But there are some points that I wanted to put forth :
1. Whatever was done to Pakistani players was deplorable. It was extremely unfortunate, and it could have been averted. Anyone who says (and I know many who do) they felt happy is just marginally better than terrorists who cause friction. By terrorists, I also mean anyone who is complicit with them — state and non-state actors.
2. If you feel this was a great way to enforce dismantling of terror groups in Pakistan, please explain to me how exactly do you think this move helps.
3. I don’t blame the team owners for not selecting players who may or may not be available for IPL 3. It depends on how relations between India and Pakistan are from today till the start of IPL. It is a business decision and they have every right to do what they think makes monetary sense for them. As SRK said, if the Shiv Sena had claimed earlier that it wouldn’t let Australians play in the IPL, he would’ve thought twice before bidding for one. While the analogy is good, I don’t think it is perfect. Being Pakistani is different from being Australian. It is a fact.
4. It is entirely plausible — but highly unlikely — that all team owners did not bid for any Pakistani player purely by coincidence.
5. The reaction from players like Sohail Tanvir was unhealthy and unsportsmanlike (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2IL-6YaCk0).
6. The whole auctioning of players with BCCI as the middleman is stupid. Only Lalit Modi could have come up with that. This is a non-sequitur, but I wanted to mention it nevertheless.
*****
While on this topic, I want to mention one sentence I was told recently : Pakistan is suffering because of its ill-karma. I have come across statements to this effect in the past too.
I won’t analyze it. I do not wish to dignify such ideas by replying.
2 comments
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February 12, 2010 at 1:33 pm
brok3n
Errrrrm…..there’s quiet a few things you’ve said there and Im not going to comment on all of it because frstly because both of us know it was unfair on more levels than one. Not neccessarily as much on the supporters or even Pakistanis but its a slap on genuine sportsmenship.
Secondly IPL is more than just cricket… Its like a business. What Im trying to say is, that its dirty and manipulative -shrug- …so to take it all to heart and get worked up about it would be stupid :p … Having said that, I have read a few comments by indians stating things like “some of thier own are betraying thier land” ..maybe pointing at those indians who actually raised questions on Pakistani players having not been selected for IPL. Similarly there are others who’ve shrugged off the whole thing…. just like pakistanis. Some are ticked off and insulted an the others arent.
Finally since its a franchise..I don’t know how they weighed out thier pros and cons but by not taking on Pakistani cricketers.. they haven’t just left a sour taste of the whole thing for many cricketlovers but have probably also been/are going to be in loss.
there’s my totally unbiased two cent =P
February 12, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Deepak Iyer
@brok3n : I can’t really disagree with anything. Except the last point that they are going to be in loss. Well, Pakistan is the current T20 champion. But in a strictly business sense — given right-wing outfits like Shiv Sena, VHP and RSS — if I were an owner, I would also have to factor in how these people might affect my revenue. It could be protests, threats or just the psychological trauma all other players might have to go through.
Now, it is the job of the government to avoid all this, but if I were an owner, I’d have to factor in all this. It doesn’t seem like a great loss now, does it [;)] ?
Oh and the most profit-making team in the first 2 IPLs was KKR, who played really bad. So there isn’t much correlation between good teams (and good players) and revenue.