Now it is confirmed that Indian Premier League (IPL) will be held outside India for this season. The schedule has been announced as well for the season 2009. Even I am disappointed due to change in venues from India to South Africa. Is this move an obvious one? Were there any open options available with IPL committe to conduct this six weeks event India? What does that mean to India and rest of the world? While thinking about the whole story, a number of thoughts floated over my mind regarding cricket, which is a religion in this country and here is an excerpt of those.
Very first thought – was the IPL committee unaware of General Elections while planning for season 2? That can’t be a possibility, Indian media has been producing tons of programs about this ‘Largest democratic‘ event in the world for over an year now. Even if they had thought about the timing, did they fail to estimate the security concern? 
Atleast post 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, did IPL folks fail to get the clearance from government agencies? Did attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore worsened the security concerns of the International players? Well, the number question marks increased exponentially within me.
No second thought that national interest should be given priority. Does that mean we don’t have enough securtiy forces in India to manage both electoral process and sports event? In my view, it would be wrong to politicize sports related issues. I don’t like the way our political leaders are playing the blame game over IPL. Moving the event to South Africa is no good for Indian economy in the recession times. The money spent by IPL team franchisees is Indian money but the returns will be reaped by South Africa now. It is indeed a huge blow to Indian economy and couldn’t have come at the worst time. Now think about the foreigner visas, staff, hotel bookings, security, air travel and many more such industries would have got a big boost to see some cash flowing through the whole ecosystem. What an opportunity lost!
Whatever the reasons behind moving it ouside India, I feel it is a blessing in disguise as far as Indians are concerned. IPL will be held as per the schedule, without any security concerns for all the players. Indian citizens get to participate in General Elections. However, none of the Indian players will get to vote this year though! Politicians will realize the economic ripples that IPL is causing and hope they take a note of the learning and act wisely going forward from next season onwards!
Mohan says
Since IPL 2009 is starting today, my best wishes to Royal Challengers as well 🙂
Salman mehmoodi says
All the best deccan chargers players and Especiall S M Shoaib
Shrinidhi Hande says
Ok. I was referring to this post http://churumuri.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/why-should-state-provide-security-for-ipl/
Mohan says
@Radhika Ganesan
Yeah.. we always get to enjoy *FREE* war of words with the help of our media. Whether it is a minor issue or not.. they blew it up in the quest of sensationalizing everything!
@Shrinidhi Hande
I think you got it wrong. IPL or BCCI has to pay for whatever the security is provided to ground, players etc., They could be getting that money either from sponsors or broadcast rights. Security is provided to private events at the cost of organizers unless it is a government event.
Mohan says
@Radhika Ganesan
Yeah.. we always get to enjoy *FREE* war of words with the help of our media. Whether it is a minor issue or not.. they blew it up in the quest of sensationalizing everything!
@Shrinidhi Hande
I think you got it wrong. IPL or BCCI has to pay for whatever the security is provided to ground, players etc., They could be getting that money either from sponsors or broadcast rights. Security is provided to private events at the cost of organizers unless it is a government event.
Shrinidhi Hande says
I am no fan of cricket but agree that this could have been a boost to economy.
I feel Govt remained adamant thought BCCI submitted revised schedule 3 times. But then another question is, should govt spend public money to provide security to a largely private event?
Radhika Ganesan says
what a paradox … Indian Premier League if South Africa ! All the security force must be protecting the thieves … oops i meant … politicians ! The best of the story was Chidambaram’s reply to Modi (about national shame)… i am not saying that Chidambaram is right (as i don’t know the history of events that lead to the current debate) … just enjoyed the war of words!
Radhika Ganesan says
what a paradox … Indian Premier League if South Africa ! All the security force must be protecting the thieves … oops i meant … politicians ! The best of the story was Chidambaram’s reply to Modi (about national shame)… i am not saying that Chidambaram is right (as i don’t know the history of events that lead to the current debate) … just enjoyed the war of words!