Big bucks in the game

During the Bangladesh tour to Sri Lanka in August last year there were whispers of a new league to be established in India and plenty of money to be thrown into it. Tony Greig who was in the commentary panel was much involved and many Sri Lankan players past and present were trooping in and out of the commentators box. It was unimaginable then that this concept and another was going to dish out a truck load of bucks in just over six months!

Shortly after the ICL was launched. Most of the stars involved were ex-players. Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold and Upul Chandana were the three Sri Lankans who were lured into this league. Subsequently in the second attempt Avishka Gunawardena and umpire Rienzie Martinez also secured contracts. All of them either retired or not able to take the next step and be there with consistency.

However, there was the possibility that current players would also put their hands up to get into this league. The BCCI then lost no time in organizing their own league and in the future may even pose problems for the entire set-up. The ICL and its players were docked with bands of different kinds. The ICC did not accept them because the BCCI did not. India’s governing body were not in favour of Twenty Twenty cricket when it was being introduced. Now their team had won the inaugural World Cup held in South Africa and they themselves were organizing the most lucrative cricket tournament ever. The modern revolution was begun by Kerry Packer in the late nineteen seventies when he attracted players from Australia and other parts of the world into what was then called his “circus”. Players, umpires, coaches, groundsmen and all others involved in the game began to secure bigger pay cheques since then.

Now the selection has gone a step further, with the top players being auctioned. The staggering amount of money was offered by the country’s top businessmen and glamorous film stars -- a far cry from the first recorded professional game which had 10 pounds sterling on offer. That was in the year 1700. India’s wicket keeper and one day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni topped the earnings list with a whopping price tag of US$1.5 million, with Aussie all rounder Andrew Symonds following close behind.

A Texan oil billionaire Sir Allen Stanford got into the act a couple of years back organizing a similar tournament amongst the West Indian islands. The second of such events, concluded a few months ago, was considered an overall success. Stanford, who spends much time residing in Antigua, has indicated a willingness to spread the wings of such tournaments. He has offered money for one-off games in the past. In 2006 he offered US$ 5 million for a match between West Indies “All Stars” and South Africa. Last year he doubled that figure to US$ 10 million in an effort to attract the Indian team. Both efforts were futile. He is now calling the Australians. $20 million for T20 cricket is the call. He has also proposed a regional tournament in England, with big money. It could take off in the year 2010. Who can resist the money? Certainly not the players.

All the money is no doubt an attraction for young players. For many years now good players have been lost to the game because other sports or other careers have provided greater financial attractions. The IPL is helping to raise the lot of young cricketers which is a definite plus.

One worry is what effect it would have on Test cricket and 50 over cricket. The crowds are bound to get lesser, in India. There is too much cricket to watch and some area is bound to suffer. The shortest form consumes less time for the spectator, provides plenty of entertainment and is often after working hours. All to his convenience. Other forms of the game will go on but the public on the grounds are bound to dwindle.

Players have long been talking of burn out. Many of those involved with the IPL have squeezed these games in between their international commitments. The Aussies have deserted their Indian teams to join a squad training before leaving for the West Indies. The English are strangled because of their commitments at home. The word floating around is that there will be three of such tournaments each year. How can the players fit it all in?

This is the latest concern for the game’s administrators. It could well be a giant they will have to live with. For many reasons the leagues in India may not be matched. However, there are bound to be more business tycoons who would like to join the party and flavor the Twenty20 delights, in different parts of the world. In the end the ICC will have to step in and have some control, some restrictions, some guidelines governing these privately organized fixtures, even though local “Boards” are involved. At present the ICC is only a silent spectator.