It's Just Not Cricket !

It has been more than two weeks since the Pandora’s Box was opened and the three cricketers got arrested and a towel emerged as a powerful tool of signaling. What followed for the next fifteen days on prime time television ranged from crime thriller to run and chase games to the display of blatant hunger for power, money and sleaze and eventually culminated in front of millions of viewers as a political potboiler.  I must clarify; I’m not shooting the messenger. I’m sure they were doing their job and they can’t be blamed, if at all in their quest for TRP they went little over board. After all what we watched in last few days made us cynical.

We as nation have accepted corruption as a part of life. Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) places India at 94th rank out of 176 nations. We have moved down from 72 in 2007 to 94 in 2012 pretty swiftly. But hang on, we thought politicians are corrupt, we knew that ragged clerk in the shady Govt office is corrupt, but our beloved cricketers who are virtually million dollar babies , getting richer by the day thanks to the new jamboree and adored by millions, selling themselves for money ? The nation was stunned and people who run the show and definitely know what is going on inside acted either shocked or preferred to remain silent owing to their contract. Oh, did we hear them say conflict of interest! Sorry folks, as Icons of the game we believe you need the towel to save your face more than Sreesanth needed it.

 Suddenly the plot thickened. Delhi and Mumbai Police acted at a pace which will even put the NYPD to shame. They got hold of a “you blink, you miss” (and I strictly mean the size of his roles in films) actor for his alleged link with the bookies. He turned out to be a singer in the investigation cell. His singing led to the arrest of a “cricket enthusiast”, whose twitter profile changed within twenty minutes, who unlike millions of us had the privilege to participate in player auction, sit in the dugout and attend media session. A remarkable enthusiasm, well rewarded I must say. Hope this kind of enthusiasm does not inspire young kids.  This arrest led to the twist in the plot. A sub plot emerged. From crime, sleaze & money the action shifted to a family entertainer. There enters the stubborn, power hungry and incredibly shame less (or shall we attribute it to his love for his family) father in law. For him his family, power and control comes first, always & every time. That he is the president of a board, answerable to the fans is secondary.

                  

While he made a mockery of everyone, seventy thousand people, yes the aam admi (no reference to the political party by the same name) the so called passionate cricket lover of the nation, whom news channel anchors refer to and apparently represent, thronged the stadium. The BCCI chief reasserted the credibility of cricket is intact and those seventy thousand were the testimony to his assertion. While the circus was over, a political thriller was being scripted in the background. For twenty four hours it was hyped strong steps are going to be taken, the president will be asked to go. One after another political puppets showed their bravado. Poor news reporters had to forgo their Sunday brunch and camped in front of Park Sheraton and news studios expecting a poetic justice.  Their frantic attempt to gather breaking news was like peeping through your neighbors’ window to watch the couple fight. It was hilarious to say the least. I’m sure the betting industry must have betted lots of money in anticipation. The entire tamasha was as exciting as the super over of a T-20 match (albeit much longer). And finally the political brokers (I refuse to accept them as sports administrators) came out of the hotel and ran from the media. What was anticipated as a high volatile match turned out to be fixed one.

What transpired in the last two weeks is disgraceful to say the least. I’m not too much bothered about the so called cricket fan. I know for many now it has become a masala movie. At the cost of sounding blunt, I must say, many don’t watch cricket for the sheer passion for the game, they watch it since they don’t have anything else to do in their spare time and this is the easiest form of entertainment. Many of them have exonerated themselves from their responsibility towards the game.   I’m worried about those who grew up worshiping the game , I’m apprehensive about the credibility of the honest cricketer and the great game , I’m frightened about the value system (which my firm believe sports imparts even at a very young age) we are preaching to the next generation and the social implication of this chapter.

The entire episode transcended in front of millions and neither the president of the board nor his cronies felt the slightest desire to show any sign of probity in public life. Gone are the days of morality and conscience. Welcome to the world where people hang on to power and money at the cost of dignity.  They neither feel any sense of guilt in committing wrong nor in defending it. They shamefully take advantage of the process of natural justice and make a mockery of the system. I’m aware this is rampant in politics but when sports get contaminated by the same incurable virus, you feel a sense of helplessness. That sports associations today are run by politicians is a lame excuse.

We have nothing against BCCI. They have done some fantastic job. Cricketers are financially much more secured, lovely infrastructure has come up. But I’m afraid what transpired is going to corrupt many young minds. Gone are the days of poetic justice, welcome to the naked world of power play in the name of democracy, impotency and a corrupt world created by the mighty and powerful. A future looks bleak as a monsoon evening, hope from somewhere a ray of sunlight will emerge.