| Some youths may be too keen on the game of | | | | ADVERTISEMENT |
| cricket to take their studies seriously. They may | | | | Cricket players do not earn money alone from their |
| believe that going to school is a chore they can do | | | | statutory wages. They get a lot more from |
| without. Their mind may be on taking the game of | | | | opportunities such as advertisements and |
| cricket as a career option. But can a career be made | | | | endorsements, especially when they become |
| out of a game where people use long bats to knock | | | | successful at international cricket series and become |
| around a small ball thrown from the opposite end of | | | | brands. When they perform brilliantly at series against |
| long playing area? Can someone live on a sport, | | | | top notch cricket countries such as Sri Lanka, |
| which many believe does not have the widespread | | | | England, Australia, and the West Indies, their |
| popularity of games such as soccer, lawn tennis, and | | | | reputation rises and they become national icons. This |
| basketball? Stories from newspapers, the internet, | | | | enables them to negotiate lucrative deals through |
| radio, television, and other elements of the mass | | | | advertisement and endorsement. Dhoni, Yuvrag, |
| media say that the game of cricket can be taken as | | | | Sachin, top notch players in the Indian game, are |
| a good career option for the youth. If you love the | | | | examples of cricket players in this category. They |
| game, the mass media seems to say, and you are | | | | earn so much money from out-of-the-field activities |
| not just in it to earn a few millions, anything is | | | | that they make the game to be lucrative. |
| possible. Here are a few facts to show that those in | | | | OPPORTUNITIES |
| the mass media might not be wrong. | | | | Due to the exploits of India at the 20-20 world cup |
| EARNINGS | | | | and the under 19 world cup, the IPL and the ICL |
| During the recent IPL bidding for new cricketers in | | | | have decided to increase the intake of new players |
| India, crores of rupees were handed over to many | | | | so that more talents can be discovered to become |
| young players in deals to integrate them into the | | | | instrumental to India to continue to be outstanding in |
| professional world of cricketing. For those of them, | | | | the world of international cricket. There is no doubt |
| who won the under 19 world cup for India, they | | | | that the increased opportunities for youths will lead |
| earned as much as 15 LAKH rupees. The reason for | | | | to better deals and more money. |
| this treatment of the young players is that every win | | | | PARTING SHOT |
| makes the game of cricket to become irresistible and | | | | To succeed in cricket, youths must have passion for |
| encourages companies, individuals, and government | | | | the game. They must not believe they can be |
| to invest in the game. With more success and | | | | successful if they do not have strong interest in it. If |
| experience, the young players who got deals at the | | | | they are convinced that they have the passion and |
| IPL bidding will get much more when the next bidding | | | | the talent, the sky is the very limit. |
| takes place. | | | | |