Indian Cricket Throwing Its Weight over Politics

Without doubt Indian Cricket is a major force on the playing field.

Its team is building great strength and has an abundance of talented athletes just waiting to get their chances. The country has already created magnificent players such as Kapil Dev, Rahul Dravid, Bishin Bedi, Anil Kumble, Sunil Gavaskar, and the little master Sachin Tendulkar to name but six.

But behind this glittering talent lies the BCCI—money obsessed and ambitious. Just look at the IPL. It is comercialised to the max, slapping football-sized price tags and paychecks on players and making them play in the new money spinning circus that is 20/20.

The effect, however much of a great spectacle it was, has not been great. County cricketers are turning down the domestic season for unspeakable amounts of cash. Over time, as more and more join the circus, the county game will see a reduced standard with all the best players going to India.

Just over the past week the BCCI have dropped another bombshell, excluding all ICL players from the tournament and eliminating Kent, who more than deserve their place. For some childish politics, the likes of Rob Key and Joe Denly are going to miss out on the chance to shine on a world stage.

I'm sure the last time players were isolated in such a manner was the South African apartheid. Essentially, Modi has created cricket discrimination in the exact same way.

I mean what have Azhar Mahmood and Justin Kemp done wrong? Nothing, that's what. But this is the power the BCCI has in world cricket.

And if you look at the Harbajan/Symonds affair the Australians stood down from the argument because the Indians threatened to pull out the tour. An entire tour could have been canceled because of some on-field verbals. An almost farcical reaction!

I'm afraid the future in a BCCI dictated world will lead to more exploitation of the cricket brand. Its players and teams will become commercialised to the max and we will no longer be able to see the game for what it is.