Kapil counters, “What entertainment? Cricket itself is entertainment. Sport is entertainment. It doesn’t need gimmicks to boost its market. For years we have had stadiums full because they came to watch batsmen and bowlers, wickets and catches, runs and sixes, and not wildly swinging hips.”
1. Wasn't it in ICC World 20/20 Cup, that we first saw cheerleaders being introduced in cricket. That tournament was sponsored by ICC, run by ICC, accredited by ICC. So it is not like it is BCCI that is introducing cheerleaders and DJs in 20/20 cricket. They are merely following what the governing body started. So if KD can get his head out and remember a little bit of history, he would probably not be making such comments that show how ignorant he is.
2. About swinging hips - I'm sure KD has never seen professional cheerleaders dance in his whole life till date. I'm also sure he doesn't know that many European and American countries have national cheer leading championships. I would suggest KD to see the 'Bring in on' series of movies, not for their stories but to see what stuff cheerleaders can do. That will shut him up for his swinging hips comment. Another thing KD would notice if his head was not stuffed right up there, that most of the dance steps that all foreign cheerleaders are performing, are either bhangra steps or Indianised version of their steps. They are not dancing the real cheer leading dances and exercise that they do otherwise. So if KD is so cut up about the swinging hips, all he has to do is see the wet dance sequences of Indian movies and feel happy about them. It is the Indianised steps that are offending him. Sure, the real cheer leading dances too have sexy steps. But that's not what these dancers are doing here.
Kapil was candid when he confessed, “I have spoken to a lot of senior cricketers and they think it is a big tamasha (circus). It is a financial venture with purely business interests at the heart of it. Let us accept it as a business venture. As far as cricket is concerned, I can only say that I feel sorry for the game because one of the top BCCI officials recently wanted betting to be legalised. Nothing could be more outlandish.”
1. What the phuck is ICL? Is ICL not another business venture with only profits at heart? Is ICL created to further cricket in India? I don't understand what KD's point is here. Sure IPL is a business venture, of the same kind as ICL. So is KD spitting on ICL too? Is ICL a tamasha too? Oh, I forgot. There is no cheer leading in ICL, so probably that is serious cricket and IPL is a tamasha, right Paaji?
2. Do I see a hint (or bucketful) of jealousy here? You have nothing to do with IPL, Paaji. IPL is turning out to be a huge success, full of money for everyone involved with it. You seem to be missing out on that money even though you are considered one of the best cricketers India has produced. Is that why you are feeling jealous and calling IPL a 'tamasha'?
3. Legalizing betting - Paaji, are you for banning state run lottery or not? If yes, I can understand you feelings. If not, you are a bloody hypocrite. What is lottery if not betting on numbers? What is gambling if not betting on numbers? Why are lottery and gambling legalized? So that govt can enforce control over it, otherwise there will exist a huge underground mafia for it. Why is boxing still legal? KD doesn't care but the reality is that boxing is still legal so that it's controlling associations can exert laws and control over it. If not, there would be a huge underground boxing mafia and boxers would get killed or seriously hurt. Underground boxing would mean no-rules boxing matches. No one wants that, so boxing is legal and run within rules. Just an example for KD.
He continued, “I feel sorry for the BCCI. I wonder what stopped it from marketing its domestic cricket. Wait and watch what happens to domestic cricket now. A youngster will learn the game in the domestic circuit and not the IPL.”
Paaji, please take your head out. You are sounding more and more incoherent.
1. In order for BCCI to market domestic cricket, there has to be a buyer, right? How many channels want to show live Ranji, Duleep, Deodhar, Irani trophy games? KD is associated with ZEE who owns ZEE Sports. Does ZEE Sports show any domestic games? If not, did KD ever ask them to show domestic games for the good of domestic cricket? Come on, Paaji. First see what you can do for that game because you are in a position of doing something, then ask what BCCI can do. I'm sure BCCI is not hesitating in selling TV and other rights of domestic games. I'm also sure that these games are shown on some channel, even if it is DD Sports. So what is KD saying, actually? What's his point about marketing?
2. Salaries of domestic players have nearly doubled, since the last contracts were written. Salaries of domestic umpires have doubled. Level D has been introduced in national contracts, to increase number of contracted players. Heck, how many had heard of Manpreet Singh Gony before IPL? That guy is a brand new guy from Punjab. IPL gave him a chance to showcase his talent on national stage. Isn't that an achievement? Don't every IPL team have to have 4 under-22 players? Isn't that bringing up new talent? Do see new players of every team talk to commentators about how they are learning new things by interacting with international players? Didn't you see MgGrath guide the young Delhi rookie in his over and the rookie bowled 2 consecutive yorkers? Isn't that learning? Would that rookie get the same lesson in Ranji games? A player can learn the game anywhere he wants to learn. I can guarantee the lessons Rajasthan players are getting from Shane Warne, Greame Smith, Kaif etc. are precious to them. They won't get these lessons in domestic cricket.
The former India captain, known for his flamboyant style of cricket, observed how the culture of cricket had changed, from playing it to watching it too. “The jump has been too big for the administrators to handle. The BCCI is finished as an organisation.”
Why? “Because club culture, with the patronage of the administration, will command bigger loyalty than State or even country.”
1. Instead of talking from the place where your head is stuffed, people would appreciate if KD could make more coherent and comprehensible comments, rather than incoherent ramblings like BCCI is finished. I wonder what he means by that! I wonder if he himself know what he means by that!!
2. And what club culture? What is ICL if not a collection of club teams? Is it any different? Oh wait, I get it. ICL or ZEE do not run cricket in India. So they are free to do what they want to. What they do will not damage anything, but if BCCI does the same thing with more money, it will damage cricket in India. So, club culture of ICL is fine, but not of IPL. Wah re, Paaji ka logic!!!
Does he visualise market forces and glamorous stars from the tinsel world taking over the game in the future. “I am sure even cricketers would soon resent and resist this invasion by film stars.”
I'm sure KD did not have the same sentiments when Mithun da was taking control of Bengal club team of ICL, right Paaji? When it is ICL, players will welcome invasion by film stars. When it is IPL they will resist. Sure, after a point SRK may become too much of a distraction for KKR and I'm sure they will let him know that. But that's between them and SRK. Why are you worried about it? Are you worried about Mithun da's invasion in Royal Bengal Tigers?
Would that mean a Shah Rukh Khan becoming a 12th man or a Priyanka Chopra carrying drinks during breaks. “It will happen because cricket has been reduced to business. The BCCI has not defined any rules for this tournament. What stops film stars from playing a T20 match in the IPL. What a farce!”
1. Film stars will not play in T20 games because they can't be selected in the team. The IPL rules clearly say who can be selected in a team. Film stars are not a part of that pool. So there...
2. Again, isn't ICL reducing cricket to business too? Pray tell me, what good motive is ICL having, when it comes to cricket? How is ICL any different from IPL, other than being 1000 times less glamorous?
Take your head out, Paaji...
So what impact would it have on the game? “Huge,” asserts Kapil. “In times to come you would see teams struggling to survive even 50 overs to save a match because of the mindset of the modern batsmen. I don’t think you will ever get a player like Sunil Gavaskar or Rahul Dravid now. You will get lot of these Twenty20 players, more of the (Virender) Sehwag and (MS) Dhoni variety. This game is for batsmen only. The best bowlers are getting slammed.”
1. Wasn't the same thing said about ODIs? That they will destroy test cricket? Yet, we have SRT, RD, VVS coming out from ranks, despite ODIs. Now we have Rohit Sharma, an elegant player, coming out from 20/20 cricket. We have GG. Not every player can be SMG or RD. Why should any one try to be like SMG or RD? They shouldn't. If they want to be selected in test team, they should bring their skill level to such a point that they are considered good enough to be selected. They don't have to be like SMG or RD. They can be themselves, they can be ABC, XYZ and still get selected because they are good enough to play tests.
2. If you took out your head from the stuffed place, you will notice that VS is the only Indian to score 300 runs in Tests. Not once, but twice. It is his ODI style of batting that has helped him in achieving that. For all their skill, talent, style and what-the-phuck-ever else, SMG, SRT, RD, VVS, SG were not able to score 300 runs even once in their entire careers, and will not be able to do so (in all probability). So, why the phuck should any domestic player try to emulate these people? Why not emulate VS, who did what no other Indian cricketer has ever done before?
AuthorTopic: I feel sorry for the game: Kapil (Read 740 times)
March 04, 2006, 08:04:47 AM
