Indian cricket has the richest sporting body in the cricket world in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is also competing with the richest football clubs in monetary terms. However, the Indian cricket follower is hardly reaping any benefits. In sharp contrast, the follower finds himself/herself in miserable situations. The latest case was the beating up a few cricket fans received from the police. Rediff reports - “Spectators had a harrowing time winding their way through a sea of baton-wielding security personnel, who swung left, right and center, causing grievous injuries to at least a dozen youngsters. A badly bruised boy, shirt soaked in blood, was refused help by a patrolling police van even as people begged to rush him to a nearby hospital.”
Harsha Bhogle pointed out a few years ago in an article that the real shareholders of Indian cricket are the fans. Fans means demand creation. Demand creation means possibility for corporates to sell their products. This in turn brings in money to cricket in general and Indian cricket in general.
However the same person who is responsible for bringing so much money into the game is treated like a foster child. Every step, every aspect sees the Indian cricket fan marginalized. When he wants to go to the stadium to see a match, he has to stand in the line for hours before he can get the precious tickets. This if the black market hasn’t already eaten up his ticket already. Why can a large portion of the tickets not be sold online?
If that doesn’t seem democratic enough or even (scoff) too modern, why not sell the tickets in at least 200 outlets in the city where the match is being held?
The Sunfeast Open at Calcutta, India’s first WTA, even saw advertisements and posters promoting the event and specifically stating at least 20 outlets where tickets for the event were being sold. I could buy the ticket while shopping or eating a sandwich at an outlet of one of the tournament sponsors for instance.
Parking of the car is the next hassle that has to be endured. If I am not in a *clout* and do not manage to get the special sticker for my car, I have to park my car a long distance from the stadium. Then begins the long distance walk towards the stadium. Is this BCCI’s secret plan to promote other sports? For I do not see them supporting other sports in any way. They do not even support the women’s cricket team.
Article comments
1 - Earl
Cricket should not be banned at all. If so, why not soccer too?
Golf perhaps. Or, Darts even
Let's see
Cricket, golf, soccer, darts
The English had their chance
Ban all the sports with silly names
And let's begin the chant of...
Baseball, baseball, baseball!!!!!
Wow! I think I may just brainstormed a musical!
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
Big difference between bannination and boycottness.
3 - Sridhar nagarajan
I agree with Pratyush. It reflects the views I've shared in an article on my blog as well.
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Time to act responsibly as a cricketing fraternity
It is a sad plight that it the dastardly murder of a great man who has given so much to the game, as Bob Woolmer has brought some visibility into the hugely deteriorating levels of morality and any semblance of gentlemanliness there's left in this game. It is high time that cricket fans worldwide boycott international cricket. This article addresses some of the possible causes to our current situation and proposes actions for every cricket fan and reader to follow.
Root Causes:
Some of the fundamental reasons for the tangle cricket is currently in are:
1. The disproportionate amount of cash pouring into media rights and into the game.
2. Heightened media frenzy that spurs emotional nations such as India and Pakistan to a form of frantic passion that is devoid of balance.
3. In short, cricket has become the opium for the masses in the sub-continent, and consequently places tremendous pressure on the players as well.
Areas where ICC can improve:
The administration of the ICC, or the lack of it, has been a critical piece of this conundrum. The ICC has summarily failed, it has not just been spineless, it has been incompetent and impotent in improving the fairness of the game. Here are some reasons why:
- The ICC created its Anti Corruption Unit. If you look back, this body has just worked as a review body AFTER an allegation of match fixing or suspicion was raised! No actions or thought was given to proactive prevention or avoidance. No guidelines were provided to international players on how they should be responding or handling an offer from a bookie or such malpractice.
- Lack of a planned out budget to popularize the game globally, this being one of the stated goals of the body. There's no need to be subtle about it! Draw up a budget, equivalent of a 5yr plan to expand, and then raise funds to just meet the budget & the operating costs for the office bearers, and raise enough funds to meet this budget. If this mantra was adopted, we would not be seeing the disproportionate deals for tele rights.
- Lack of the above has led the game to be so commercialized to the extent that, it needs to be practically rebooted to revive it.
To these, I say, ICC - these are loose ends currently. Acknowledge it, and work towards fixing it. Until you fix it, go into oblivion and take a sabattical!
What can we do?:
The very fanatic fans and the huge sub-continent populations(read Market as the money mongrels would read) have to rise to bring back the perspective that is lacking currently. The very purpose of the Ads and the monies should be hurt, so that ICC and the sponsors equally well, realize loud and clear, the tangle that they have brought the game into, AND people, the media and the fans realize the mania they've helped create. I urge every reader to partake in any of the following actions and follow it up with a press release, invite the press to cover the incident/action, so that the public uprising and disapproval are well registered.
Lodge your protests:
Some good avenues to do that are:
1. Drastic reduction in viewership of the games. Say each of us boycott seeing the next few games at least, this will go a long way in making the sponsors understand the disproportionate sums they've paid, and market economics will take care of the rest.
2. People in WI - boycott weekend matches, the stadia should only be half-full.
3. If people can develop pamphlets explaining this stand, essentially against the ACU (Anti corruption unit of ICC)'s effectiveness, against the HUGE $$ in telecasting rights, against TV and print media for the disproportionate furore and against fans without balance. As an action of protest, we should protest and try to stop places that screen the 2007 World Cup ive.
It would be great if local cricket fraternities join in this struggle to restore the game, and if the press can publish the actions with the same verve that shrouds the game.
Act NOW!
4 - Disheartened Fan
Yes, there are ways to show our feelings to BCCI and cricket team without involving in any violence. All the cricket loving people should not consume pepsi or should not buy goods from other sponsors or ads for a week.
5 - coolguy1210
Where are the youngsters. The Test Team is pathetic with the likes of Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman and Kumble who are well past their best. The ODI Selection is only marginally better but there is only one new face - Manoj Tewari. On what basis has Sehwag retained his ODI spot. And Zaheer Khan should never ne in the Test Side.
The Selection process is an absolute nightmare with the Selectors not wanting to try youngsters. Such a Disgrace. God Save Indian Cricket.
6 - vignesh
Hi
Agarkar is indian ambrose… he is a great fast bowler.
Agarkar and mohanty together always remembered me the legendary walsh and ambrose combination
salil ankola(Indian Donald) too is a great fast bowler……dudes we always have to pay respect to our heroes like rajesh chauhan(once upon a time he was india’s answer to shane warne)…..
Thanks
vignesh