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It is all about Money – WICB doesn’t have It, The English players want More, Symonds ready to settle for Less

Cricket is ‘flourishing’ where money is… India is the fastest growing economy among the cricket playing nations and that is reflecting in the way the game is played and paid as well. While other cricketing boards and players are crying for money to save cricket the BCCI’s pockets are always full!

West Indies Cricket Board in trouble

The WICB has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a loan of US $3 million, to save cricket in that part of the world with a great cricketing past. How painful is it watch West Indies cricket degrading the way it did over the past ten years or so. In the rat race between those who have money, the WICB seems to have lost out! One of the issues that the ICC and WICB themselves need to look into is whether the West Indian countries and islands now need to seperate out and form individual international teams?

English players want the IPL ‘experience’

The likes of Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen have come out openly to state that they want to play the Indian Premier League (IPL) season II. Andrew Flintoff feels that the IPL has given a lot of experience to the Indians and done good to their cricket but who doesn’t know that they are after money?

The English Cricket Board, in the meantime, has clearly indicated that those who want to play IPL may do so at the cost of their central contracts. Looks like, the board has learned a lesson or two after several counties got involved with the rebel ICL and was on the verge of legal actions from ICL earlier this year.

Andrew Symonds ready to settle for a low pay?

It seems Andrew Symonds offered to ‘work’ for a contract lowered by $250,000 this year as a discount towards his off-field activities. The Australian board however, stressed that the sportspersons on international duty should be responsible enough to understand their roles and hence no cuts for the time being. Cricket fraternity feels that Symonds may still retain his contract this year as well, despite some ‘minor’ behavioral issues.

Well, he can afford to loose $250,000 a year as his income from IPL may compensate that or even more.

With the IPL and cash rich BCCI flexing their muscles, the world wide cricketing bodies and players seem to suffer more. I think it’s time BCCI realized where to draw the line. The money power has definitely got into their heads and even trying to influence ICC every now and then. The latest examples being (1) the warning to ICC against the Gautam Gambhir test ban, though everyone knew that the player was guilty, and (2) requesting the English Board to postpone the first test match by a day because it happens to be just a day after the Champions Twenty20 league final (where Dhoni might play, just in case Chennai Super Kings qualify for the final). It’s a shame on cricket that BCCI’s schedules are taking precedence over the ICC Test match schedules that were scheduled months and years back! It’s all about Money!!!

Tail Piece: The economic slowdown is showing on cricket stars’ pay and sponsorships as well. The Pak board is all set for a pay-cut on the players contracts this year. Others may follow as well?

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Colourless Cricket Worldcup in the offing…

Several sub-standard teams, too many injured players, underprepared stadia and pitches, lengthy schedule – Almost every aspect of the game seem to be taking the reputation away from the forthcoming ICC Cricket Worldcup 2007.

The problem started couple of years back when ICC declared that World cup 2007 will have participation from 16 cricket playing countries. Their argument is that unless they do so, the game will not grow. Well, I doubt if that helps the seven or 8 minnows, anyhow. Ideally they should have followed the Soccer World Cup kind of a setup whereby the qualification rounds pick up the best world-cup-west-indies-logo performers from each continent. This means that the top eight test playing nations plus a maximum of two countries should have been given a chance. Instead of proliferating the game the right way, they are reverting to moneymaking and marketing resorts – Well, they wouldn’t mind if the so called prestigious event runs into two months, do they? They need money!!!

The combined problems of injury worries, dope and match-fixing scandals seem to be on their way to diminish the image of the high profile event this time. Almost every good team has couple of their match-winners sitting out. If it is Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds – along with couple of other uncertainties – for Australia, it is Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammed Asif and Abdul Razzaq for Pakistan – I discount Afridi, well he has been a hype anyhow. New Zealand might miss their inform all rounder Jacob Oram where as England is trying to figure out who will be their captain for the Worldcup after a half-fit Kevin Pieterson somehow figured in the scheme of things. Sri Lanka has got their share of problems with their old warhorses. Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Attapatu are not in their best physical fitness, nor are they getting any younger. West Indies has got a different issue altogether as their star allrounder Marlon Samuels is under ICC scrutiny on match-fixing allegations. Among the front-line teams India seems to have the least of injury problems but their natural strength – of being the best batting line-up in the world today on paper and books – is marred on ground fielding. We have one of the most immobile fielding side of all times for this Worldcup. It is unfortunate that Mohammed Kaif and Suresh Raina did not live up to expectations after playing a good number of matches for India in the past.

When countries like West Indies host the mega event, there are a few issues that comes along with it. The infrastructure to accommodate and transport the players and officials of ’16 countries’ and their crazy fans will be a bit of a problem for them. Even the capacity of stadia are not along the expectations of typical cricket crazy nations. That is the advantage that the sub-continent nations have. We at least have big stadiums and a good rail network here. The accommodation availabilities as well as air schedules are the other set of problems in the Caribbeans. The Worldcup officials in WI are working really hard but there is every chance that things may not be fully in their control.

The long schedule of the event is mainly contributing to the number of teams appearing. Hope ICC will learn from their mistake and try to organize qualification rounds in the future before electing 10 teams or so for the final event. This would make things shorter, sweeter and more exciting. They indeed need to learn a lesson or two from professional sports bodies like FIFA.