It is often said that due to so much importance given to cricket other sports are suffering in India.

It’s not only wrong but also wishful thinking. It is not correct to say that cricket has prospered at the expenses of other sports in India. Most Sports body in India are controlled by the Government like Hockey etc or by some individual perpetually like tennis.

Cricket in India is governed by BCCI which is not a government body. It is more or less a democratic set up with forward looking people controlling it.

Why has cricket prospered in India? Why is it so popular? Why are advertisers vying to advertise their product through cricket? To answer these questions we have to go back to 1983 – when India won the Prudential World Cup. It was the turning point for cricket in India. As the fate of other sports like Hockey started to look bleak (India won the only world cup in 1975) after total dominance in 40’s to 60’s, cricket triumph in 1983 World Cup came as a pleasant surprise. It is after this world cup triumphant Cricket started to gain popularity. If BCCI would not have capitalized on this success than te fate of cricket would also been just like some otter sports. BCCI was quick to gauge the mood of the nation and started to build the infrastructure (like new stadiums, floodlights etc) that took cricket to another level. Unlike other sports where sportsmen were paid peanuts BCCI slowly but surely paid their players adequately so much so that now Indian Players are amongst highest paid players in the World —– and Why Not? It is because of them that BCCI is earning so much and why won’t they get their share of the pie.

If other sports federation cannot operate probably cannot compete internationally ot if they cannot pay their players adequately, it is not the fault of Cricket. It is there drawback if they cannot operate professionally and make there sports popular amongst Indians. Who stops them to operate professionally, who stops them to win allocades for India – certainly not cricket. Instead of blaming cricket they should try and take a leaf out of cricket’s success. Most of the sports body is being run by the whims and fancies of their head without an iota of professionalism. Today India is as market economy, money follows success. First show the results and then one gets the money which again go a long way in sustaining the success, this is a vicious circle. Monsey in cricket has come only after the world cup triumph but it was also very important at that point of time to en-cash this success. After winning so many gold medals in Hockey why is it in such a bad taste — because due to lack of foresightedness and unprofessional attitude of there federation they could not en-cash their success. Why blame others for your impotentness.

Even if sportsman who earns laurels for their country in other sports earn next to nothing, is it because of cricket — certainly not. BCCI pays from its own resources and other sports should build their own resources too. You can’t force people to play or watch any sport. They watch or play cricket because today India has some standing in world Cricket. Due to success of cricket it has virtually become religion in India. It is aptly said that one gets what one deserves and Cricket certainly deserves all the Success.

blogathonindia , blogathonindia1

[Picture courtesy hinduonnet]

On a history defining day of cricket 77 out of 79 players listed for sale were bought by 8 IPL teams for a whopping $42 million dollar. On an average more than half a million dollar per cricketer.

Here is a summary of the day.

Guys who joined the millionaire club:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - $1.5 million (Chennai)
Andrew Symonds – $1.34 million (Hyderabad)

Other in the club are Icon Players:

Sachin Tendulkar - $1,121,250 (Mumbai)
Saurav Ganguly - $1,092,500 (Kolkata)
Yuvraj Singh - $1,063,750 by (Mohali)
Rahul Dravid - $1,035,000 by (Bangalore)

Most Overvalued players:

$ 950000 – Ishant Sharma
$ 675,000 – Mohammad Kaif

Most Undervalued playes

$400,000 - Ricky Ponting
$375,000 - Matthew Hayden

Strange Deals

Shane Warne - $450,000
Glen McGrath - $350,000

When compared to

David Hussey - $675,000
Cameron White - $500,000
Yusuf Pathan - $475,000

With all the Drama surrounding this event and with so much money on stake one just hopes it lives up to its Hype

19th Jan. 2008 will go as one of the best days of Indian cricket history. But I am not very sure about the very next day when Indian ODI team got selected.

How the hell can you Drop players like Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman from such a big and important tour. Ganguly has been in sublime touch all through 2007, Dravid is known as the wall in world cricket and if there is somebody who bats like GOD against the world champions its Laxman.

I tell you what sometimes I fail to understand why our selectors stress so much on young team and fielding. Lets take an example of Australian team Adam Gilchrist , Ricky Pointing, Mike Hussey, Mathew Hayden all are above 30. But still playing and playing well.

Looks like for Indian selectors there’s an age criteria for the ODI squad. If you are close to 34-35 you will soon be dropped irrespective of your past records and current form.

I was watching to some of the news channel yesterday and everybody said, its because of there fielding that these guys have been dropped. Hold on Guys, agreed that some young players will save 10-20 runs through there fielding but Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman will make 40-50 runs more than what the young good fielders do.

My Advise to Selectors: Ishant Sharma bowled really well. But he took the crucial wicket of Ricky Pointing after the guidance from a senior player like Virendra Sehwag. It’s important that we have the right balance of Youth and Experience.

I also feel sorry for some of the senior players who are there in ODI squad. I am sure they will miss there team mates who have combined to win so many matches for India.

After seeing yesterdays match at Sydney, I think there are certain rules that ICC should immediately incorporate in its rules book

• Ricky Pointing(The most honest cricketer of his era, do not question his integrity) to be considered as the fourth umpire in all the matches involving Australia. Whatever he decides should be considered as last decision. If you fail to accept it, you may be charged by a 3 match ban.



• When the Australian team is bowling, if the ball flies anywhere near the Australian fielder the batsman is to be considered out. In case of disputes umpires can consult Ricky Pointing.
• While batting Australian players will wait for the umpire’s decision even if they have edged the ball to first slip. Each Australian batsman will have to out four times (minimum) before he returns to the pavilion. And if the player has lot of integrity the number can go as high as umpires feels fair enough.
• If a Australian player gets a century, a extra check of the $10000 will be awarded to the umpires for every wrong decision that has helped the player to get to his century.

Buy the way, I was really disappointed when Andrew Symonds was announced as the man of the match. I thought the right person for the trophy was either Steve Bucknor or Mark Benson.

Symonds you should have shared that prize money with the two umpires. If they were not there you wouldn’t have scored a 50 also. This kind of gesture does not suit players like you who have so much of integrity.