Well, another debacle, another round of player and team bashing. However, this was waiting to happen. A disaster that was unfolding since March, one even fools knew would happen, and it finally happened. The slide of the Indian cricket team on the World T20 arena has been shocking. From champions in 2007, to being knocked out unceremoniously in the super sixes in both 2009 and 2010, the slide has now achieved disastrous proportions. There is one common reason for this slide. The blame squarely lies on the IPL. This alone must warrant reason to ban this glitzy, corporate consumerist monster. But, I will elaborate on more reasons for the IPL to be banned, hopefully for life!
Reason No.1: The useless pitches used in the IPL matches
This is the main reason for which the IPL should be banned. In India, the tradition has been that every pitch has to be made a feather bed or a slow turner. This means that the bowlers have no option but to leak runs at a large rate. No wonder, we have a scenario where our fast bowlers in India are becoming a rare commodity. The pitches encourage run making at such a ferocious rate that even a slog that is devoid of any technique goes for a six. The CEOs, the rich team owners and the broadcasters have ensured that eyeballs are captured in large numbers. By the preparation of such pitches, one can ensure a run feast, which reduces a contest to shambles.
Reason No.2: The elimination of national and resurgence of regionalism
There is a dangerous trend developing here which may have an impact in the future. People will passionately chant “RCB! RCB! RCB”, “CSK! CSK! CSK” or “Delhi! Delhi! Delhi”. The passion for India as a whole will fade away as regional sentiments dominate people’s choices. At a time when there are fascists like the MNS and the Shiv Sena who claim Maharashtra is only for Maharashtrians, this sets a very dangerous precedent.
Reason No.3: The lack of transparency
Another reason why it should be banned outright. No one knows where the money is coming from. Other than the occasional hullabaloo that the media will create, no one will ever know the money trail. Such obscene amount of money is spent on hyped up players, Kieron Pollard, being a prime example, one wonders as to how can people have so much cash. The other most important thing in this is that the money is not being used to upgrade the infrastructure in cricket. It is never going to be used in pitch up gradation, stadium revamping and consumer facilities. This money is going back to the owners in some way or the other and thus IPL is an organization that is a glamorized gambling den, where all the clients get their money back in some form or the other.
Reason No.4: Overkill of skills
The prime reason why the Indian cricket team has lost in two consecutive T20 World Cups is because of overkill of skills. If a particular team has been playing T20s only for a large number of months, implementation of skills on a larger scale becomes difficult to implement. India, Pakistan and South Africa play the largest number of T20s, thus their performances deteriorate over a period of time. In 2007, this concept was fresh and teams had a different approach to the game. Thanks to the overkill done by the ICC and IPL, the approach is totally stale.
Reason No. 5: Importance of Money increases
Tom Cruise, in one of his films, says ‘Show me the Money, Show me the Money’. Now, a player will be judged according to the price tag that is attached to him. Players like Saurabh Tiwary will perform only in the IPL to ensure that he gets a place in the Indian team. Thus, the IPL legitimizes a shortcut to success. During the IPL, Dhoni siad that if the franchisees pay a certain amount of money, one has to perform. What can be inferred from this? Money power will dilute the passion to play for the country. A player would have scored a duck and given away lots of runs, but at the end of the day, he will want his money.
There are a whole host of reasons as to why this crony capitalist league should be banned. However, people have gotten blinded to this consumerist garbage in such a way that any kind of criticism amounts to sacrilege. People have been blinded by the slam bang of cricket in such a way that they do not give a damn about test cricket or ODI cricket. I will be taunted as a cranky guy, ultra-leftist, the Taliban of sport, but the truth is always hard to digest. It is about time that the IPL is banned, and with the thought of playing 94 matches next year over 7 weeks, Indian cricket is in the doldrums if that happens.
