The CWC 2015 Semi Final defeat has left me mourning in happiness. Sad for obvious reason. Our team, our flag was defeated and we had to surrender the title of World Champions. And happy because, since Day one I wanted them to lose (except pakistan game). There is a bit of history in this paradoxical feeling.
When one hears the name Bharat or Hindustan or India many things will strike your minds. Some might remember it as the birthplace of human civilization. Some might remember it's rich culture, traditions. Some might remember it's history of being conquered by foreign invaders. Some know it as the greatest example of Unity in Diversity and many more. But the late 20th and early 21st Century generation immediately remembers its craziness for a game turned religion, Cricket.
There is lot of fodder for the opportunist political class to divide the country may be on sectarian lines or by communal violence etc. But only one thing is enough to bring the country together, stand shoulder to shoulder, sing dance cheer passionately in one voice for one team for that one game. It's cricket.
Now when you have a religion then it must have a God. And even this one is no exception. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the man who dominated most of our childhood, who taught us to dream, who took his team and country to far greater heights in this game. But this is not about him.
The descent for the love of the game began in 2012 when the IPL betting scandal surfaced in public. That time I never knew this incident will force me, in near future, to celebrate Indias' defeat which then I couldn't even dare to dream about. It's not the wrong things that transformed me from a die hard cricket lover to hater. The same stuff also surfaced sometime back in 2000s when few Indian and South African players were convicted for quid pro quo. That time the ones involved were banned from the game. Justice was meted out. But this time, the way in which they made a mockery of the game, insulted the fans, altered laws to suit their interests and denied justice outrightly made me anti national incase of cricket.
Everyone is aware about the initial timeline of how things leaked out and how small players and bookies were being arrested. Those were none of my concern. The real sharks who were behind all this, how they were allowed to walk free shattered all the respect I had for the institution. Let's see how the main sharks made this public game a private enterprise.
MS Dhoni, captain of the India and also of the Chennai club. Popularly known as captain cool. Though he implemented his cool behaviour in the wrong place this tim. Of all people, he should have taken a stand to save the dignity of the game. Instead he decided to do everything opposite. Dhoni lied to the probe committee appointed by Supreme Court under Justice Mukul Mudgal that Gurunath Meiyappan (Srinvasans' son in law) was not the Team Principal of Chennai and was not involved in any activities of the club. He, basically, repeated the same line as said by Srinivasan himself to the media after the scam surfaced. His lies were proved when the Mudgal Committee, with enough evidence, concluded that Meiyappan wasn't just a cricket enthusiast but a Team Principal in true sense and had full access to all the activities of the club.
When one hears the name Bharat or Hindustan or India many things will strike your minds. Some might remember it as the birthplace of human civilization. Some might remember it's rich culture, traditions. Some might remember it's history of being conquered by foreign invaders. Some know it as the greatest example of Unity in Diversity and many more. But the late 20th and early 21st Century generation immediately remembers its craziness for a game turned religion, Cricket.
There is lot of fodder for the opportunist political class to divide the country may be on sectarian lines or by communal violence etc. But only one thing is enough to bring the country together, stand shoulder to shoulder, sing dance cheer passionately in one voice for one team for that one game. It's cricket.
Now when you have a religion then it must have a God. And even this one is no exception. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the man who dominated most of our childhood, who taught us to dream, who took his team and country to far greater heights in this game. But this is not about him.
The descent for the love of the game began in 2012 when the IPL betting scandal surfaced in public. That time I never knew this incident will force me, in near future, to celebrate Indias' defeat which then I couldn't even dare to dream about. It's not the wrong things that transformed me from a die hard cricket lover to hater. The same stuff also surfaced sometime back in 2000s when few Indian and South African players were convicted for quid pro quo. That time the ones involved were banned from the game. Justice was meted out. But this time, the way in which they made a mockery of the game, insulted the fans, altered laws to suit their interests and denied justice outrightly made me anti national incase of cricket.
Everyone is aware about the initial timeline of how things leaked out and how small players and bookies were being arrested. Those were none of my concern. The real sharks who were behind all this, how they were allowed to walk free shattered all the respect I had for the institution. Let's see how the main sharks made this public game a private enterprise.
MS Dhoni, captain of the India and also of the Chennai club. Popularly known as captain cool. Though he implemented his cool behaviour in the wrong place this tim. Of all people, he should have taken a stand to save the dignity of the game. Instead he decided to do everything opposite. Dhoni lied to the probe committee appointed by Supreme Court under Justice Mukul Mudgal that Gurunath Meiyappan (Srinvasans' son in law) was not the Team Principal of Chennai and was not involved in any activities of the club. He, basically, repeated the same line as said by Srinivasan himself to the media after the scam surfaced. His lies were proved when the Mudgal Committee, with enough evidence, concluded that Meiyappan wasn't just a cricket enthusiast but a Team Principal in true sense and had full access to all the activities of the club.
Does such blatant lies suits the First Person of Indian Cricket? When the probe committee also found that Dhoni, being the captain of National team and Chennai Franchise, is also an employee of India Cements a company owned by N. Srinivasan the picture became clearer. Whose interest was he serving? National Interest, Games Interest or Employers Interest? I still remember his face during the presser before the ICC Champions Trophy. He didn't even answer single question related to the scam, instead kept smiling at the reporters when they posed questions. One could easily hear a reporter shouting, "Mahi you cant stay quiet, please answer. The country wants to hear". But the captain didn't budge. During the investigations it was also found that Dhoni was party to the betting transaction along with Meiyappan. This was the reason why the Mudgal Committee included his name in the secret report of names given to Supreme Court.
And after all this, today he is still getting all the respect. I don't deny his playing qualities, which are truly exceptional. But that does not give him the authority to treat the game as your private property.
The head of cricket in India, bccI Chief. People were expecting some concrete action atleast from him. However he was willing to go the distance to save his son in law from the clutches of law. He even appointed a random probe withing the bccI and acquitted his son in law of all wrong doings. Denying to attend a single presser, he finally decided to give interviews to various news channels. And what historic were those interviews. Can one imagine in a Arnab Gowami interview, noise levels not measured in decibels? For every single question he had fixed answers, investigation is On, matter is sub judice, courts will see. He was the first person who coined the term Cricket Enthusiast for Meiyappan. It always made me wonder, if every cricket enthusiast is privy to team news, place in the dug out with all the players were strategies are discussed, can attend all team meetings, sit in auction then shouldn't I also be the one among many who must get the opportunity to share the table with Ambanis and raise the bat during bidding.
With this we come to the main culprit or the representatives of larger sharks, Gurunath Meyippan. His role in betting was proved when Mumbai Police handed over the transcripts of calls between him and Vindoo Dara Singh, through whom he placed his bets. The latter also confessed that everything in the league is fixed. They knew whether the next ball will be a Wide or No or Six or Four or Wicket. They knew the teams' final score even before the game begins. They knew the game results. And we, as fans, are asked to buy tickets, come and shout for them in the stadium, get entertained by the cheerleaders. And just in case all these wrong come out, respect the Institution and Move On. Irrespective of the culprits being brought to justice or not. Also not to miss Raj and Shilpa Kundra, owners of Rajasthan franchise who were also suspects for placing bets.
Another wrong doing along with the betting scam was the Conflict of Interest Issue incase of Chennai Franchise. When a business deal went sour with the Kochi, Hyderabad and Pune franchise they were immediately removed from the league. So when the IPL rules strictly specified that bccI office bearers cannot hold posts in IPL, why was Srinivasan adamant on denying it even when he was owner of India Cements, bccI president and majority stake holder in Chennai franchise. When other clubs can be suspended for not following law, why Chennai is exception? Why rules are molded to suit their needs?
Even the Supreme Court made the Mudgal Committee a toothless tiger. Why statutory powers under Criminal Procedure Code weren't given to them. Most of these accused preferred to utilize the right to remain silent, thus keeping many question unanswered.
These were the prime faces. The show didn't stop with them. After all this, the thing which hurt me the most happened during the trials of the case in SC. bccI was adamant that their body is private, not answerable to anyone. They cannot be brought under RTI. They cannot be questioned for any of the actions undertaken by them. Even when Supreme Court was of the view that the game has attained it's popularity only because of it's fan following. If the same fans are feeling cheated or kept in dark then they deserve explanations. bccI counsel had went to the extent saying we don't select Team India, we select Team bccI. So why should we be answerable to anyone outside the bccI.
Such extent mockery of the game and fans, why, only to save some powerful peoples' interests? Is this the same game now whose victory we celebrated bigger than Diwali. And wet eyes displayed our emotions when the team lost. I was among the many who used to stand outside TV shops even if a Test Match is being played. Cricket was always more than a game. It was never about winning trophies. That was never our concern. I still remember the home Test series between India-Australia. We had already lost the series and last match was just a formality to be played in Mumbai. Both teams played the best 11. Inspite of losing the series, Wankhede Stadium was full house, roaring, cheering, shouting even for a Test Match. It was one of the low scoring game wherein the game was over in just 2 days. India gave a target of 104 and got all the 10 Aussie wickets for just 91. That victory was celebrated more by the Indians then the series victory celebration of the Australians.
As the CWC 2015 came near, Supreme Court also gave a balanced decision on the IPL case. They appointed another committee to decide on charges of those involved in betting. Acquitted Srinivasan completely but barred him from contesting bccI chairman polls. Since the committee is to submit it's report in 6 months hence SC allowed the Chennai and Rajasthan clubs to feature in the 8th season of IPL. Srinivasan was also quick in moving his pieces and brought back Jagmohan Dalmiya, CAB Chief, and got him elected on the top post in bccI as his opponent Sharad Pawar was ploughing his way back in the hot seat.
Team Srinivasan is so much blinded by power. They allowed a bilateral series to pakistan even when the country keeps carrying proxy war in J&K. During the voting for the position paper which was tabled by India, Australia and England to take control of ICC, bccI had argued that the game has maximum viewership in India hence we should get more share in the revenue. They had also said if the paper is rejected bccI might withdraw from ICC. Now all this was possible because of the fans, but still they preferred to ignore them.
At the end of the day what they implied was pretty clear. We will continue doing this who is going to stop us. We will continue mocking the game and fans and take your passion and love for the game granted, who will stop us. We know you will forget quickly, so why should we change our techniques. Even the senior players stayed mum in this tornado for the simple reason maybe why Dhoni kept quite. For them the employers interest was much more important than the game or the fans.
Hence the question stays intact. Who are we in all this? There is a private entity who says we don't select Team India but still use the Indian Flag. There is a captain who almost owns the game. He felt like retiring in the middle of the series even when the team is losing, no one questions him. Domestic Cricket has no importance today. Performance is no more a criteria. Entry into the national team is either by becoming player of Chennai club or employee of India Cements. The perks of being a Chennai player is you have immunity from all the applicable laws in bccI or for that matter even ICC.
As a fan I feel so much disgusted and let down. My voice won't reach anyone, I am aware of and hence it won't matter to anyone. So in silent protest all I could do is become a cricket hater. I may be happy for few seconds seeing bccI defeated. But as a hardcore fan I am mourning the ouster of India from the CWC and seeing the fans game dying a slow death. Coz one just can't the cricket out of an Indians heart. And when that fan is a Mumbaikar, it's IMPOSSIBLE.
-SR.
At the end of the day what they implied was pretty clear. We will continue doing this who is going to stop us. We will continue mocking the game and fans and take your passion and love for the game granted, who will stop us. We know you will forget quickly, so why should we change our techniques. Even the senior players stayed mum in this tornado for the simple reason maybe why Dhoni kept quite. For them the employers interest was much more important than the game or the fans.
Hence the question stays intact. Who are we in all this? There is a private entity who says we don't select Team India but still use the Indian Flag. There is a captain who almost owns the game. He felt like retiring in the middle of the series even when the team is losing, no one questions him. Domestic Cricket has no importance today. Performance is no more a criteria. Entry into the national team is either by becoming player of Chennai club or employee of India Cements. The perks of being a Chennai player is you have immunity from all the applicable laws in bccI or for that matter even ICC.
As a fan I feel so much disgusted and let down. My voice won't reach anyone, I am aware of and hence it won't matter to anyone. So in silent protest all I could do is become a cricket hater. I may be happy for few seconds seeing bccI defeated. But as a hardcore fan I am mourning the ouster of India from the CWC and seeing the fans game dying a slow death. Coz one just can't the cricket out of an Indians heart. And when that fan is a Mumbaikar, it's IMPOSSIBLE.
-SR.
