The day Cricket died; IPL [Indian Premier League]
By Ammar Yasir • Apr 21st, 2008 • Category: Entertainment • 8 Comments
Among other sports; cricket is one SPORT which is rigid to changes. It took ages from; Test form of cricket to ODI’s and then came twenty-20 which quite changed the shape of International cricket. Its more exciting, thrilling, one can arrange more matches in a day. But many veteran cricketers like Waseem Akram, Javed Miandad and Ricky Ponting are still in love with the original form of cricket ie Test cricket.
When I first heard about IPL, I was pretty excited. I was expecting some quality cricket along with the regular excitement and fun. And then we witnessed cricketers being sold out like sheep’s and goats. The only difference is that no goat worth millions of dollars 
The commercialism didn’t stop here. Rich Actors (SRK), Business Tycoons (Vijay Mallya etc) and not so rich girlfriends of quite rich Business men (I am talking about Pretty Zinta here) won the rights of each regional team.
Cricketers seems to be (filthy rich) happy, so are the investors for obvious reasons. But guyz shouldn’t there be any difference between cricket and a Karan Johar film or any Bollywood commercial flick for that matter. I am not against Indi masala films, neither I am against 20/20 or new exciting form of cricket for that matter. But people IPL is anything but cricket. I mean golden helmets and pads. Half naked cheerleaders cum bar dancers jumping/dancing on every boundary. Okay I agree I am a bit conservative when it comes to this, but the fact that sex sells does not imply that every picture in the art gallery should have a naked woman. Go on call me a traditionalist but my point makes sense.
The only reason of my displeasure is; I was expecting a league of EPL & UEFA standard and I am observing something like WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). So the question is; will the real cricket survive?
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I might be one of the conservative people who would like their cricket to be long but skillful. With the advent of Twenty20, I expected things to shorten up and talent to take a back seat but IPL has damaged even this form of cricket to a great deal and has transformed into something completely different. If you remember the opening cermony, people were mostly interested in seeing SRK perform rather than cricketers! Although IPL is bound to help make people a lot money, I feel said for badly it will ruin things for real cricket, i.e. Test Cricket
Hi guys,
You are talking the language of the Britishers. They didnot join initially and now they are asking a texan oil billionare to fund one of their own league in Britain.
What all you say is what traditionalists said about oneday cricket when kerry packer started it all.
Cricket is getting more demanding with people expecting skill of the heighest order and no lazy 5 day picnic here. It is for the FITTEST OF THE LOT AND also INNOVATORS.
THE GAIN IS SOME OF YOUNG NAMES WHO COULD NEVER EVER IMAGINE the likes of Ponting, gibbs,kallis,Muralidharan rubbing sjhoulders with them and teaching them is the greatest gain. The brilliant centry by bredndon macullum in opening game put everythign in proper perspective and the old foggies were exposed
Ofcourse those silicon impkanted babes are for the voyeuritistic indian male who also come to watch Sani Mirza without knowing what is forrehand or halfvolley.They pay and Money counts here.Symonds commanded more money than opoting while Ishant sharma commanded more than other famous names and merit decides the money.
We in India love this with all show and pomp and we miss Afridi and Shoaib and Misab.
@ Johann
With all due respect captain. Bollywood and Cricket dont go hand in hand. you cant combine a night club and a cricket stadium.As I have said before, i am not against improvements and changes but when money becomes the only reason the spirit vanishes.
Dear Ammar,
money is now every where. We can’t proceed with money. It has very strong relationship with sports also. They sprots which gives more money is attracted by more players. Hockey lost charm in Pakistan just because of money. Players are unable to fulfill their monetary requirements so they left it. Every youngster is running after Cricket because it gives million and million in just couple of years.
Secondly, its also beneficial for countries. They gets enormous amount of revenues from its promotions and adds. You industry can’t produce and export as much as one Sport event collects money from media. Sports is game of business and money. Without money, No sports.
In that case Saleem we are not getting anything. Not more then 5 to 6 players of Pakistan are playing there. Money is an essential part of professional life but you wont change the rules/face of that profession just because you are making more money by doing so. If you take the soul out from a body or take the fish out of the water;none will survive.
True words Mr. Yasir…
“The day that cricket died…”
but the fact of the matter is…whatever is taken up by commercialism…eventually dies…atleast in spirit…
anyways…nicely done…
keep it up
Thanks to the article, Now there is more reason to comment than ever before!
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