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It was not so many moons ago this very same column was discussing a situation that arose when the Lankan cricketers were in England for the last T20 World Cup where some slithery elements tried to approach some of our players which also led to a show down back in the high citadels of Colombo.
However that would have occurred under very secluded and restricted circumstances where cricketers are kept under a very tight leash by their respective boards along with the cricket’s guardian – the ICC.
Ironically in spite of all precautions taken against such infiltrations still these elements keep making overtures to certain cricketers whom they think could be lured into their traps and the stars who could change the fate of a game if they can be hooked in some way or the other. The guy who was explaining this scenario to me explained how difficult it is to the cricketers. He said “These guys approach the cricketers from various fronts and under most unsuspecting circumstances, but one false move by the cricketers and they are goners. From that point onwards the mob knows how to keep the cricketer under their leash”.
Suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Lalit Modi arrives at Indira Gandhi International Airport's domestic terminal in New Delhi. AFP |
Now at present cricket has plunged into a completely a new controversy with the latest developments of the Indian Premier League T20 tournaments where accusations bartered from all directions and the whole episode entering a new phase with the suspension of Indian Premier League commissioner and Chairman Lalit Modi.
At this end we feel that Lalith Modi is only the scapegoat of this stinking episode so far. One could see that he is a hard entrepreneur and is straight as he could be as any of the corporate executives could be in the present day world where anything goes as long as the profits are indicated in the annual report or even may be the god father’s kitty.
It was Lalit Modi who shaped the IPL into this huge fairytale where cricketers from all over the globe could even think of an after-life. However according to the latest reports up to twenty seven players from the cricket playing world have been named and are under scrutiny for match fixing and the score may be up by the time this column hits the street.
In the sub-continent, corruption is a part of life and we have learned to live with it whether we like it or not. So when a multi-million masquerade of this nature hits the streets we certainly have to expect seeing people wearing trousers with many pockets stitched in and out.
Like I described before, if the horse dealers could approach players during a fully covered ICC conducted tournament, why can’t they be made to run in circles when the cricketers are unescorted and are on their own turning out for an already dirty franchise only for the sake of money.
From the very beginning we had this suspicion whether these Pretty faces whom we see on the TV screen were the real franchise holders or they are just beautiful fronts playing Pinocchio. But today the stink says what we suspected was true. If we did smell it from thus far, I am sure even the cricketers themselves and the allied people certainly would have been in the know right from the start and this is where the dangerous part of this episode begins.
Making matters more complex the resignation of ICC’s security man Ravi Sawani comes as another shock to the fraternity. Though the initial reports said that Ravi’s resignation did not have any connections with the Modi issue eyebrows will not stop going up just thinking of the timing of it.
The other day a former Australian captain in one of his contributions to the cricket gospel Cricinfo stated “The Yanks do it, the Indians do it, even the isolated Aussies do it; let's do it, let's fall in love. Fall in love with money, that is. That parody of the Cole Porter hit refers firstly to the global financial crisis triggered by the greed of American businessmen. Then the escalating scandal involving the financial dealings of the IPL, and finally the uncovering of flagrant salary cap breaches by the highly successful Melbourne Storm Rugby League club.”
Then the cricket’s elder statesman added “The IPL is not only a valuable product, it's also a possible guide to cricket's future. If the public suspects it's more like one big lark to boost the income and egos of people already bursting with riches, then they could turn nasty quickly.
There's also a danger the players will start thinking, "What's good for the goose is good for the gander", which could lead to further scandal, and very quickly you've got a dissatisfied public on your hands.” It was the understatement of the year, by then a score of cricketers was under the magnifying glass for felonies that runs back to the tournament that was held in South Africa.At the same time there were questions asked about the team composition of some matches. For instance there were questions asked when the ultimate winners of the tournament the Chennai Super Kings dropped their purple cap Muttiah Muralitharan on the directive of their astrologer Vastu Venkateshan who is an astrologer on the payrolls of India Cements, the principal owners of the Chennai team.
Then again there were questions asked when the runner-up of the tournament the Mumbai Indians dropped their play makers – Sachin Tendulkar and Lasith Malinga in the 56th game of the tournament only to lose to already knocked-out Kolkata Knight Riders owned by film idol Shahrukh Khan.
For what is worth has the IPL lost its integrity? What will the government probe into in its finances reveal? Who are the twenty seven cricketers involved? Who is the great Australian Cricketer who is also involved? These are the next questions that will have be answered.
Indian cricket idol Sachin Tendulkar feels that this is only a passing phase and the IPL will get up and roar in their fourth season, while renowned cricket writer and commentator Harsha Bogle sees Lalit Modi as a robust corporate executive who could do a job that is entrusted in him.
In conclusion now the Indian cricket hierarchy has appointed businessman Chirayu Amin named IPL interim chairman till they could sort things out. But, for the sake of cricket and its future this whole episode must be probed in without leaving any stone unturned and if there are wrong doers they must be brought to the notice of the authorities and the public.
The game must remember that it survives because the public has chosen to watch even if it is played in South Africa. It is because the people have chosen to watch it the corporates have decided to pour millions of dollars in advertising. That is how the game has grown to be the rich kid in town in the sub continent.
However if the public feels that the cricket dished out to them is a fix riddled hoax they are sure to stop their patronage. Then what would happen? |
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