Save International Cricket

I am a trench follower of cricket especially International Cricket. I always have advocated International cricket. But does any body has absolute idea about the current state of international cricket? Yes, my friend, international cricket is in dilapidated condition. And who to blame for this? The answer here is us, the common cricket fan. Let's discuss how this happened.

It all started during the 2007 world cup, the lengthiest ever cricket tournament to my knowledge. Many would have noticed the mismanagement by the ICC. The perfect example is the world cup final. Add to this the first round exit of India and Pakistan : the countries where the secondary religion is cricket. After this debacle, ICC wanted to compensate for the loss and planned first ever world Twenty20. In the mean time, ZEE group had started Indian Cricket League(ICL): a club level Twenty20 tournament. Fearing about its revenue, BCCI disapproved ICL and planned to start Indian Premiere League(IPL) in the same line as IPL. This plan was further fuelled after India came out with flying colours in the first ever world Twenty20. So, the first edition of IPL was a grand success as the concept was something innovative. Riding with the success, the IPL chairman Mr Lalit Modi even announced IPL to occur twice. This idea got scrapped afterwards. Taking this thing to the next level, first ever Champions League announced which is currently going on.

No doubt, these type of tournaments have pulled audience like any other International match. People have also enjoyed it a lot. Now, what's the problem with this. This process will degrade the international cricket. Early signs also started to come. The ultimate aim for professional players is not to represent their country. I have met some budding cricketer in my home town who now dreams to join Kolkata KnightRiders rather than representing India. Take the case of Andrew Flintoff. Such was his haughtiness is that he rejected central contract. Due to this idolization of club cricket, Andrew Symonds is going to be a freelance cricketer. Jacob Oram is in the line to follow the suite. And time will come sooner than longer when International cricket won't be best versus best. And whom to blame for this? I think it's we who have followed this club cricket like anything. If this trend continues, then time will come when cricket will become totally mechanical. It will be like today's WWF matches. Script will be written by organizing committee and the players will follow the script. Innocence and excitement of cricket will no more be there.

Can we eradicate this unforeseen consequence? Yes , of course. We have to take less interest in club cricket like IPL or ICL. Consequently, the sponsorship and ultimately the player remuneration will come down. Furthermore, we should take more interest in International cricket.
Save International Cricket.