Pajama Cricket ,part Deux

So,Sachin, the living deity of Indian cricket, notched up two successive hundreds on a trot as India decimated a meek Bangladesh side , thereby claiming a comprehensive "overseas" test series win.Thus,they exacted revenge for their ignominious first-round exit at the hands of the Tigers in last month's world cup.Of course,all we have to wait for is a tour of an Australia or a South Africa , for our halo of invisibility to dissolve into the abyss of despair that is synonymous with Indian cricket. I had quite prophetically predicted that India would underestimate Bangladesh and crash out of the world cup(Na, nothing Nostradamus-type though:I had also said that Pakistan would win the WC ...... look what happened to that....). Everyone had been quite enthusiastic on betting against me then.Till this day,I am yet to 'vasool' all the bets I had placed. (Chintu, if you are reading this,you still owe me, you sneaky little chindhi chor !!!)

After the debacle and the customary brief period of mourning , the discussion shifted to an in-depth analysis of the problems plaguing Indian cricket.My cricket fanatic friends came up with several innovative ideas on how to revive the 'dead' Indian cricket. (If cricket had died after just 2 defeats,what were the other sports in India, fossils?? ... let it be. Digressing from the topic as usual.)And a few days ago, I was happy to read that at least one of the obvious solutions to emerge from our brainstorming was about to take roots.Though from a completely unexpected source.I'm talking of the proposed Indian Cricket league (ICL) , promoted by Zee's head honcho Subhash Chandra. Pajama Cricket,part Deux.

Obvious parallels could be drawn to the original 'Pajama circus' started by Australian media mogul Kerry Packer in the late 70's.Like Chandra, Packer too was jilted by the ICC. The issue involved was of course TV telecast rights.But,what began as a grudge, proved to be the ultimate remedy and one day cricket emerged,phoenix-like from the ashes of the dying test cricket.Whether Chandra's planned venture will prove to be the 'sanjeevani' for the comatose Indian domestic cricket wont be clear until the next few years.The fiefdoms of several lords within the BCCI are threatened and as expected,they have lashed out against this new concept. But,as Jayaditya Gupta wrote on the Cricinfo website: “What Chandra is proposing is effectively what the BCCI should have been doing anyway — in terms of building both infrastructure and manpower. If the BCCI feels threatened, it may be stirred into action — which may not be a bad thing. If on the other hand Chandra has held out his hand in genuine partnership and the BCCI accepts, Indian cricket can only get better.’’

The ICL in a nutshell :
6 teams or clubs to play in the opening year
Executive Board of the league under installation (Kapil Dev,Tony Grieg,Dean Jones & Kiran More)
Pool of referees and umpires to be created
League to begin with Twenty20 format and move to ODI format
Prize money for the winner: $1 million
League teams to compete with teams internationally
Number of teams to be increased from 6 to 16 in three years

Quite admirable if it succeeds.A few views on the issue.

1)Some sort of compromise is essential with the BCCI for the league to succeed.Although BCCI per-se does not own the cricket grounds,it can exert a tremendous influence on the local Cricketing associations who do so.The CCI has agreed to the use of the Brabourne Stadium for the ICL,but few others will follow suit if the BCCI say, threatens to bar them from hosting international matches,which is a key source of revenue.Also the crumbling Brabourne stadium, with its 20,000 capacity is hardly the place to showcase such a fine event.Over time though, a fledgling domestic league will lead to infrastructure development of the sport within the country.

2)Also, if the BCCI shuns the league,few promising Indian youngsters will risk a move to the league,irrespective of the pay package involved.They will feel that it would compromise their chance for selection to the national side.The league will then become a haven for over-the-hill cricketers and would not serve the purpose of creating a "national talent pool" of emerging youngsters that the ICL envisions to achieve.But, if Chandra some how manages to get such exciting prospects on board his venture,the BCCI will be caught in a dilemma.Because,if a truly exceptional talent emerged from the playing fields of the ICL,the media and public pressure will make it virtually impossible for the BCCI to ignore the starlet.If this gambit succeeds, we will then truly achieve a “a reserve pipeline of players” good enough to challenge the Indian squad.Competition for places will improve quality and Indian cricket will flourish.

3)Corporate sponsorship and involvement is critical.The teams should be allowed to be actually owned by corporates/individuals if the future of the ICL is to be secured in the long run.It will ensure that money keeps flowing into the game,even if Zee,say decides to pull the plug tomorrow.Initially,the teams are likely to be either city or region-based clubs.Sure,that will help to build up a fan-following.But ultimately these clubs should be run by those city based businesses/businessmen.(based on the model of the English Premiere League).Imagine a TATA owned Jamshedpur team buying Sachin Tendulkar from say, an Mahindra owned Mumbai team,right under the noses of the Ambani owned Ahmedabad team.Similar to football transfers.

4)Many argue that the domestic League will not be as popular with viewers/sponsors as the big stars will be involved in International matches and only the 'small fish' will play.But,if the matches are interesting, then they will engage the viewers and consequently,the sponsors will follow.And hence,starting with 20-20,the most exciting format of cricket makes sense.

5)The schedule of the ICL should not conflict drastically with that of the international matches of the BCCI.Nobody will watch the ICL if an India-Pakistan match is being telecast at the same time.So,BCCI co-operation is an uncomfortable,unavoidable truth.

6)Thinking big is essential. Which means big names,big marketing and a truly national scale.The talk of Brian Lara,Shane Warne and Glenn Mcgrath will work wonders for the confidence of everybody involved.And make it difficult for the BCCI to ignore/shun the ICL.Not to speak of the benefits to the emerging talent if these players were to conduct coaching camps as well.

9)The domestic players are now paid a pittance as compared to their counterparts in the National team.A successful domestic league will mean more opportunities for these cricketers to earn and so,will encourage more and more yongsters to take up cricket as a proffession.

8)The idea could be taken further and maybe someday, we could have a "Champions League" of cricket involving the top domestic teams from all over the world. Or am i dreaming?Somebody pinch me,quick.

9)Please have clarity on the player's contracts right from the beginning itself.The club must own the player and transfers between the clubs should be permitted.Just imagine the amount of newsreel/blog pages a Rahul Dravid transfer speculation would generate.Also what about the foreign players who are contracted to their respective boards?Conflicts and debates of this nature can turn rather unsavory.

10) For heaven's sakes don't embarrass us by showering us with cheap promotions such as cheerleaders, stuffed mascots and staged performances of over-enthusiasm from coaches,staff etc. like the PHL. Maintain the sanctity of the game.Let the cricket be the entertainment , don't try to make it so.

PS: I am not all together fond of cricket,but being an Indian cant seem to escape it either.And lets face it,its the only game at which we manage to win something.Now and then.