic question here is rather simple. What is more important? The IPL, or the grieving farmers? Democracy mandates the welfare of citizens encompassing the nation, and despite the fact that cricket is nothing short of a religion in India; people trump cricket at any given point. The fact that IPL, as a brand is slavishly dependent on the Indian public validates the High court observation. The drought and the subsequent shortage of viable water must be given primary importance, over and above the IPL on any given day.

This would have been a non-issue in most democratic countries, but Indians have always been sensitive when it comes to cricket. The IPL has indeed been a great success. The discovery of new talent, the galore of sixes and wickets, the theme songs and cheerleaders...the IPL is probably the sole reason for the new global affection for the shortest version. Indeed, the IPL is something the country is proud of. But the question today is not about the IPL, or it's import, the question is the glaring dichotomy between the fields of Latur and the outfield of Wankhede! The IPL in 2009 was shifted to South Africa as India was undergoing it's General Elections. There was no backlash from the players, no retaliation from the BCCI, but a simple acceptance of the fact that something bigger than the cricket league was confronting the country- the Elections. Today, in 2016 the state of Maharashtra has been confronted by an issue much larger than cricket- Water! The BCCI, and it's coterie of stakeholders have seemed to fans like me, perennial office-bearers. Since the time I can recollect of this great game, the likes of Srinivasan and Dalmiya have been the so-called torch bearers of the game. The power wielded by the cricket board is not derived from the staunch fans that the game boasts of, but the shrewd political muscle and acumen of the BCCI leadership. Indeed the BCCI office-bearers are legally bound to serve the game in it's true spirit, but at what cost...what can be an acceptable collateral? Surely the bar has to be set higher than human necessities. The BCCI did make a convincing stance regarding the issue. It's secretary, Anurag Thakur asked the courts as to how many 5-star hotels were asked to drain their expansive swimming pools. A compelling argument one must say! But by comparing the IPL to few 5-star hotels in Mumbai, the secretary has completely lost track of the success of the IPL! The reach and public visibility of the IPL worked against it in this instance. But the fact remains that the BCCI missed a trick! At a time when the benevolence, and the integrity of the board is under deep-seated public and judicial scrutiny, it would have been a great accolade if the BCCI accepted the court's observation without crying foul! It would have rejuvenated the people's faith in the game and the board, and earned them praise from all quarters. But by continuously resisting the public sentiment, the board has lost the little faith it possessed among the avid lovers of the game. The demand is not really threatening to the IPL at all. Maharashtra has two IPL teams, Mumbai Indians and Pune Supergiants, and both of them have home grounds within the state. The court opined that the scheduled matches in both the venues be shifted out of the state so as to conserve the water which would be otherwise used for maintaining the outfield and the pitch. The court never said that the shifting of the matches would solve the ongoing crisis, but the matter of principle and social responsibility do come to the fore. India has around 45 international cricket stadiums of which around 7 are situated in Maharashtra. That leaves around 30 international stadiums for the 2 teams to choose from as their home ground! And to think that this actually became an issue! Despite the availability of grounds and the public outcry, the BCCI refused to yield for many weeks.

The issue had become a rallying point across the country, fans just wanted to see some action. It did not matter whether they played in Maharashtra or some other state....on a realistic note, most fans wouldn't be bothered if the IPL was once again shifted to South Africa as long as they could watch it from the confines of their living room. And despite Dhoni's convincing arguments, the game looks the same in TVs of all sizes and set-top boxes of all configurations! The stubbornness of the BCCI was further fueled when the Indian skipper waded into the controversy. MS Dhoni claimed that shifting the IPL venues was not the solution, but the catch is that, it was never a solution. The court observation did not claim that the shifting of venues would by any scale solve the crisis, it merely questioned the social responsibility of the BCCI. The issue in it's most simple terms can be defined as follows- what is the primary use of water? Drinking, or watering outfields? By joining the controversy, the skipper has clearly betrayed the millions of fans who chant his name when he wields the willow! Why is the BCCI against the shifting of venues? Surely there are stadiums which are as lucrative as Pune and Mumbai! Surely the players must empathize with the people who are suffering from the drought! Surely Mrs Ambani, who prides herself on her philanthropy, would not mind a change in her team's home ground! But once again, the game and it's pawns have let down the Indian public. The BCCI tried to prevent the inevitable with means that seemed even absurd. They even tried the low-hanging 'money-fruit' trick. Anurag Thakur reminded the state government that it would loose a 100 crores if the league was shifted out of the state. Fortunately, the state government saw beyond the haze of the glitz and glamour and asked the BCCI to do what any responsible civic body must do. With the mountain of public opinion flooding in, the BCCI was left with no option but to fold. The Mumbai Indians have already opted for Jaipur as their home ground, in what has been a 'rainy' move.

The issue has been solved, or has it? The games in all likelihood will be shifted, the people and their will has prevailed, but why the delay, and why the controversy? The BCCI, the body governing India's largest religion should have taken cognizance of the paradox without the court's poke, and once the poke came, it should have been swift in carrying out it's social responsibility! This issue has not affected the IPL or it's stratospheric aura; but once again the question of cricket and where it stands on our hierarchy of importance has propped up. How powerful should the BCCI be? If the courts can break centuries-old temple traditions, then how is the BCCI immune from it? The game of cricket has always been placed on a pedestal, one that has grown higher over the years. But when the rain gods frown on the people, their fury from heaven first paralyses the pedestal and then the ground!

Dooars XI - representing the struggle!!

This election season, politicians are running amok, hoping to attract their archaic votebanks. For years, the society despised the idea of community voting, rather than individual....but now the situation is dire. Certain communities are so deprived, that they have formed a votebank among themselves to promote their demands. The most popular of these would be the women. Unnoticed, discriminated, contained, harassed, and arbitrated, she is now left with one last grail. To pool their votes for leaders who shall heed their cries. This idea is constitutionally incorrect, but the situation calls for this. As Arvind Kejriwal rightly said; to clean the mud, you have to get down in it. The women of our country have to stand up for themselves and they must vote for their causes and their demands. Gone are the days when women used to be mere proxies for the men back home. They are now a near half of the voting mass in our country. Election in India is of continental proportions. It is a cocktail, with skulled ingredients. This is exactly why we all remember Juggernot, but never Scooby doo. Power, and strength are the 2 things that dictate your fate....and if you can command the former, you can anticipate your fate. This is the tactic that the women have to adopt. Flex their muscles and make their presence felt. Gender equality in our country is at an all-time low. Even the educated and sophisticated women fail to put their hands up when it comes to benefits of equal remuneration. We all admire and adore our filmstars and some of us brand them as extremely modern and broad-minded, which is indisputably correct. Then why is it so, that these messiahs of modernity continue to promote gender inequality in remunerations. Actresses are paid almost half of what the actors get...for the same job. The reason why gender inequality is so entrenched and parasitical in our society can be traced to our salient acceptance and approval. Do we see an actress demanding equal pay? A female labourer revolting? No! The society lies low and accepts injustice that is being served to them. The idea should never be; an actress suffers, the what chance do I have? This calls for better policies and a stimuli...fuel....to ignite the fire.

Society, in all it's aspects, is unjust to women. But there are some areas where they become clear-cut. For example in sports...men's cricket, football and what not...is given heavenly importance, whereas their female counterparts are given..well lets say they are unknown. India brags that cricket here is a religion. Well this religion is extremely patriarchal and people don't even realise this arbitrary patriarchy. If you are an Indian, the my question is- who is the Indian cricket captain? Inevitably you know the answer... Now tell me who the women's captain is? Lost for words? Like in the case of many other sports, we are unaware of even the captains, let alone the players. In a country that is dominated by cricket to an immeasurable scale, the aim of other sports is merely to survive. Triumph over cricket is merely a euphoric imagination for these sports. In this backdrop, if you add the various variables, ranging from cultural restrictions, social disapproval, lack of patronage, general negligence and so on....the situation becomes grim and dismal. This is exactly the same void that Dooars XI, a woman's football team in India is staring at. A group of talented, hungry women, who are chained by all those dilemmas mentioned above. The club is extremely gifted, with passionate women fighting against all odds to fulfil the vision that they once saw. One of the players has even represented India at the international level. On being asked what she has received from the government, her answer was to the dismay of many football fanatics across India. "Shoes, socks, and jersey." The others also dream of representing India, despite learning of the meagre services that the government has provided. Well, black is black....but compare it with while and it seems dull. The 'shoes, socks and jersey' has to be read in contrast to the multi-million dollar transfers that the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid make in the 'fiscal hot balloon' leagues. The game they play is same....maybe they are not as talented as say a Lionel Messi...but why the million dollar gap. The Indian cricket team and BCCI is probably richer than the Government of India, and the brand endorsements run out of my hands. In stark contrast these women, talented and passionate wait for an opportunity to represent India, knowing the reward- roti in a gold plate.

Most of the players wear shoes that belong to their brothers or cousins...or those given by supporting and empathetic coaches or mentors. Despite their financial hardships in realising their dreams, they are pelted with disapproving and taunting comments from people in their village and even within their family. To think that if the Dooars would have been in a European football fanatic nation, then they would have been much better off makes us very sad to say the least.

So what can be done? A lot depends on us. Why has Indian cricket or European football developed leaps and bounds? Because of the immeasurable viewership that they clock. So we have to divert our attention to women's cricket, women's football and likewise...so that our masters will divert money into these fields. But government intervention can only take us so far...lot depends on the privatisation and commercialisation of the sport. Live broadcasts create advertisements, international events give a platform for companies to sponsor, domestic leagues are the epitome step, as evident form the success of the IPL. A combination of these measures from our part and theirs can revive these games to their former glory. And through this, we can achieve the greater cause of women empowerment. And so for now, let the Dooars XI be a flag bearer for this cause, and I wish them all the best for their future.   

The power of 49.

Lately....the 'idiot box' seems to be in a bid to fashion a more sensible avatar, with serious advertisements of how Congress is saving India, and how 'women win, when they vote'. But impetus is always virtual, and reality is always harsh. Can women vote in India? Yes! Do their vote count? Yes! But are women on the same weight as men? Not likely. Men in India, are swirling in the fog of superstitions and parochial ideas, often forgetting that their gender counter-parts are the same flesh and blood that they are. I could either present a few facts, revolving atrocities like rapes, dowry deaths, and eve-teasing....or I could talk about the bigger issue at hand. The writing on the wall, cries out that men are narrow-minded and apprehensive about the rise of women in our society. What better to solidify this than the fact that the women's reservation bill is still pending in the Lok Sabha. Though out in the open, we are bragging about women's empowerment and equality, once inside the 4 secretive corners of our house, we subject our women to the most heinous and brutal treatment. This, in stark contrast to the serene position that women occupied in the archaic history of our country. In this regard, I have to make the submission that the western nations are much further ahead than us in treating their women with dignity and respect. But we are still sulking over the hellish condition that our women negotiate every day, with very little intent to actually solve the dilemma at hand. Our women are craving for change. But the people who matter seem to be ignoring this issue at large. Parties are compiling bulky manifestos with probable and bizarre claims in an effort to win over the people. But it seems like the nutshell brains of these politicians haven't registered the fact that 'the power of 49' means that 49 % of the voters are women. So the apt caption is.....when women vote, parties win. But the 'logic of 49' has left many politicians gaping and pouting as to how this is possible.

The AAP with all it's hype, in reality, failed to address the issue of 'atrocities against women'(which has now become an Indian syllable) during it's cameo at the capital. Kejriwal swept the women-folk with promises of a safe Delhi....but even he couldn't sweep the moral debris from the 'minds of these mindless monsters'. But credit be given to the fact that parties do take this issue seriously now. Yet, a strange anguish engulfs our spirits as another case drapes our ears. The number of such crimes have increased to the extent of a plausible newspaper page being reserved for it. Truth be told, women now seem to be craving for an alternative....somebody who can not only understand, but materialise their needs. For a moment it seemed like Kejriwal was dubbing women as AAP...but then, the archaic momentary brethren between BJP and Congress kicked in and the honeymoon was over! So much for women win, when they vote. The BJP and Congress have a good history of women empowerment as far as the ropes stretch for the top brass....vis-a-vis Sonia Gandhi and Sushma Swaraj. But their definition and jurisdiction seem to end with 'I' and 'J'.

To bring out atrocities is one thing, and to solve them is another. Programmes like the much hyped, and less typed Satyamev Jayethe bring out figures that deepen the wounds and graft the burns. What India needs right now is an effective vigilance force that can prevent such crimes from surfacing. But the 'strange case of Indian women' seems to be getting more stranger with our protectors becoming the predators. When women resort to reporting to the police, they utilise the helpless situation of these women, and prey on them. The khaki is now stained to an extent fro where there is no reprisal.

Vizhinjam....an undiscovered treasure grove.

Adjacent to the Arabian sea, on the foothills of Trivandrum, lies a god-blessed natural port called Vizhinjam. Engineers are still speculating as to how Vizhinjam has been naturally blessed with all the attributes of a world-class deep seaport. This port has the capacity to bring huge monetary gains to the Union government...a value of 1000 crores can be saved by opening up this port. Vizhinjam lies on the most important trade route of the nautical world, merely 10-12 nautical miles from the very busy route of Persian Gulf-Malacca which formulates a third of the entire sea traffic!! The port, surprisingly has a depth of 20m to as close as 1 nautical mile away from it.....something that is extremely rare and almost implausible. Added to this is the low littoral drift, which means that very little maintenance in the form of dredging would be required during it's operational years. Vizhinjam is located way out of the city-limits and thus, has lavish space to synchronize the creation of an 'a la mode' port. At the same time...it's acceptable proximity to the city and the transport hubs like airport and railway station is an added pro. Once the port opens up, the Indian exporters will not have to depend on foreign ports for trans shipments. Further, the central position of the port enables it to cater to the needs of both the east and west. On a quick glance, Vizhinjam seems to be a god-intended port facility, that only needs a touch of human magic to facilitate it's glory. The above said bullets are the conventional features of a world class port that has the calibre to be known around the world. But the hindrances are innumerable, and coupled with political, environmental and social pressure...Vizhinjam is set on a rocky course ahead.

The entire mantle of implementation of this project, has been deposited to a special-purpose company, named Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited. This is a fully government-owned company responsible for a final investment of 1 billion dollars that will see this project reaching the finishing line. The initial drive, was to build the port with a PPP system...where we would see a partnership between the private sector and public sector. The PPP however failed to see daylight as both the rounds of bidding were a failure. As the Chinese company who won the first bid, failed to get security clearance....Lanco group who won the second round of bidding, withdrew after legal pressure from another corporate giant....Zoom developers. The major reason for this falling-apart was the general idea that the port was un-viable on an economic yardstick. Ultimately, the government decided to take the responsibility and set up VISL. The second obstacle at the table was the bidding for the operator's role. When the bidding concluded, Welspun emerged as the eligible proprietor and demanded a 480 crore grant. After negotiations with the state government, they reduced the requested amount to 400 crore. However, the state government declined the grant, stating that their was no economic rationale for the state in such a deal. As the money was blocked on the table, the next step was the clearance from the centre. This historic clearance was made on the 3rd of December, 2013 to the escalated delight of the people of Kerala, who have been waiting for this holygrail to provide impetus to the state's economic condition. The total expenditure for the project, is pegged at Rs 6595 crores. But if mathematics prevails...then the port shall regain this initial amount within 7 years! Then what is preventing our elected masters from pushing the button? There are more than just one monsters, trying to rip this master plan apart.

The first is of course the archaic laziness and lack of effort from the side of the government. The people crave for the port to bring a sea-change in an otherwise hapless territory. There is always a conception, that a single luminous body can light others around it. This analogy works for Vizhinjam too. Once the port is erected, and the trade oils in....the surrounding area also develops automatically and prospers. This is very much needed as the Vizhinjam area lacks proper organisation and cultural and educational progression. Being out of urban limits, Vizhinjam has a rural trace, that it has never been able to shed. This project however shall bring about high intensity changes in the society focussed on Vizhinjam. As the trade smoothens; hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals, even urban-centric blocks like malls and multiplexes may come up in Vizhinjam. This is quite contrary to the present scenes in Vizhinjam. The sea port project shall fill the social isolation of the fishermen community there....and also erase the conventional imagery of squalor and suffocation. There used to be a time...when the name Vizhinjam used to stink in itself. But the general development and the anticipated project has made a face-lift of this area. Now Vizhinjam strikes a note of hope and giganticness. Redtapism has groped this project, and it's making snail-strides through each floor of our impossible administration. Clearance after clearance, seal after seal, deliberation after deliberation....one's mind boggles to think as to why this 'no-brainer' is eating so much time.

The next challenge is much more serious. The natives of Vizhinjam are entirely dependant on fishing, and the subsequent selling in the local market. The propping up of this port shall hamper this gateway of fishing as the government shall set up a perimeter around the port that shall eat up a lot of fishing area. The market ground shall also be acquired by the government, thus, literally throwing hundreds of their jobs. But the point to be realised, is that these people shall get much better job opportunities, IF the port comes up in quick time. The Kerala government has shown zero interest to fulfil this project, as the pressure from international organisations like the World bank increases. While the Union government has dumbed it's hand on the issue, the state government remains static. It seems like nobody of administrative prominence is interested in making this dream, a reality.

The final challenge is not popularly known. It has been turned down many a times...but the fact is true. The Indian Union, in general has shown a good deed of backlash to the Southern peninsula. The obvious ignorance towards their development and progress has often been brought out to the public. The same is the case of Vizhinjam too. Lying in the far southern point of India.....Vizhinjam doesn't ring a bell, even in the most seasoned politicians of India. Added to this, Trivandrum has been ostracised by the state of Kerala, despite it's capital status. In all matters ranging from the presence of the high court, to metros, to subways....Trivandrum has been dumbed at the cost of Cochin. And here too, a certain animosity to the idea of Trivandrum overtaking Cochin, might have crept in. This sort of intra-national hostility is not good for democracy, or for our ambitious plans ahead. Cynicism has tapered this star studded project and has set I back many a miles. What is to be the 8th wonder....what is to be the backbone of Indian commerce; may end up being yet another 'proposed plan' that dusts in mid-air. Just thinking about this destruction of potential....makes an optimistic Indian tremble in his guts. So lets hope that Vizhinjam turns into reality in the days to come....and that Indian growth story will sketch in the days to come.

 

Cricket In India-Tracing the breadcrumbs of history!!

It was a sport of morality and class.......it was a sport, built on the talent and passion of Indians......it was played everywhere, from the foothills of Himalayas, to the swamps of Gujarat. The game developed it's own identity as India paced forth in the global stage. When cricket was being played with fancy bats and jute balls in the meadows of Britain, Indians were sweating it out in the hot sun. Cricket in India developed over the country's subjugation under the British. As India awoke from the ashes of a break-free from the British, the game underwent rapid changes leading to the era of CK Naidu and Lindji. Then a long stride resulted in Kapil's Devils raising the prestigious World Cup in 1983, after a triumphant victory against West Indies. From then, India didn't look back. From Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly......to Anil Kumble & co, India has produced the best cricketers in the world. But this free-flowing game of India was to crash into a road-block that nobody expected.

It all started when the cricketers were given opportunities in advertisements. As a result, the corporate sector found a very firm wicket in the form of cricketers to bat on. In the end cricket itself was clean bowled by this very corporate sector. The world now, is based on greed and money than trust and morals. As a result, influential and wealthy people found cricket, quite near to horse racing. The true monetary potential of the game was exposed much later when the so-called 'limited-over' games were introduced. Now a days, there are not even local games where hoardings and sideboards are absent. The BCCI and to some extent, the ICC, is now just a mask to a corporate-cricket link, that has ballooned over the years. Now-a-days, noticing the colour of a team's jersey is impossible, as it is covered with small ads and campaigns.

The already existing bruises were deepened as the 20-20 format came into existence. The idea of a cricket match being shuffled into a few hours, attracted the public of India.....which, as time exposed was quite similar to giving the corporates a juicy full toss. As India won the first 20-20 World Cup, the name of a so-called messiah who would save Indian cricket from it's downfall rang through the ears of all Indians. MS DHONI. The proclaimed explosive lower order batsmen with a sturdy pair of hands and long pleated hair, attracted the gullible youth for as long as today. Just when a string of questions were being raised against his credibility as the captain, India won the World Cup, for the second time. And what more could Dhoni have wanted? An easy length delivery slapped for a six....from his bat finished the game. The ferocious flame-thrower Lasith Malinga failed to bowl even a single Yorker as the Srilankans played like a couple of clueless boys in their backyard. Things appear much more clearer after the revelations of the past week.

The mud became more gooey and mucky as the infamous IPL occupied the limelight, with a grand opening ceremony. The amount of money involved in IPL is in the dark even today, most of the teams being owned by the Bollywood darlings. As the first season went on as a test run....the private companies were dumbstruck by the viewership statistics....which were through the roof. Thus, in the second season, there was more money being poured into the IPL bucket, via film owners and people unknown till then. While the darkest of the herd stayed aloof, they sent in scape -goats for a test run. As the scape goats came back alive, the major players placed their money in the right places, and got away with it till now. With each season probably more corrupt than the other, Pespsi could not resist the popularity of the set-up and decided to adopt the sporting banner of India. Little did they know about the late-night surprise they were scheduled to receive.

Three and most likely more players have been indulging in spot/match fixing for monetary benefits....despite the slave trade auction system that provides them sufficient money. As the experienced and popular stayed cautious....players like Sreesanth who have been out of the national side for as long as 2 years, couldn't resist the pay-pack or at times the honey traps. As more and more evidence is being unearthed......the guilty finger seems to be pointing at the BCCI and it's chief, whose son-in-law is behind bars for match fixing. Yet, Mr Srinivasan is clinging on to his throne...despite a huge storm, trying to blow him away. But the fact of the day is that- in between all this errand-running for personal gains and favours....what is being destroyed is Indian cricket....one of the only remaining relics of India's cultural and historic taste for sports. What is being destroyed is the only secular religion of India....were people 'bleed-blue' for India. In a country where cricketers are treated as gods...this is indeed a backstab which has gone through the backbone of Indian cricket!!!