Surprise surprise! Even the hallowed sport of cricket has not been spared by our most enterprising sports administrators (read: politicians with too much time on their hands). As it turns out Gavaskar and Shastri are quite adept at delivering the verbal version of the doosra. Before relevant details were leaked to the media, one was wondering aloud about Shastri's freshly renewed pride. It always seemed a little misplaced; especially how he picked a fight with the very likeable Nasser Hussain. Who may I add, acted with such class and dignity, even though he does not have the world's most powerful sport administration backing him or without the promise of assured employment, privileges which messers Shastri/Gavaskar have.
A lot of fans, commentators have echoed Shastri's 'they are jealous' line (yours truly included), but it is also not very hard to see why we are hated with such passion abroad. We are the America of cricket. Interfering with functioning of cricket boards across the world, depending on the situation influencing or ignoring the UN equivalent of cricket; the ICC, driven by a supreme cause of commercial exploitation of players & fans alike, an extreme myopic selfserving view, the BCCI and the Indian cricketing fraternity has managed to alienate almost every other country which plays the sport. Much like the consumerist leaning Americans, we too have succumbed to the people's thirst for cricketing action. More is good!
India today is a country grappling with its sustained above average growth. The prospects of earning more money has affected every aspect of our lives. As Maninder Singh pointed out, in a corrupt country like ours, it is difficult to imagine cricket (or any sport) to be untouched. Upholding the spirit of the game is the responsibility of 22 men in whites on the field alone. The men in whites off it, however are a different story altogether. Our netas control the sport as they do with everything else. It would be naive to expect our politicians (who have significant investments in our media sector) not wanting to influence opinion when it comes to cricket. For them, it is yet another poistion of power, another business unit churning money for the once in five years test that they have to face. On home soil that too.
Shastri and Gavaskar are mere pawns in the great game that is being played out in the shadows. The constant hunger for even more power and control is rotting every institution, every sector, every aspect of our lives. Whether it be politicians changing school syllabi, IIM admission norms, implementing reservations, owning media channels/newspapers, movie production houses, large corporations, religious trusts, chariatable organizations, PR firms, etc. The list is endless. It is the sad truth of our incredible growth story. The politicians now control EVERY aspect of our lives. Indeed they have benefited the maximum during these years of unprecedented growth. And they will go to any lengths to protect their positions.
Sadly, the last wicket has fallen.
Truly cricket is no more a gentleman's game any more. I completely agree with Maninder Singh's point that "in a corrupt country like ours, it is difficult to imagine cricket (or any sport) to be untouched". The controversy surrounding the IPL biddings is a glaring example of the same.
ReplyDeleteOne can just hope that these politicians will spare this sport which binds the entire nation together and is considered no less than a religion in this country.
The CAG report on the CWG also points out the huge amount of financial misappropriation and also the dysfunctionality of the entire system. How ever it comes as no surprise to the "aam aadmi" as scams have become a regular feature (almost functional) for our society.
I just feel saddened by the misuse of the hard-earned money of the tax-payers, which leaves me with no motivation to pay my taxes!