GovernmentCricket is like a religion in our country Millions of youth are emotionally 
attached to this great game. The IPL phenomenon deeply disturbs them. The cricketing world has to wake up before a death knell is sounded to the game. The relentless crusades of corrupt politicians, manipulative businessmen , vulnerable players , dubious bureaucrats have to be defeated.
At last Shashi Tharoor was dropped. Some more heads may roll. Will the cricketing establishment and the government absolve itself of the murky deals surrounding the IPL which acquired the dubious distinction of becoming Indian Proxy League? Axing Shashi Tharoor will not suffice. He is only a symptom of larger menace that has crept into the cricket, thanks to IPL. The ramifications of the IPL fiasco transcends cricket.
The UPA government should also explain whether its ministers can be involved in business dealings in the name of IPL. The government should probe the source of certain funds flowing into the tournament and reconsider whether any tax exemptions or concessions are justified for this commercial enterprise. According to the Prevention of Corruption Act if a person in public office is aware of murky transactions, he or she is liable to prosecution.
Thus Correcting the symptoms without tackling the disease does not cleanse the system. Punishing the erring individuals should be a first step towards cleaning up the system.
Unfortunately, the IPL claims to have made the sport popular by effecting a fine blend of cricket and entertainment thus synthesizing it into cricketainment . But, the buck did not stop here. The so called cricketainment resulted in the worst blend of sleaze, sex , craft, etc. But, the latest episode reveals that the IPL has graduated . The commmercialisation of cricket has undergone yet an another metamorphosis and now became criminalization of the game. The pernicious nexus draws into its web the influential politicians, crony capitalists, manipulative businessmen, corrupt officials, and perhaps the dubious players. This nexus not only eats into the vitals of the game but poses serious implications for the polity, economy and security of the country . Lalit Modi’s Sudden and suspicious rise in the wealth and the controversial ‘sweat equity’ obtained allegedly by Sunanda Pushkar due to her proximity with the influential friend epitomize how the license Raj is replaced by Looting Raj in the post liberalization period. The stock market scams, Corporate frauds , and now the sporting scams have further reinforced the trend towards criminalization of the economy. The IPL is not just a sporting event, but is a big business enterprise in which big money is involved. It is clearly evident that the IPL franchises’ lack transparency as far as its ownership and equity holders are concerned. There are also disturbing reports that even the funds have come from the tax Havens like Hong Kong , Bahamas, Mauritius . Some corporate entities are also part of the ownership of the IPL franchises .The income tax department , the Enforcement Directorate and other concerned agencies have to probe the shady links. The IPL ownership patterns raise several fundamental questions over the standards of corporate governance.
Off late, administration of sports especially glamorous games like cricket are increasingly politicized. From Sharad Pawar to Narendra Modi many a politician is keen to control the strings of cricket administration. All this is happening in the name of promoting sports. The Shashi Tharoor also tried to defend his case on the ground that he is the mentor and patron for Kerala IPL team promoters. Politicization of the sports has further added to the glamour of politicians but is robbing the cricket of its shine and glitter.
However, the investigations into la-affaire IPL should not confine to Tharoor only. A thorough and comprehensive investigation should be conducted on all aspects concerning this huge cricketainment business called IPL. The IPL has not just commercialized the cricket but even leading to criminalization of this most popular sport in India.
There is now less cricket in the IPL. Money power takes over the sports power . Match fixing thus becomes the congenital disorder. The experience of Sharjah has reveled that under world also creeps into cricket in such a scenario posing the a serious challenge to national security .
Cricket is like a religion in our country Millions of youth are emotionally attached to this great game. The IPL phenomenon deeply disturbs them. The cricketing world has to wake up before a death knell is sounded to the game. The relentless crusades of corrupt politicians, manipulative businessmen , vulnerable players , dubious bureaucrats have to be defeated.
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