Bye-bye, IPL

The attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan was always going to cast a pall of gloom on sports on the subcontinent, in general. It was also always going to spawn numerous half-baked comparisons to the 1972 attack on Israeli athletes in the Munich Olympics. What was less expected was that it would necessitate a shift in venue for the Indian Premier League (IPL). South Africa and England are two of the potential venues being explored, at the time of typing this.

Moving the IPL, you say? The bizareness of watching Kolkata Knight Riders playing Deccan Chargers at The Wanderers in Johannesburg isn't too far removed from watching an Aston Villa versus Middlesborough FA Cup match in Sydney, Australia or watching the Green Bay Packers take on the New York Giants in Tel Aviv, Israel. It just doesn't work that way, right?

Put into perspective, however,... it's a different story. With nationwide general elections set to clash with the IPL's schedule, it wouldn't seem like the smartest thing for security to be compromised in trying to run both the polls and the tournament simultaneously. Nevertheless, the people behind the IPL fought tooth and nail to ensure that the tournament would be held as scheduled.

Dates were moved around, permission sought from chief ministers of different states, clearances sought from security firms, bulletproof vehicles ordered etc. etc. Was it really worth risking the lives and safety of so many (common citizens would be at risk as well because of all the VIPs around)? And for what?

Just to ensure that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doesn't lose its grip on the udders of the cash cow that is cricket in India?
Just to ensure that every last bit of money is milked out?

The smartest thing in my opinion would have been for the big boys of the BCCI to realise that there are some things more important than cricket in the world and that elections obviously come first. Secondly, had they been willing to eschew this year's season (possibly even annul the players bought in this time's auction), then the integrity of the IPL would have remained intact. Through its own unrelenting obstinence, the BCCI has succeeded in watering down its product and turning it into the NRIPL (Non-resident IPL as a newspaper put it).

Kudos!