IPL2 Theme Song: It Wasn't Me!

News channels and sports shows have concentrated on the 12 teams participating and their chances. It is such a relief from all the hue-and-cry that was made when this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) was moved out of India.

I was furious as to how the entire episode with this year's IPL was handled. Here you go, this is exactly how I felt when the announcement was made that IPL was moved to South Africa following security issues.

March 24, 2009

"Indian Political League," "International Premier League," "Indian Problem League," "Indian Premier Letdown" screamed headlines across news channels and portals the moment IPL bosses announced that they were taking the domestic league overseas. 

As one would expect the reactions from politicians, franchise owners, sponsors and organizers reflected that the buck was passed on. Of course, none of them could be held responsible for the sad state of affairs. Somebody else was—what else?—accountable. 

Well, if anything, Shaggy’s famous song "It wasn’t me" would easily clinch the deal as the undisputed theme song of IPL2!

Shashank Manohar, President, BCCI, tore into a provocative speech that predictably revolved around how "sorry" he was in taking the IPL out of India and that he deeply "apologized" to the people of India for having to take "their" tournament out of "their" country.

Asked whether they could have done anything to keep the domestic tournament "domestic," he said that they were left with no choice but to take it outside owing to indifferent "attitude" of the government. 

Bottom line (BCCI): The government is accountable. It wasn’t me! 

Narendra Modi, Chief Minister, Gujarat, criticized the Congress government for "shaming" India’s image as a safe State. He even went to the extent saying that his state would provide the security to hold the entire tournament there even while Gujarat’s DGP (Director General of Police) remained equivocal of providing security should the entire tournament be held there. 

Bottom line (Gujarat): No doubts (barring its DGP!) in our capacity to provide prudent security. Of course, it wasn’t me!

Hallo! How about the communal riots in Godhra? What about the security then? 

P Chidambaram, Union Home Minister, came out all guns blazing demanding explanation to Shashank Manohar and Narendra Modi’s comments and said that the security issue was decentralized and that it was an issue with the "state governments". 

Bottom line (Central Government): (In chorus now...) It wasn’t me! And, of course, Jai Ho! They have the official rights for that song, remember? And also, if every one is watching cricket who is going to attend political rallies?