| Cricket is considered to be the gentleman's game and | | | | believing that a person who absorbs the tremendous |
| it has ruled fan's heart worldwide. From the vary | | | | pressure of fans on the field and still comes out at |
| advent of this popular sport, it has been an | | | | par with them, is not fit to govern the cricketing |
| exceptional source of income. In the past era, when | | | | body? Above all a basic fact prevails that how can a |
| cricket was confined only to western countries or | | | | businessmen or a politician select the players to |
| royal families in India, it involved huge amounts of | | | | represent the country? |
| money. The sport was played with passion, splendor | | | | The onslaught of celebrities and business |
| and as a symbol to define one's status. The stress | | | | professionals in cricketing world has brought many |
| was on the glory and nation's pride rather than | | | | plagues with it. Advertisers are hastily reworking |
| rewards. Such was the glory of this game which | | | | expensive campaigns that were earlier based on |
| thrilled the players as well as viewers. | | | | cricket. The TV channels that paid big bucks for |
| But nowadays, values and priorities have changed. | | | | telecasting rights are having trouble offloading their |
| Cricket is benefiting a lot with money and new age | | | | inventory of advertising spots. Office bearers |
| Cricketers are more into league Cricket than playing | | | | sometimes make more news than cricketers do as it |
| for their country. Leagues like IPL or the upcoming | | | | is run by industrialists and politicians. The official |
| EPL are a storehouse of huge amounts and this | | | | money in cricket is big. Recent controversy involving |
| simply means the divergence of raw talent from the | | | | Income Tax in IPL is a clear cut example of this fact. |
| actual track. From organizing a cricket match to | | | | The effect of glamor is not behind by any means. |
| distribution of awards, the flow of money is | | | | Late night prolonged IPL parties took toll on the |
| impeccable and unmatched. The business of cricket is | | | | cricketers and they started catching air on the field |
| so much thriving that while the money keeps rolling | | | | instead of crucial catches. Batsman were caught |
| in, disasters keep rolling out. The early exit of India in | | | | napping in their crease and the bowlers seemed to |
| world cup is a mere glimpse of this epidemic and | | | | be engaged in salsa dances. Such is the devastating |
| undoubtedly, this havoc has loads to offer in the near | | | | result of increased interference in cricket. |
| future. | | | | Time has come to keep aside the interests of media |
| The actual problem lies in structural governance of | | | | rights and sponsorships. Stupid issues like chairmanship |
| the sport. At the national level as well as state levels, | | | | and website owners need to be neglected. Money |
| politicians and businessmen dominate the BCCI | | | | needs to be spent for nurturing the fresh talent in |
| administration. How can one digest the fact that the | | | | the right way. Its high time that personal interests |
| president of most passionate game in India is the | | | | should be kept aloof from the fraternity of cricket, |
| agricultural minister. Are we short of cricketing | | | | else, money will rule the game. |
| geniuses or efficient captains? What is the point in | | | | |