Cricket Cricket Everywhere!!

Come April18th, and a new era will be ushered, as the Indian Premier League (IPL) will take the center stage, and with the sport poised to reshape its future .
The Twenty20 competition, promoted by the Indian cricket board featuring stars from world over, has eight teams bought by franchises. Apart from the usual glitter, what it has certainly done is opened avenues for fringe players to make a mark and accomplish financial security.

Playing Test cricket is the cherished dream for most of the players. But now any boy being raised in Kolkata's streets or the chawls of Mumbai will now aim at fighting his way out by playing cricket of 20 overs per side. This revolution has something for every stakeholder involved . The tournament marks the first time that international cricketers will put aside national allegiances to play for privately-owned and city-based teams. This was bound to happen when cricket boards and ICC make massive money and leave the cricketers impoverished with a meager percentage.

Sure! Cricket rules the roost in the subcontinent and hockey as a national sport can be best described as forlorn territory. But does that mean ODIs will strangulate as Test cricket did when the limited over format was first introduced. The emerged money spinner is T20 format with unprecedented investments from all quarters. This will shift the attention completely, with high profile players willing to retire to feature in the multi-million dollar earning potential . This will catalyze a pattern in which players in their prime will opt out of their national sides .Consequently , the 50 over game will be at risk .
Does the ICC have the say in ensuring player do not succumb to tempting contracts.

Where is key to resolve this standoff? The supreme body would have to study and respect the history of the game .In the past, it tried to resist World Series Cricket and lost the battle of the Australian television rights to Kerry Packer. Mere resistance just for namesake would just delay the inevitable i.e. loosing the battle to private entrepreneurs .There is a distinct possibility that too much cricket can be boring and suddenly cricket itself becoming its own enemy .Probably there could be a official duration allocated period for Twenty20 tournaments, leaving enough time to meet rigors of 50-over competitions and tests to be contested between the traditional members .Not only will it ensure in getting the itinerary right but also result in offering greater options for the viewers and players creating a Win -Win situation.

Whether or not it is run away hit or an eye opener that nationalism will reign supreme, only time will tell.
Meanwhile, it’s a huge opportunity for ICC to preserve the hen which lays golden eggs!