Indian cricket fans are taken for a ride by the two most powerful men in the country P.Chidambaram (PC) and Lalit Modi (Modi). Both have their own case to fight but finally the most successful event ever conducted in Indian Cricket history IPL has been robbed from India.
It all started on the events that happened in Pakistan last month and the subsequent media intervention and imaginative journalism to its best raising questions on what if the same happens in India. Its fair from the Home Minister to be concerned with the big tournament scheduled at the same time when the country goes to polls and rightly asked for support and confirmation from the state governments on the availability of security personnel to handle both the big events. Modi is also correct in scheduling IPL between April 10th and End of May as this is the only time window where all the international players are available.
Given the scenario, i would fault the way Modi & team took PC head on with unwarranted statements like "World will not stop if India goes to Poll" and "IPL will organize its own security for the event" and so on which i am sure would have made things worse. Given that PC is a very strong personality and does not given in easily on confrontations like these and like true politician he took the issue to the state government and you all know the out come. PC is now points to the state governments disability to provide security as a reason and has washed his hands.
BCCI has taken the bold step of going abroad (England / SA) to conduct this years IPL and not give up and skip 2009 edition. Lot of things are yet to be finalized and given that we are hardly a month away from the IPL to start its going to be a Himalayan task for the organizers. I also feel that there might be some lobbying to stop taking this event abroad and coming up with some kind of a workable solution between the IPL and Home Ministry to avoid embarrassment as it might have some effect in BJP ruled states. Already Narendra Modi has offered to stage all the games in Gujarat and is ready to provide security, may be this has come a little late but sure it will send some signals to the Congress high command. If IPL manages to conduct this event in India and the tournament goes without any incident, that will be a great boost to the government to claim that the country is safe and also confirm that India will conduct the 2010 CWG.
As a cricket fan, if this years event happens in a foreign land we are left with very little to cheer as we will be robbed of the chance to view the games live in the stadium. All said and done, I think after the initial rounds of matches the interest will go up and we will somehow make sure that we reach home before the start for all the 8.00PM game to get glued to the TV sets.
Wish and pray that IPL is held in India and both the polls and IPL finish without any bad incident.
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5 comments:
Vasu, as a TV viewer I hope the venues are all packed (just like in India) during the matches. The crowds sure enhance the TV viewers' experience with their vociferousness and color, enthralling us just as much as the players.
It will be really stupid if the stadium (overseas) is partly filled only with Indian population. I hope that doesn't affect our TV-viewing experience.
More importantly, there is nothing like supporting your home team playing at your home ground - TV or in the stadium. That will surely be missed!
VJ
Vasu, we are victims of many political games and this is just one more ! This is not the place to discuss that, I guess :)
From a fan's perspective, IPL has to happen in India and thats the charm. VJ, Nobody in England or SA is going to throng the stadiums daily at 11am or 1pm. And more than 50% of the matches will happen during weekdays and that too daily, killing chances of attendance.
Technically, only a few thousands from 8 cities are going to miss this and as it is obvious, its a TV show (biggest reality TV show as someone put it) and I wont be surprised if Modi and Mallaya import spectators to give 'life' to the show :)
Oh ... they can do at least one favor by changing the broadcaster to anyone other than Sony !! I prefer Neo Cricket, so you would never have missed any action, even if you are a Rip Van Winkle and come back after 14 years !!
This is really doing no good to the sub continent as such. By moving a very important (domestic) event out of India due to security constraints, we are confirming the doubts that was created in many people's minds earlier. The Indian government should have done something to accommodate the IPL with enough securities.
At least lets hope the real fun is not spoiled. And also, a lots of Indian talented youngsters will get a good opportunity to play a couple of months in foreign soil. This must certainly be a boost for their carrier. Wish the event to be a grand affair as it was last year.
Vasu, As ajay pointed out.. this will be good for the younger players, but not for the organizers and indian viewers. The organizers cant expect such a huge crowd in the stadium due to reasons pointed out by rajesh.. and the indian fans are robbed off the opportunity to go and support their team in the stadium... the electric atmosphere will surely be missed even while watching in TV....dont know how the sponsors are going to take back the amount.. and moreover.. this can not be called as 'INDIAN premier league' from now on :(
Yes, IPL is not Indian Premier League its International Premier League :-)
On the crowds point of view, yes the stadiums might not fill and we may not have our own music and dance.Its tough to see a match even in TV with empty stands, having said that even in india the initial games stadiums were not that full. Take for instance chennai, we can see crowds in low cost stands (A & B) all the premier stands were mostly empty.
Its better to have the games in SA when compared to England. We will have full matches and there wont be any rain affected DWL rule playing the cruel part.
The point on youngsters getting to know the conditions oversees early in their carrier is good but most of them will not get a chance to play so its like a free trip around SA :-)
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