IPL-- Spotfixing and beyond

When Lalit Modi invented the concept of IPL (Taken from EPL), many Indians were jubilant for the fact that India as a cricket crazy nation was going to its next level. IPL was a premium idea from BCCI and hence attracted only the very rich and people associated with Bollywood when it came to team formations. IPL 1 was a grand success with Owners from Reliance, India Cements and few other Bollywood celebrities bagging teams. IPL changed cricket into a great money spinner. Sex, Money, sleaze and corrupt practices get into the stream in any entertainment industry and IPL was no exception with its late night parties and all other forms of entertainment.

Coming to the topic of spot fixing, cricket those days was called a gentleman's game and was a sport that was played once in a while across the globe. Though it has always been a popular game, the likes of Kapildev and Gavaskar played very few games throughout the year and had to be contended with the amount of compensation they received. It was driven by passion those days and that is the whole reason why you and me play the game just for the sake of happiness it provides. Though Dhoni lifted back to back trophies, the 1983 world cup win will always be the most cherished win for a true Indian fan when kapil and his boys broke all odds to beat the ruthless West Indian team. I still get goose bumps when I think of those moments. Those were the good old days of cricket.

Today Cricket is a totally different affair and IPL has taken it to a level where money takes centre stage. Money is dominating the proceeding and is even helping first class cricketers become millionaire’s in no time. It's not just what you do in the field, but off the field activities in the form promotional events which form a major chunk of celebrity cricketer’s revenue. That is what would have prompted even a passionate cricketer like kapil to even compete against IPL. Little did he know about the powers of BCCI that his venture got totally bulldozed to extinction. Few years later, he too joined the IPL bandwagon to get his dues paid for the contribution to Indian cricket.

The lifecycle of a cricketer is unpredictable. You earn fame and money as long as you strike the willow or the timber on a consistent basis. Love for the game is the entry point for a true cricketer and as you succeed, money starts becoming a priority. If you look from a practical angle, it is probably the right thing to do as cricketers also have to plan for their future once they quit playing. They will have to plan early to succeed as businessmen at a later stage. Captain cool Dhoni has led by example in this front as well with his association with Rhiti and his other ventures. I do not want to talk about conflict of interest here, but would definitely like to point out certain coincidences of Raina and Jadeja being part of test teams and Harbhajan getting omitted after he closed his contract with Rhiti management firm.

Though enough money is made in this sport, it is again restricted to very few and leaves hundreds of other first class cricketers to fend for themselves in a career that has a short life span. BCCI is a so called sport body which is run by politicians and industralists rather than being run by people who were associated with the game. It is also known for bullying other cricket boards and ensures that the plans are always in line with what they draw. It is also one of the richest boards with last year's earning of close to 850 Crore INR. With so much of money under its kitty, it was very surprising to know that player payments were to the tune of only 50 crore. What are they doing with the money other than rewarding cricketers at all levels? Where is all this money going? Is the lack of insufficient payments and rewards that is forcing cricketers to engage in fixing activities? When people like chandila got trapped under the fixing scandal, it was the easy route of money that came from IPL. IPL is not about national duty, it is about entertaining people. When Gayle or Dhoni hammers a bowler for 20 plus runs, the crowd erupts in joy. Something similar to what used to happen when a gladiator striked the sword at his opponent. IPL is all about entertainment and when owners like Mallya or Ambani own a team, don't expect passion to emerge for the game. It is pure business and the ROI associated with it. It was very foolish for someone like Gurunath or Kundra to get involved as the risk vs returns never came close. For a few crores of easy money, they have lost the false reputation that he had built so far.

Having said all this, i do not support spot fixing or rigging of games, but will not compare it with games played for national duty. BCCI has a huge role to play and should come out of IPL. But again when people like Srinivasan exist, he will bull doze his way to do whatever he wants.

As far as i am concerned, i am the happiest when i play the game and will always love the game for the happiness it provides me...

Venkat Raghavan

the HULK in IPL

Dr. Bruce Banner’s sole objective is to keep the days without incidents. By “incident” means, his alter ego tears out and cause mayhem. Though the audience craves for the single look of HULK, Dr. Banner’s purpose doesn’t change. IPL pretty much reminds HULK. The fans appetite may have been served by a Shah Rukh Khan’s scuffle with MCA Security Guards or Luke Pomersbach assault on a woman and her fiancé or the sting operation that blew the whistle on player attempting to negotiate deals or the rave party where few players detained on charges of consuming banned substances etc., However, the management of IPL simply doesn’t have a choice but to keep these incidents low to none. Unless BCCI intends to sell IPL for audience cravings.

Every follower of IPL has brains to understand that some players are overpaid than the contractual obligation. Everyone also recognize that it is the system at fault and not the player or the franchise. A player of Gayle is worth only half million dollars is the biggest joke. A seasoned domestic pro like Ambati Rayudu can command only 30 Lakh Rupees is a statement for laughter therapy. And there is no way Ambati Rayudu is going to play for India (we all know the reasons) that will improve his stakes. Then there is a sting operation that only reveals what we already know to happen somewhere behind doors. In my books, it does not put the players or franchise ill for negotiating deals (I don’t intend match/spot fixing here, when I use the word deal). At the end of the day, no player here in IPL is playing for pride (country) or a franchise working hard day and night for the development of cricket in India. Everyone involved including the board does this for money. Unearthing new talents, improving the economy, providing entertainment values, creating job opportunities are only byproducts. It is a pure business model and BCCI should allow the business end of it to flourish. Probably the whistle blower is a perfect opportunity to revisit the framework.

BCCI dictating the price tag of a first class cricketer doesn’t sound logical in the prevailing scenario considering the Supply Vs Demand issue. BCCI may argue that they are keeping the hunger alive for these cricketers to represent the nation. At the end of the day, we already witness half the West Indian side playing here in IPL rather their country, the Sri Lankan players altered their England Tour Itinerary few years ago to play IPL and some International Cricketers retired early for a pie here. A conflict of interest exhibited by some sect of players in the same league does not send right signal to the first class cricketers that BCCI is trying to protect. Also no price tag policy for foreign imports with same first class background adds up the disparity.

On the contrary, renowned stars like Brian Lara, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly only bite dust in the auctions despite the International background. That proves representing the country alone is not an incentive for the player to command money in IPL. Even the potential India cricketers as Chetashwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha, Abinav Mukund are found to be bench warmers for their franchises some years now. That pretty much explains, the format requires a different skill and the tournament operates under a different business model. These are perfect pointers to lift the cap on first class cricketers which will potentially curb the occurrence of murky dealings in the future. In Dr. Banner’s term, an opportunity to keep the incidents low.

If/when the cap is lifted for first class players; some sect might argue the same to be a huge deterrent for the aspiration to become India cricketer. At the end of the day even the fans fail to turn up (England & West Indies series) to support their national team, but throng the stadiums to shore up their IPL franchises. So, what is the big deal in serving the nation?

There will be concerns for this cap lift as the gap will start wider between the strong and weak clubs. But, it is the cost to pay to keep the system clean.

The day the weaker franchise gets the right to choose the first draft pick and sell the player in the subsequent trading window handsomely and transparently, can only bring sanity to the business model.

Someday, fans like me will learn to shift our loyalties from the national side to our franchises. Until then, there is always the failure of Super Kings/Knight Riders to soothe our souls. (You know why). Even this attitude will fade out in the following generations.

Dinesh

Cricket Lover

A drama without curtains...

At the start of this season, we pretty much knew that there will be an off field drama which would draw the necessary attention to spice up the Indian Premier League. Back then we didn’t know what it would be, except we were sure to have one. Please, read IPL Time, if you were to know what happened in the previous editions.

Thanks to the sting operation that puts IPL on spotlight in the international arena for non field cricket related actions. More than the previous years, this season’s drama quiet matched the global trend. Not to any surprise, no big fish caught except some name less cricketers as Shalabh Srivastava, Amit Yadav, Abhinav Bali, TP Sudhindra, Mohnish Mishra are suspended alleging corruption charges. I’m sure none of these cricketers would have gone on to make a name for themselves in the world cricket purely for their cricketing skills. Thus they also become a scapegoat, in other words a target for such sting operations. Just two days before the news broke out IPL employed an independent Anti Corruption Unit to monitor the league. It is too much an irony that the team has a case to solve soon they assumed role. It happens only in India.

Since the players involved were formerly associated with ICL, there is a speculation that this could be an ICL initiative to shun IPL. In other words, ICL employed its soldiers to take revenge for the injustice done to them. Anyways, we have an able team to solve the mystery.

So what do we make out this Soap Opera?

Lots of times, IPL remind TV soaps. Usually the TV soaps ride by the pulse of the audience. You should see the pattern in IPL too. After 3 years of continuous failure, here we witness ascendance of Knight Riders with a new leader in command. Chennai Super Kings caught off guard most of the season peak at the right moment to keep the puzzle intact “How could Dhoni Boys do it again?” A star studded Mumbai line up struggle the entire season to win some of the elementary games and still fancy a spot in the top 4. There are the weak links as Rajasthan & Punjab who amaze the audience with logic defying cricket to keep the competition afloat. Then there is a customary Deccan whose only purpose is to get beaten by any and everyone in the league.

Do some of these things really mean to happen or it happens because the audience pulse demanded it? No way, I intend to say games are fixed. I only say, without a script, without a screenplay, the action still mirror TV Soaps. Probably the reason IPL is sold as CRICKETAINMENT. An ideal entertainment with International Flavor, High Production Values, Glamour Pigeons, Powerful Bosses, Raw Emotions, Large Audience, Heroes, Villains, Comedians, Sentiments, Suspense, Crime, Vengeance etc., packaged with the game of cricket.

Dinesh

Cricket Lover

eye brow raisers!!!

During the trading window, Rajasthan Royals sold their power performer LPR Taylor to Delhi Daredevils (for handsome money I suppose). Then the owners attempted to shed some of their stakes to book serious profit. A move triggered in the assumption that IPL 2012 could bring more loss than revenue?

Pune Warriors did not participate in the auction and also did not benefit much from the trading window. But the Management wisely appointed Sourav Ganguly at the helm of affairs to lead a weak troupe. A big gamble that could pay off with Ganguly leadership else an able scapegoat nominated to take the hit? (Ganguly lead the side poorly is a different story). All will be well when Ganguly is fired for the failures.

Deccan Chargers is already a team with poor track record in the recent years. Traded the big guns like Kevin Pieterson and Pragyan Ojha in the trading window (again for handsome money I suppose). Also did not retain Rohit Sharma in the auction held in 2011. The moves intended to make revenue from the business model, rather build a team for the future? With the current Deccan squad, failures are better prospects than success, which it proved to be. Probably the reason Deccan had multiple home grounds as Hyderabad, Vizag and Cuttack compared to any other team in IPL. Each of these stadiums hosting 3 matches on average should be good enough to lure crowd to take glimpse of the visiting stars if not to cheer the home team. Did the strategy payoff?

Ganguly not in good terms with Chappell lead to his exit from Team India. Again, poor terms with former owner Shah Rukh Khan lead to his exit from Knight Riders. Good or bad terms, exit (player and captain) is pretty much on cards from Warriors too. Where will he go from here? If after the snub, would he still prefer a coaching job with Warriors? Would he go back to his roots and be associated with Kolkata Knight Riders? Probably, commentary would be a better option. The least he could avoid contraversies and speculations.

Teams keep their purse big (especially Deccan, Royals, Kings XI), do big buys in auction, then trade them for even bigger price in Trading Window (no cap). Better business opportunity with in the business model of IPL. Eventually those who bought these big fish only bench them.

I don’t believe IPL games are fixed, At times, I get a feeling that teams purposefully took the game to the last over to ensure tight finishes. It could be an attempt to boost the TRP ratings. Not sure if the trend will continue from here as many teams might tie on points and probably the run rate will decide their fate in the playoffs. Finally, time has arrived where tight finishes may not be the norm of the day.

Every Indian website and news channel boasts Tendulkar interview published in Time Magazine cover. Has anybody really seen the Time Magazine cover? For that matter, had Tendulkar seen the Time Magazine cover? (thanks to my dear friend and co-blogger Balaji Murali for doing this investigation)

Dinesh

Cricket Lover

More Power Plays to follow as Srinivasan arm twists...

N Srinivasan takes position as BCCI president and fires Kochi Tuskers right away. Wow… what a start!!! That move clarified the ambiguity. The current IPL Chairman, Chirayu Amin did not do anything right or wrong, his job wasn’t at stake nor was there a pressure to resign, when he wanted to step down from his post a couple of days ago. Now, you know why he quit. You need real balls to take such a decision and Mr. Amin from his act conveyed his unwillingness to be involved in any controversy. Anyways, all that we see now is not new. Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab were banned before in 2010. They made a case in the court of law and found their way back in the league. It would not be a surprise Tuskers will follow suit to fight their ouster legally.

Following are some of the interesting queries that will be answered in time.

Can Tuskers reinstate themselves in the league?

If no, will another team replace Tuskers through bid?

If no, can the other 9 teams choose the Tusker players in another auction only for the benefit of Tusker-less players?

If so, how is it possible as most franchises ran over the pot in the last auction?

Interesting, interesting!!!

By any chance Tuskers don’t win the legal battle, while BCCI is contended with 9 teams (highly unlikely), that spares the audience 9 fewer games to follow. For now, the viewers can get ready for another engaging show off the field.

In my opinion, Tuskers will be given the opportunity to sell the team. If that happens you are sure to see a different team name with the same men but not playing in Purple & Orange.

In another move, N Srinivasan ruled out any inquiry on India’s dismal performance at England. Don’t know about others take on this, he definitely wins my vote. On Friday Sep 16, India’s tour of England concluded, on Monday Sep 19 Champions league commenced. Soon as this gala ends there will be an NKP Salve Challenger trophy for the benefit of someone. Then England will arrive in India for the 5 match ODI series. While that series is far from over, West Indies will be in India for 3 Tests and 5 ODIs. Before the WI ODI’s end, half the India squad will be in Australia getting acclimatized to conditions. So, where on earth somebody has time to investigate the failure in England? Even otherwise, by the point the fabricated reports arrive, decision taken, another Indian Team would be in England for the Pataudi Trophy. Glad, Srinivasan deemed the investigations unnecessary.

Bottom line: More power play to follow as Srinivasan arm twists... 

Champions League

It's always the question of who is going to qualify the main event along Knight Riders. The question is answered as the boys from the Caribbean coasts made it to the main event. By any chance if you wonder why a fourth IPL team play champions league, rather another club outside India? This has nothing to do with BCCI’s muscle power. It’s one of those Lalit Modi strategies to play an Indian franchise to draw the crowd for the competition held in India. Never mind, it’s still empty stands. I just hope the technical analysis of Harsha Bhogles, Sunil Gavaskars, Ian Bishops are heard by some audience in television sets the least.

Dinesh

Cricket Lover

The hi(gh)story behind "The Indian Premier League"

Few years ago (2004), BCCI issued a tender for the cricket coverage in India for a period of 10 years. Many Satellite TV including ESPN-Star Sports, TEN Sports, Zee bid for this exclusive broadcast rights. Mind you Zee did not have Sports channel then. To capture the cricket audience and to bid for the tender, Zee network started Zee Sports. The bids ran in millions.

Being the highest bidder (260 million dollars) Zee won the deal. When Zee was awarded the contract, ESPN-Star filed a case against BCCI for handing the deal to Zee. The reason being Zee did not have sufficient experience in Sports coverage, which was one of the clause laid per the tender.

BCCI had no choice but to revoke the contract from Zee and give it to ESPN who were the next highest bidder (230 million dollars). However Zee counter filed a case against BCCI on the grounds that ESPN did not possess 10 years of production experience (a clause per the tender). ESPN had wealth of experience in sports broadcast; with respect to production they were always dependent on TWI.

Irked by the court battle, BCCI called off the tender, broadcasted cricket series for a while thru Doordarshan before venturing Neo Sports.

Much the same way Zee came up with its own cricket content and launched the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007. Recruited some big names of the game like Kapil Dev, Kiran More, Sandeep Patel to run the show. The league was also able to lure some big names of the games like Inzamam Ul Haq, Brian Lara, Chris Cairns and created opportunity for many budding, ignored and retired cricketers of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia.

Miffed by the actions of Zee, BCCI banned ICL. Deprived cricket facilities and tagged the cricketers as rebels. The financial powerhouse also ensured players from any country who represented ICL were banned by their respective boards.

BCCI went on to launch “Indian Premier League” in 2008.

ICL fought hard to survive till 2009. Ultimately it gave up and today it is almost a closed chapter except for payment dues to players and whoever involved. BCCI lifted the ban on players and support staff aligned with ICL and offered an amnesty that will make the players eligible to play for the country again after a cooling period of one year. Not surprisingly almost anyone and everyone took it gleefully.


But the careers of many budding cricketers stay affected for playing ICL. Zee’s original motto of creating the league was not to develop cricket in the nation. The agenda was to capture the cricket audience to be glued to Zee network to improve the TRP ratings of the channel. The failure and frustration led to the creation of creative cricket content. Some legends played pawn to the creativity. Not to forget the financial quotient that attracted many of them to join the league. If every satellite TV starts to create their own content, no matter how creative it is, it only shakes the foundation of the governing body. The result, we just witnessed.
  
Bottom Line: In the war of greed, power and money, some careers lost, few images tarnished. Cricket survived.


Dinesh
Cricket Lover