ICC, what do you see?
So the International Cricket Council has decided to ask Shah Rukh Khan not to sit with his team. Wow. This one really takes the cake.
Some years ago, we were told that matches were being fixed, and the holier-than-thou ICC suddenly realised that people had come to know what an ineffective and superfluous body it indeed was. Had it not been for a Delhi Police sting on Hansie Cronje, the can of worms would still be adorning one of the shelves at ICC's new headquarters in Dubai.
From there was born the Anti-Corruption Unit, and the ICC, in it's role as a retirement plan for all concerned, added some former policemen to its list of former cricketers, lawyers and sundry. What the ACU achieved, we don't know, but off and on, it does show its head like the Loch Ness Monster, leaving us wondering if it is for real or not.
So let's get this straight. ICC is OK for the Indian Premier League to be played like a picnic match. It's OK with three-hour matches being played over four-and-a-half. The IPL commissioner has the freedom to create, bend and mend rules as things progress. But SRK cannot sit with his team. That would promote corruption.
Funny, since considering that we hear of a party after every Kolkata Knight Riders game, thrown by the owner, wonder what would the ICC do about the players being too close to Shah Rukh there? If any 'corruption' was to be done, won't that be a perfect place, as opposed to an open dugout, with thousands watching?
Also, exactly how do you corrupt a player earning Rs 4.5 crore? Offer him twice that amount? To what end? Losing the IPL and showing losses to the taxman? Please give us a break.
One more thing. If a franchise owner getting too close to the players is leading to corruption, what about IPL and BCCI officials getting too close franchise owners? The match telecast has cricket fighting to get space with shots of Rajiv Shukla doing a Mexican wave next to Mukesh Ambani, and Niranjan Shah almost falling at his feet.
There are also shots of Lalit Modi sharing the same sofa or gallery with Ambani, Ness Wadia, Priety Zinta, and everyone who has signed a cheque for the IPL. That is all fine, since our BCCI and IPL officials are incorruptible, since they work for 'non-profit organisations'.
The ICC, through a maze of convoluted pipelines, is OK to get some share of the loot being thrown around by the franchisees (if it is not, then it's even worse than I thought), but won't allow them to sit next to their teams. They can allow rules to be changed and altered like a children's game of I Spy, but SRK cannot speak to his players, whom he is paying crores.
Do excuse me if I sound confused. That's because I am.
Total Comments: 6
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Posted : By Mr Cricket
HI MR Ghosh ,The high profile franchisee’s are now understanding the true essence of dealing with Indian cricket (read BCCI). Well a scratch beneath the golden surface shows an autocratic body which has shown scant respect for any of its external environment. I think the first edition of the IPL saw Shahrukh Khan as its poster boy, but as the tournament is coming to an end the Badshah of Bollywood is himself understanding the true intricacies of dealing with the cricket authorities. Sharukh is an enigma in the world of cricket and would appreciate if you could glance at my views regarding his entry into the world of Indian cricket which you have followed inside out over the yearshttp://crickethindustan.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/the-enigma-of-shahrukh-khan-in-the-world-of-cricket/
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Posted : By chandni
Mr Nair,Its Kolkata, not Kolkotta.What exactly is a relevance of Mr Ghosh being a supporter of Kolkata Knight Riders? Who else is a Bengali? Shah Rukh Khan? Ishant Sharma? So where exactly did the Bhalo and not Bhalo emerge?Far as I can make out, there are barely two or three Bengalis in the playing 11 at any given time, so Bhalo is irrelevant.I can understand that some part of the country are more parochial than others, but pl don''t brush everyone with a brush you evidently use.As for your sticking to the ''rules'', well guess what! They have been changed! SRK can sith with his team.Guess who lands up looking silly. Got a mirror??
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Posted : By Manoj Nair
Mr. Ghosh, you article is nothing but words of a die hard suporter of a Kolkotta Team. You are a Bengali talking and it is definitely not Bhalo for a media man. Let me keep this simple and give you tips before you vomit such articles next time around. Read Sandeep Patil''s article (I hope you appreciate he played the sport at the highest level?). Fine, then read his article and accept one thing and that is "on the field of play there are rules to follow, you may not like most of it, but as long as they are rules, Gentlemen, please abide by them". Anyone can fall on anyone''s feet, but let that be in the stands and other places, not in the dressing room and dug outs! I may sound harsh, but trust me, i come from the school of though that "sport" is different from "illicit affairs" and IPL is nothing but some BCCI officials dream come true to share the spot with successful people who are role models and to hobnob with some Page 3 Celebrity like Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta! I am actually waiting to read a article from Shobha De, somewhere on this! Cheers!
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Posted : By saurabh
Mr.Ringo, I am sorry I do not agree with your comment.Jaideep is absoulutely correct, the team owner has the right to sit with his team.
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Posted : By LVISS
This is downright silly. When they have already mauled the game by introducing so many amendments why not change this rule to make the owner available to his players.If team owner cannot visit the dressing room or the pit who can. Beats me too.
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