But the success achieved has come by the hard times. There were criticisms saying, Cricket has lost its standards, The gentleman's game has been turned to Gambling. Complaints were arised by the players, stating they were not happy with the auction being held for teams to get their players. But the verdict was out, almost instantly, when the wheels were set in motion. And it was written once the tournament commenced.
The fans enjoyed the format of the game. Its not a surprise that the fans were thrilled to watch Shoaib Malik and Virender Sehwag play on one side. When could someone see an Indian and Pakistani rubbing shoulders? It could be their life's best moment to see Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya opening the batting. Their passion for the game cannot be expressed more clearly.
But it is with deep regret that we must accept that we have a doubt and a fear, that we shall have the same excitement this year. A year's time has gone so quick, that must be the reviews, memories of the last season and expectaion to the next which has taken us past time so quickly. But this year the conditions are different. Cricket is facing hard times.
I feel it all started with a bomb blast in Pakistan, just outside the hotel, were the Newzealand Cricketers resided, when they toured Pak. Then the security issues were raised and that lead to the postponement of the ICC Champions Trophy, which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan. And then the Champions League, which was scheduled for the winners of IPL, English and Australian County Championship, was postponed as well. The worst thing is the ICC champions world cup has not been clearly re-scheduled yet.
The fact must be accepted that, the attack in Lahore, in Pakistan has a severe effect on Cricketers of the rest of the teams. The bad luck for cricket fans is, that India is about to host it Parliamentary elections at the same time of the IPL. Its obvious that, the elections would be given first priority over IPL, when it comes to security. The Internal Affairs Ministry, has expressed his inability to provide NSG security for the tournament. The state govt and the state Police prefer elections ahead of Cricket.
BCCI and IPL organizers are in a desperate situation. Its impossible for them to drop or postpone the tournament, because we are talking about serious money. And the important fact everyone must understand is, that IPL is a tournament comprising players from all the nations. There isnt a possibility to change the schedule or postpone because it would affect the national schedule of the other teams. That increases the pressure of the organizers. And that doesnt mean that, players safety is meant to be taken for granted.
On the other hand, the players would be willing to play the tounament. for its a change for them to mingle with players, whom they have considered as their opponets. And money matters as well. But they wouldnt risk thier lives for any reasons.
The million dollar question of any Cricket fan, in any part of the worl will, what will be of the IPL 2009? And the solution to this question must be given or found by BCCI.
Dropping, rescheduling or postponement of the tournament is like we have subsided to terrorism. Carrying on the tournament, with inadequate security measures, mean that players life is at stake.
What should the organizers do?
Is Cricket more important, than the lives of the players? Should they take a risk my conducting a tournament on the verge of fear? Is it worth that?
As i said earlier. postponement or dropping would mean that we are submissive to the threat of terrorism. So i think, the BCCI must find out a solution for security problems. That means they must have a foolproof security measures before the commencement of the season. But they cannot rely on NSG or the state Police. They might opt ofr some private security, with the permission of the govt and all the nations, from which players participate. But that shall not be advisable because, the reliability factor stands low. But this is an option the organizers shall consider.
The security from other cricketing nations shall be a choice if the govt doesnt consider it as a security threat to the nation.
When we consider such options, we may feel that, do we want a tournament with so much risk involved in it? But we must understand that, its not as a cricket fan we want the IPL, but as a hardcore patriot, to show the terrorists that you cannot take us so easily. We want to send them a message, that we are ready to fight till the last drop of blood pour out of our body. We dont want them to win. Atleast not in sports.
This makes us clear that nations must stand united to conduct the IPL 2009. And that means the owrld is united uner the roof of Cricket today, and would be under the roof of sports very soon, to fight the terrorism not out of sports, but out of the world.
Lets pray for that to happen. And Lets make it happen if we get a chance.
0 கருத்துரைகள்:
Post a Comment