Take the current predicament of this World Cup as an example. The major stake-holders in the tournament - the television channels and major sponsors - risk losing millions, either in cash or kind, if India go out in the first round. They are not the number one team in the world by a mile. Not even number two. They are ranked sixth in the ICC team ratings and, while that might not always be the best indicator of a team's worth, they have not won a competition of note outside the subcontinent since 1985. Yet the fate of the World Cup rides on them. It's a disaster waiting to happen.

Cricket has acquired a dangerous obsession with money, to the extent where it is not a question of a game needing the money to survive or grow but making as much as possible at any cost.

The reason for this is not hard to comprehend. Cricket has acquired a dangerous obsession with money, to the extent where it is not a question of a game needing the money to survive or grow but making as much as possible at any cost. Players have been ground to dust and cricket, the one-day variety in particular, has been divested of any meaning and consequence. It would seem that the administrators have learnt very little from the match-fixing scandal, which was as much a result of greed as of a surfeit of matches that meant little to the players.

Meanwhile, the Indian administrators have managed to market a massive captive television audience to acquire financial muscle that relies little on the capabilities of the national team. As a result the cricket economy has gone ahead of the game, which is struggling to catch up.

It's an economy that relies more on projection and hype than reality. SetMax, the entertainment channel owned by Sony, paid nearly 40 % of the total cost of the ICC rights in the hope of recouping it from advertisers. Luckily for them, India made it to the final of the last World Cup and one Champions Trophy. But that was clearly not enough and Sony didn't even bother to bid for the next set of rights, which have been won by ESPN-Star for US $1.1 billion.

ESPN-Star is a joint venture between Disney and NewsCorp, but there is little doubt which television audience they are banking on. It is an unhealthy dependence. So much should never depend on the performance of one team. Apart from putting unfair pressure on the players, it leaves the cricket economy dangerously imbalanced and prone to huge risks.

The passion of the fans is the biggest strength of cricket in the sub-continent - but it is also its weakness, particularly in case of India and Pakistan. Sri Lankan fans are far more stoic about their team's fortunes and far more accepting of failure, whereas in Bangladesh they are grateful for every little or big victory, be that of the team or individual. But in India and Pakistan, the passion borders on frenzy.

As an Indian, I would like India to win the World Cup. But it might not be such a bad thing for cricket if they were to be knocked out in the first round

In India it is brazenly and cynically fueled by an increasingly sensationalist and populist mass media, which treats cricket as one of the biggest baits to attract advertisers. Instead of providing perspective and being the voice of reason, the media feeds the frenzy and cashes in on it. Stars are built up and decimated. Exaggerated glorification is matched by proportionate vilification. So cricketers are either to be worshipped or denigrated. There isn't a middle ground, a measure of reality, or a sense of proportion.

The reality is that India reaching the World Cup final would be an overachievement. Australia and South Africa possess superior teams, New Zealand have more balance and depth and Sri Lanka are the most improved team in world cricket. India have proven, but ageing, batsmen, a bowling attack that's susceptible to pressure and poor fielders. To be a fan is to dream. But to many Indian fans the dream is the reality.

Nationalism is the bedrock of cricket. But you can't call yourself a true fan if the sight of 17-year old Tamim Iqbal charging down pitch to belt Indian quick bowlers brought you no thrill. Yes, India played below themselves, but every cricket match has a winner. To be unable to comprehend, and appreciate, this runs against the spirit of the game.

Yes, India not making past the first round would be a huge setback. But it would be accorded the status of a national calamity. It will be discussed in Parliament. Television channels will conduct inquests. Effigies will be burnt, cricketers' homes will be attacked, and these will be gleefully publicised. A couple of months ago, Greg Chappell was slapped on the back by a man in Bhubaneswar seeking his fifteen seconds of fame. He was obliged. It could get worse. Someone could get killed. Perhaps someone has already been killed.

As an Indian, I would like India to win the World Cup. But it might not be such a bad thing for cricket if they were to be knocked out in the first round. Cricket needs a reality check. It has an unhealthy, and unsustainable, business model that relies primarily on an increasingly delusional and one-dimensional fan-base. The bubble has to burst for a semblance of sanity to be restored. We must learn to once again enjoy cricket as a game.

spot on! i agree. i'ts just a game and if it's a game there is the term "lost" in the definition of the game. losing should not hurt us, it should remind us that its just a game not a war, where losing really matters.

spot on!!!! i agree. its just a game and if its a game there is the term "lost" in the defination of game. loseing should not hurt us, it should remind us that its just a game not a war, where losing really matters.

Hi,

With due either respect, either Sambit is unaware of the happenings in world sport or just refuses to accept the reality existing in the sporting domain.

In the NBA we have regular brawls spilling into the courts, we have wide spread doping problems in MLB, of course in addition to fights involving entire teams. In football, especially in Latin America we have kidnappings and even murders. In Europe we have spectators running onto the pitch with only one intent on their mind. To single out cricket fans and to say that they are to blamed is preposterous. The cricketers and other sportsmen dont care when they are reaping those lakhs of rupees. You cant have the cake and eat it too..literally. Either stop making so much money and play decently, or make as much as you want and atleast put out enough effort on the field so that we wont feel aggrieved when you lose..

It is time they realized that "we the public" are feeding them those crores of rupees...and if we want we can change the kismat of each and every one of those involved in sport.

So they better kiss our arse and get on with it...or join some tech company and do a 9-5 job.

Well said. I totally agree with Sambit's views. Being a regular player and ardent fan myself, it is sickening to see the crazy audience-ship of India & Pakistan countries driving the commercial aspect of the world cricket.

I find this Article to be very correct, yet it fails to point out why Sub Continent nations mainly India Pakistan are overtly emotional about their cricket. Cricket serves as a basis of solidarity since they have no real hope in other major sports. Not to mention the fact typical Sub Continent culture which is quite illierate when it comes to sympathy. Unfortunate fact is people won't change. The cricket should/need to let the fans know of their rude behaviour, such entities not only let down themselves but their fellow countrymen when they act like hooligans. Also not to mention the fact they can get away with anything due to a broken down legal system.

It is really a great irony that a country of one billion population has fallen in love with a game like cricket. The other great irony is the game is not loved by anyone else in the world. One could look at the USA and say that baseball is loved by Americans and almost nobody else plays the game. But the game of baseball is sustained by the Americans. The case about cricket and India is different, domestic cricket in India is hardly watched by local people.

I find this Article to be very correct, yet it fails to point out why Sub Continent nations mainly India Pakistan are overtly emotional about their cricket. Cricket serves as a basis of solidarity since they have no real hope in other major sports. Not to mention the fact typical Sub Continent culture which is quite illierate when it comes to sympathy. Unfortunate fact is people won't chance. The cricket should/need to let the fans know of their rude behaviour, such entities not only let themselves but their fellow countrymen when they act like hooligans. Also not to mention the fact they can get away with anything due to a broken down legal system.

I find this Article to be very correct, yet it fails to point out why Sub Continent nations mainly India Pakistan are overtly emotional about their cricket. Cricket serves as a basis of solidarity since they have no real hope in other major sports. Not to mention the fact typical Sub Continent culture which is quite illierate when it comes to sympathy. Unfortunate fact is people won't chance. The cricket should/need to let the fans know of their rude behaviour, such entities not only let themselves but their fellow countrymen when they act like hooligans. Also not to mention the fact they can get away with anything due to a broken down legal system.

In Pakistan and India the minute their national teams lose a game effigies are burnt, people take to the streets demanding the resignation of the coach, captain, wicketkeeper, drinks boy etc. It's absurd. Bob Woolmer's death is tragic and it's stunned me. If he was murdered and police do find a link back to cricket, ie match-fixing, results etc, then the whole of Pakistani cricket should be banned from international cricket. Life is more valuable than a few thousand rupees surely.

Agree totally about the reality check. However, India will win the next game...courtesy external forces (Not suggesting India cannot win without it). This would mean "Back from the Dead" headlines for the Indian Team...more ad more revenue.

This article makes perfect sense. If indian media is one thing to blame the indian team the other one. Our cricketers play like they are the best when they win or they look like amateurs when they lose. The performances are extreme. It is the same with the media too. The media though should stop giving so much crap about cricket. I wish India went on to the next round, but it would probably make sense for the better team(between India and SriLanka) to win. There are chances that indian fans will step out into the reality if India loses!

Excellent article!!! cricket should alwayz been taken as a game im a die hard fan of ckt n support pakistan team alot i was dissapointed n deeply hurt when i know we r out of worldcup but when i got to know woolmers death lost of pakistan is loooking a very small thing to me there is nothing bigger than ones life in this world and you are right reality check is must and for me this is the best time for it

This is absolutely the most thoughtful article published on cricinfo in recent times. As an Indian, all you have said is like a bitter pill I have to swallow, as should millions of other fans..lets take a step back & think about this. Lets not be manipulated by the cynical overhype of the media..lets get the perspective back & enjoy the game as a sport again. It's the least we can do for cricket during this world cup.

Thank you very much Mr.Bal for the clarity & honesty!

Well written article. The commercial aspects and monetization of the game of cricket. From an Indian fan's perspective, there are after all only eight genuine qualifying countries of this game and the hope is that at least we could stand out as a potential champion among them. After all we are a country that barely won a Bronze medal at the Summer Olympics. We desperately need some semblence of achievement in the Sports arena. In most professional sports, money does sponsor great teams ( ala New York Yankees), and that is our expectation among Indians. Is it too much to ask to be the best among a mere eight countries, so when even that level is not achieved, the disappoint is very profound. Every year, we Indians make extensive plans to attend the games and display our colours and this year would be no different. We have been used to watching different countries play competetive cricket.

Thank God for sane and outspoken people like Sambit Bal. Cricket indeed badly needs a reality check, I couldn't agree with him more. Apart from Indian fans, the Indian electronic media has simply gone mad. The most irresponsible and atrocious statements are being made by people who don't have any knowledge of or love for cricket. Only TRP's matter for them. Cricket is a great game primarily because of its subtleties and underlying strategies, which other team games like football and hockey lack. But we Inidans have made a travesty of the immense possibilities of cricket being the ultimate game. Shame on all of us.

Samit....u made some vaild points and i condemn what happened with Dhoni(destruction of his house)...But want to ask y is only the Frustration of the fans is highlighted and not the amount of admiration they shower...And dont you think there so many positive sides of having Fans to the game or Indian cricket team than negatives...forget Fans what about the so many articles that are written on indian team when they win and lose,they are as drastically different as they get...bottom line if you(cricketers) want the support and affection when they are winning then dont you think they should be ready to take the wrath when they lose.

A perceptive and prescient article.

It really is time to look at where things are headed. Can the ICC not institute a study looking at how big money and other games handle each other eg football, big money American sports?

A most needed article at the time. One hopes it will be first of many. Perhaps there have been others, but I have not seen any.

Well said...you make a valid point but that is the path all professional sports have taken. Motivation as an emotion is directly propotional to money, fame, success, etc. Easier said than done.

Sambit so easily dices India just because our ranking is not 1 or 2 and since we have old batsmen? On paper many teams might be good but you have to remember that a team does not win on paper. It is this fact which endears cricket to the public, everybody is an equal, you don't need million or stars to win a match...take the Ireland Pakistan match for instance. And dude, India has won many events out of the sub-continent after 1985. Get your facts straight, or wait... are you using controversy to get attention for your article?? Hmm...makes one wonder if you believe in what you write.

From being an avid watcher of cricket I've come to a point of not caring what happens one way or another. This article puts my ill formed thoughts about the game in the clearest way. Unfortunately I think that having an hysterical relationship to watching sport is the way of the future. Despite the best intentions of this article, there doesn't seem to be any going back. Cricket has, in a way, been chosen to carry the burden of India and Pakistan's preoccupations about their self-worth, which seem to border on the irrational, perhaps because visions of contentment and success are so rarely experienced in the daily run of life.

well put, sambit. let us stop commoditizing cricket. having said that, i do hope your article doesnt manifest itself in ESPN/Star Sports coming for your head a la Bob Woolmer for such calamitous wishes.

Publicity has always been in bad state, then be it the good one or the bad one. And in the age where money drives everything, it is hard to believe fans would use some brains.

I would completely agree with Sambit has said in his post. Everyone should realize, at the end of the day, it is just a game of 100 overs. Someone will win and others will lose, unless you are aiming a tie all the time in all the games.

We are not sure what happened to Mr. Woolmer. But this clearly brings the sad state of cricket on the table. Cricket is supposed to be the Gentleman's game and here a gentleman loses his life for it.

In my view, Govt of India, BCCI and any other cricket boards around the world should sit and think for a while, what are we heading to. Steve Waugh has once complained about too much of cricket and he was not wrong. Too much of cricket is generating too much of interest attracting too much of money. Well, we just hope it ends here - NOW.

India out of first round or into finals. We just need to look at it a game and ultimately the players are Humans too. We should probably treat them as humans and not national representatives. If India loses the game, it doesnt get thrown out of UN or there wont be any sanctions I guess. So why worry. A bunch of 11 people are just people like you and me. So let us be fair.

Publicity has always been in bad state, then be it the good one or the bad one. And in the age where money drives everything, it is hard to believe fans would use some brains.

I would completely agree with Sambit has said in his post. Everyone should realize, at the end of the day, it is just a game of 100 overs. Someone will win and others will lose, unless you are aiming a tie all the time in all the games.

We are not sure what happened to Mr. Woolmer. But this clearly brings the sad state of cricket on the table. Cricket is supposed to be the Gentleman's game and here a gentleman loses his life for it.

In my view, Govt of India, BCCI and any other cricket boards around the world should sit and think for a while, what are we heading to. Steve Waugh has once complained about too much of cricket and he was not wrong. Too much of cricket is generating too much of interest attracting too much of money. Well, we just hope it ends here - NOW.

India out of first round or into finals. We just need to look at it a game and ultimately the players are Humans too. We should probably treat them as humans and not national representatives. If India loses the game, it doesnt get thrown out of UN or there wont be any sanctions I guess. So why worry. A bunch of 11 people are just people like you and me. So let us be fair.

Absolutely fantastic article by Mr. Bal. As an Indian, I will be happy with an Indian victory, but it would be foolish to assume that they are the best team in the world as a result of it. The problem is, we'll never hear the end of this from the media, licking their lips at the prospect of another major showing by the country. The problem has its roots much deeper - at the level of education, or lack thereof. The people that read this article probably share the sentiments of the writer. But the majority that cannot read this article are the ones being fueled by an equally over-hyped media industry. India's economy will grow, the uneducated will have more purchasing power, and the frenzy will worsen. This is why India still gets little respect outside of its borders, and yet we wonder why. Where is the reality check, the measuring yardstick for anything anymore?

"Nationalism is the bedrock of cricket" agreed! But is it not the case for most sports. Even though a team may not be performing at their best and playing better than others at a particular point of time, there is hope from their countrymen that the team will be able to perform some miracle of some sort to win the World Cup. This is the case with all sports. And is applicabe to cricket more than others because of the unpredictable nature of the game. India and Pakistan's world cup victories and Kenya's semifinal apperance are examples that what might seem very difficult is possible in cricket. I quite liked the idea of a reality check but the problem is given the nature of the situation we are in, I do not think that India going out of the world cup will solve the problem, although I am a Bangladeshi fan and would like to see India go out (impossible it seemed but now very close to being possible; that is in essence cricket: we hope). I think that ICC and cricket boards have to distance themselves from the bussiness side of the game. As a Bangladeshi fan I find it difficult to digest the fact that BCCI did not have a full home series with our team for such a long time for monetary reasons. This reinforces the argument that the people who run the game need to treat cricket as a sport and only then will the fans follow.

Very well written article. Indians, in general, are hero worshippers and have an escapist attitude towards life. Bollywood has exploited this to the fullest by dishing out trash movies year after year, now media is doing the same with cricket.
Indians do not have the physical ability, for genetic reasons or whatever, to do well in the truely international sports like soccer, basketball, tennis etc. Cricket is not as physically demanding as the aforementioned sports(Arjuna Ranatunga, who was the captain of a world cup winning Srilankan side, is a glaring example)...this is the only sports which India can play at the international level and actually win a few matches. This is where the media and the corporates come in, everytime India wins a one day match on a tailor made subcontinental pitch, the gullible public are made to believe that we have conquered the world. This ensures more eyeballs and product placement for the next match, but in the process people forget that cricket is played seriously by only nine countries in the world, and out of them four are from the subcontinent, and for the remaining five countries cricket is not the number 1 sport.
If India loses against Srilanka on Friday, this madness will subside temporarily, but may be in a few months India will win a triangular series on a spinning track in Wankhede or Eden, and it will be deja vu all over again!

Sambit, good for you! India needs a massive set down. The players, the fans, the media and everyone else should understand that our team is at best a good one, not a great one. It is obvious from the body language of Dravid, Ganguly. Tendulkar and Kumble that not one of them see eye to eye with each other. The others? God help them! Hey Ho India!

I couldn't agree more with this article. In India the sportsmen have become bigger than the sport itself largely due to asinine expectations from the fans and the media. Any sort of rational criticism is met by chest-thumping jingoistic patriotism.
If India doesn't make it to the next round, then so be it. They lost to better teams that day. And yes, there are teams that are better than India. If the companies are losing money, then thats their problem, not the Indian team's.

Don't every say that "its just a game." It means MUCH MORE than just a game for many of us, Samit Bal. You are absolutely right that if Woolmer was indeed murdered, it is an absolute tragedy and cricket is not worth someone's life - not even close. however, cricket is not just a game - it is much, much more than that...

Sambit,
Brilliant article, it was about time someone wrote candidly about what is happening to the game we all love...I have been an avid cricket follower and played at club level; however, death of an outstanding coach over a loss has left a bitter taste in my mouth! I wish more journalist’s thought and wrote like you instead of always going for sensationalism...Thank you

Yes, one wonders if this isn't an historical moment in the game of cricket. Millions have been lost by interested parties when Pakistan crashed out on the firth day. The game will surely enter a new era if murder for failure to succeed on the cricket pitch has become a reality and organizers can't even protect the players or coaching staff.

Unfortunately, this net is cast too widely. ***South Asian*** Cricket needs a reality check.

Wow Mr Bal. Very well written, very well poised reality put in very prefessional and politically correct manner. Loss of life for reasons connected to the unfortunate driver of the game is just mind boggling. The concept of reality check if indeed very candid and is long awaited.

Excellent piece! very sound and reasonable points. I have a couple of remarks: where is all the money going? Who is getting richer with all the money generated by the sub-continent cricket frenzy? Second, given this imbalance in revenue generation and distribution in world cricket, maybe the ICC should consider adopting an approach like the NFL in the USA, where revenues are shared, the teams have a cap on the amount they can disburse as salaries, and so forth.

Financial interests have dominated the game of cricket for a while now and BCCI (or for that matter ICC) are responsible in a big way. I wonder whether the big corporations will one day make and break the rules of the game (maybe they already are doing it right now). The worst part is that organized crime is now an itegral part of cricket. People may not notice it but it is always present in the background. So big corporations may find an ally in organized crime and eventually kill the spirit of the game.

I completly agrre with you. I stopped being die hard fan of the team since '96 world cup semis, when I realised that it is a game nothing more than that. I dont want INDIA to win the cup this time and wish they get kicked out soon. The hype sorrounding this men is too much. If the fans want INDIA to win so much, why dont they work hard and be a member of the team? If they dont have the ability or dedication, they should shut up and cheer the team. I still get disapponited when INDIA loses but dont blame the players. Its a bad day in the office.

Sambit, very well written and it is about time that someone spoke out constructively about the fanatasism in South Asia. To applaud a shot by the opponents if you are Indian or Pakistani is sacrilegeous! The way Bangladesh and Ireland played - it was ridiculous, how some commentators simply focussed on the situation for India to qualify for the Super Eight! How can Cricket grow, if we as a whole community can't simply applaud the best team on the day?
The money model for Indian Cricket should be that of England - if the team performs well - they will show up to appreciate the game. Mind you there is a core group of passionate supporters, who know the difference between doosra and google. But the rest of the people (Bandwagonists) come down to support their team when they are doing well.

It's high time Sambit Bal turned off the hysteria switch. Let's not get into scare-mongering before the full facts of the Bob Woolmers incident are known. That's best left to the self same conspiracy theorists referred to in his piece.
Furthermore he paints a murky picture of what is essentially a well-administrated game compared to other global sports.
I suspect Mr Bal presides overe the cricnfo match running match report which mentioned 'murdered' and 'heart attack' when describing a batsman's shot and the crowds' reaction in the space of a few overs - and on the same day as the news of Bob Woolmer's death broke. Shabby stuff.
A little restraint from your 'reporters' at the World Cup would not go amiss on occasions.

Greed always make a devil of a man.As in life so it has happened in cricket. Prfessionalism is needed but not to the extremes to which it has been taken.The enjoyment has certainly gone away.

Greed always make a devil of a man.As in life so it has happened in cricket. Prfessionalism is needed but not to the extremes to which it has been taken.The enjoyment has certainly gone away.

Greed always make a devil of a man.As in life so it has happened in cricket. Prfessionalism is needed but not to the extremes to which it has been taken.The enjoyment has certainly gone away.

Does the author feel that losing in the first round will make the Indian fans' one dimensional mentality? There is a huuuuuuuuge part played by the private media here. In the head lines of a private news channel's news, you will find cricket news getting first priority than a National news. Am I right? If so, what is the road ahead...This won't stop if they loose in the first round too....

Let me tell you one thing my dear friend u must be really day dreaming if you think India is going to make it to Super 8's just look at the bowling and you wil know that we really do not have the ammunition to win the worldcup. Mind you i will up and supporting India on Friday it is going to be Do or Die but thats it if they lose it should not be the end of the world cup for us there are other teams. Windies are there we can support them too. It is a game after all

But it is so funny that our supporters have the time to go an burn effigies of the players after one game loss. Let me tell u Bangladesh was much better than India on Saturday and they deserved to win they outbowled and outfielded us. We were treating the BANG bowlers with so much respect and i guess u might have thought we were the minnows.Wiht our bowling attack we have to hit above 300 in every single match to win which is next to impossible.

So i think we would should watch cricket only if you like the sport which i do i watch irrespective if India plays or not i still get excited about the game and make no mistake i do support India but also appreciate that in this day and age we are just not up there with the best teams.

Our fielding is thrid rate at the best and our batting with so many super stars never perform under pressure. So relax,chill out but be prepared for an early exit but watch the cricket because the game is great and i still love SA,Eng and Newzealand any of these would do for me though if India wins i must admit i will be over the moon. I just dont want australia to win.

Lets wish our team the best but keep your expectations at a low level

one thing is for sure it is either CHAPPELL or CHAPPALL. This is a sport no point in getting emotional but never say that to an Indian FAn or u may well get hammerred

let Woolmer Rest in Peace. Pakis were packed home even before a week was over.

Fantastic thoughts.we should take it as a game,not a religion or war.Being a Pakistani,i am saddend by the performance of Pak Cricket Team,but it happens in world sports.Everyone should enjoy the game in its true spirit.We shouldn't allow any game to take lives of people!

Very well written and very true. its almost out of control and we need to check it in time before it takes more lives. its sickening that a great person like Bob Woolmer has been a prey ironically of the same game he devoted his life to.

Sambit, more power to your pen. It was horrifying for me to see and hear the terribly unfair comments about Bangladesh by Indian 'fans'. They won fair and square, for heaven's sake, give them the credt. The whole probl;em is that for most Indians, cricket is all about winning, about individual records, about hero worship, about bashing others and stupidly letting loose a few crackers, not about enjoying the greatest game in the world. When will we learn?

Sambit, Couldnt agree with you more. Even though my heart wishes India reaches the second round, my head says the game will be better off with India getting knocked off... Who knows, with all the sponsorship worries, if India does reach the super eights, all the conspiracy theories about match-fixing will start again. When is this madness going to stop?
-- Dhivakaran

I actually agree with you, People in India need to stop whining about cricket and concentrate more on the development of other sports where they can actually compete. Its sad when Cricketers are signing the multi million dollar deals with corporate houses, and other sport athletes who are as talented(maybe more) are struggling to put bread and butter on the table.

Hi Sambit, This is one of the most sensible articles I have read. I am a cricket buff and a hard-core Indian fan as well. But, I have myself started to digest the reality that India is one of the lower ranked sides.

You're absolutely right about mass media creating a strong virtual image of the Indian team. I think two other contributing factors (perhaps not as much as the first point) are:
(1) Lack of any other sport in highlight for people to take their mind off cricket.
(2) The number of uneducated people in a country. Only Indians and Pakistanis are known to share such irresponsible behavior. The lack of education and size of population together is the highest in these 2 countries. This madness does not exist in any of the developed nations or an underdeveloped nation in which the population is not high enough to create such a passion.

Agree and Disagree !!! Its a game but not JUST a game for the subcontinent. We have used it to improve relations with our neighbors because it is a symbol of our national identity. Did anyone suggest a kabaddi match between India and Pakistan to improve our relations ?
Cricket is much more than a game. I agree that there are negative aspects to over-commercialization.
If there is no passion, there is no fun in playing the game. No matter how bad our team is, we shouldnt compete if we think we cannot beat the best. One could have said the same in 1983 about other teams but we still won the world cup. Ireland has shown us that its not the reputation that matters more.
Fans resorting to violence cannot be justified but players competing with the 'just a game' mindset cannot be justified either!

It is not just a game. Like any other proffession it carries a price and with all the good things it gives, a cricketeer needs to take the bad and the ugly. Soccer fans are equally belligerent in countries that are supposed to be advanced. Fights have broken out in the USA over football and base ball games. The bottom line is that sports touches a deeply emotional cord in every human being that is why it is just not a game. This does not condone sport violence but fans have every right to express their disgust and dissappointment, albeit peacefully.

This article is all the reason why you sir are the only asian whose columns I still read. For the first time after years of reading poorly written columns ( by others on this website and an other indian cricket website cricketn...t.com which I feel is a joke) I felt someone was writing sense withouth trying to be sensationalistic.

I am a cricket addict......I play, I watch...I preach. But if the Bob Woolmer case pans out to something suspicious ( i dont believe they'll every catch or prove anything).............I will step back a little from following internaltional cricket. Well atleast I wont pay a dime more for any cricket telecast..I am not supporting anything that breeds crime.

Excellent article. I have to agree but emotions and passions are not always rational, are they?

Dont worry Sambit Bal, there is every possibility that ICC and the organizers in order for India to go through will use the flattest track every made. No seam, No swing, No spin and their will also be the possibility of using a two headed coin.
The only thing they cannot control is the weather.

I totally agree, Sambit. It will be a very dark day if it turns out that Bob Woolmer was murdered.

The article seems to have hit the target..perfectly..One of the finest reality bites article i have read in recent past. I just wish some how this article reaches every body in india and pakistan and the game of love and unity is clean of all the controversies and no 1 looses his/her life in the cause of it

I fully agree with Sambit. The sooner India comes home with their third rate team and inflated egos and their millions, the better for Cricket. Indian cricket has become one big market with no love for the game. Most Indian fans don't even know what's a Power Play or the difference between a stumping and a run out

Very well written. The sooner we fix this issue the better we are. I was surprised to hear the news of attacking of Dhoni's house by some emotional fans after his failure in one inning.

Your views must open the eyes of the administrators of the game. But too much of dependence on one nation is not a sustainable proposition for any game. True cricket fans would be the biggest losers if no one puts an end to the frenzy.

Sports are for fun. On any given day there will be a winner and a loser. True sportsmanship is to accepts the verdict gracefully. In India's first game, they didn't deserve to win. Bangladesh was right on top since the begining of the game. Hope they do well against Sri Lanka. I will watch and enjoy the game and cheer for the one that plays well.

Acceptable,Well Said Samit.This is one of the best articles i have come across.What you tried to explain through this article is really something every Indian Fan should read.Cricket is no more a Game in India with money involved in this and with the fame & Money cricketers make out of this,i assume the game might sooner or later loose it's charm in India.Why can't you post such an article in a place like NDTV or CNN IBN so that we can make people understand the reality.

spot on! nice job and excellent writing. I agree. A game is a game. I have been losing interest in cricket due to betting. now with these scenarios it is disgusting. If this was anything beyond a natural death even be it stress the real fans should push the administration for a fair game and cut all politics and money. this is supposed to be fun. Common when we take career related exams we are excusing ourselves and say we want to have fun. Game is exactly that! We need to enjoy! In fact the word sportsmanship in common literacy is from sports!

Brilliant article..I completely agree with the view shared by Samit Bal in this article. I live in US and everytime I visit India, I like to watch cricket on tv BUT the media hypes it up so much that it sometimes becomes annoying to watch all about cricket on TV while poor soldiers are giving away their lives on border and many young kids are sleeping hungry under some open bridges without a home or any clothes on. Not just cricket but life overall needs a reality check...our world is becoming too commercialized now. Hopefully we can wake up of this bad dream and get back to work!

Very well written. Indians are so much into hero worship (one of the reasons why we were ruled by outsiders for so long). We think that doing homas will win matches. If this was the case we should have been the number 1 country in the world forever. Also the media perpetuates the frenzy due to the big stakes involved. Hopefully we will learn that homas and prayers don't get things done but hard work will.

Sambhit - it is a very well written article. Its not just the crowds and the media who are grinding cricket to dust. Its actually the greediest corporation in the world which is ICC and the respective cricket boards. With the amount of cricket that is being played today, it has already started to become boring. Trust me I used to be very passionate about India winning & losing but not anymore just because there is no time to digest or even reflect on whats happening. Its just an endless array of series after series after series and memory is very short. If this trend continues, take it from me the time will come very soon when the crowds will no longer be bothered and there will be no frenzy to feed.

Totally agree with the article!! Disagree with someone called "Zubaer" who blames Indians and BCCI for this. I am going to go out on a limb here and guess he is a supporter of Pakistan. Makes no sense to indulge in team-bashing here......so take it easy.

One of the best articles on cricket written during the world cup so far. We need more of these "grounded" voices championing the sport and reminding people not to take their frustrations (re: self/life/etc) out on a beautiful sport and their national team.

What has the world come to? We have become ravenous glory-craving beasts. What stories will we tell our children? The stories of how we drenched in sweat, playing cricket in the street in the scorching heat? or would we tell'em about how we killed cricket with our fanatic attitude?

If Woolmer's death turns out to be a murder, I'll lose my faith in humanity. Forever.

Well Sambit, its quiet idiotic of you to single out Indian and Pakistani fans and claim that their passion borders 'frenzy'. You've ridiculed all Indian fans by sighting isolated incidents where some out-of work youth from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha burn effigies and attack players houses. How is it that you've left out the Australian fans and the racist remarks they pass out against all the non-white teams. Are they still better fans? or is it 'ok' for them to do that since Australia is dominating International Cricket? And oh yes, the English cricket fans are quiet sporting, maybe thats because all the hooligans and busy rioting and burning down stadiums after soccer games. Sambit, either your really ignorant or just trying to suck up to the white man.

Well said. Money almost always corrupts. Not that long ago there wasn't much money in cricket, not even international cricket. The Packer series, inspired by amoral Aussie media mogul Kerry Packer, opened the floodgates. Now that a billion US dollars is not foreign to the game the worst elements have risen to the top, those for whom cricket is a mere capitalist enterprise, a vehicle for personal aggrandizement by hook or by crook, to be milked to the max. Cricket governing bodies in many countries, especially the poorer countries, appear infested by 'administrators' simply in it for themselves. Battles Royal have raged in the subcontinent to grab control of governing bodies, the principal protagonists being pseudo-politicians, proto-politicians, or their hacks. Cricket is the last thing on their minds! But the rot is not confined to the subcontinent. Stars are built up, millionaires created, and arrogance promoted. If cricketing bodies were really interested in the game they would, for example, crack down hard on sledging, a practice completely at odds with the nature of this beautiful game. But no, every nasty trick must be pulled, to hell with talent, skill, and athleticism, because psychological upset might give sledgers an advantage --- and a win. The Australians, brilliant athletes all, are sadly (and superfluously) the worst perpetrators of this form of cheating. Sledging will generate money, win advertisers, make reputations, confer power. Yes, Mr. Bal, cricket needs to wake up from the hangover caused by money.

I totally agree with Sambit's views. Over the year cricket as a game has lost its passion. What remains is a commercialized part of it. Perhaps that is the reason why we no longer have players who are eager to play and not eager to earn. How many players in the current crop of so called cricketers can even come close to the brilliance of those who played this wonderful game in 70s and 80s? I would pay much more to go back 25 years to see players like lillee, thompson, hadley, kapil, richards, lloyed play than to see today's matches where you never know whether they are even played for real or are just fixed to satice the pockets of some unknown crooks.

completely agree with sambit's views... people should open their eyes to the reality of the game, and realise what the sport is actually about.

Spot on! Nice job and excellent writing. I agree. A game is a game. I have been losing interest in cricket due to betting. Now with these scenarios it is disgusting. The real fans should push the administration for a fair game and cut all politics and money. This is supposed to be fun. Common! When we take career related exams we are excusing ourselves and say we want to have fun. Game is exactly that! We need to enjoy! In fact the word sportsmanship in common literacy is from sports!

Besides, India should encourage other sports as well. Look at US - has baseball, hoops, football, soccer, ice hockey, and tennis and on... there needs to be competition. We claim to be the largest democracy. Democracy needs to be everywhere in every category. The sports administration needs to start looking at encouraging other sports to deviate attention and frenzy!

One couldn't have put it in any better. This cricket crazy nations need to get back to reality. Media is the first to take blame for it. Man, do they thrive on every single thing about cricketers, Oh, Sachin goes to shopping at 3 AM.. Dhoni gets a hair cut.. what a non-sense!! Leave them alone. A fraction of time people spend on investigating these kind of things, will go long ways for the other betterment of lives in India. Wake up crazy fans.. Stop these poojas, yagnas all sorts of ridiculous things for India to win the World cup. Like Sambit said, it is just a game, with a winner and a looser. A true fan should be able to appreciate with a common sense.

Excellent article, Kudos to Sambit. He has brought out the unholy nexus between TV channels, Advertisers and the Media, each going to great length to maximise their bottomline and limelight.
Among all these, the player himself is relegated to a pawn in the hands of External factors.
Indian people following the game have been benefited by good quality telecast.
Players have been benefitted by increased salary, Perks, additional advertising income and other "Gifts" doled out by many organizations and Rich people.
Cricket Board and Management has increased wealth by all the money pouring in.
Who is the biggest loser? The Game and Spirit of the Sports we love the most - Cricket.

Article is spot-on. Yet, the malady lies within each of us. Notice the disproportionate number of Indian staff and writers for Cricinfo. As an Indian myself, I find articles such as "India far ahead of the rest" more embarrassing than informative. How come there is no equivalent for teams like Australia, or now South Africa, who any cricket follower knows are truly 'far ahead of the rest.' Is there no fidgety, overanxious, keyboard-happy Australian in Cricinfo's staff? Or any other cricket-related website, news station, media network for that matter? The reality check begins with each of us. A genuine sports purist enjoys the game, irrespective of patriotic inclinations.

One couldn't have put it in any better. This cricket crazy nations need to get back to reality. Media is the first to take blame for it. Man, do they thrive on every single thing about cricketers, Oh, Sachin goes to shopping at 3 AM.. Dhoni gets a hair cut.. what a non-sense!! Leave them alone. A fraction of time people spend on investigating these kind of things, will go long ways for the other betterment of lives in India. Wake up crazy fans.. Stop these poojas, yagnas all sorts of ridiculous things for India to win the World cup. Like Sambit said, it is just a game, with a winner and a looser. A true fan should be able to appreciate with a common sense.

Well said Mr Bal. I believe that we Indians have done enough damage to the game. Most of it has do with the financial clout we have and business associated with cricket. Politics has entered the game because of money it attracts and it is not good for anything. If we see the better teams, their is more motivation than money and corruption. It is high time that we fans take a notice of it. If we want Indian team to win, we should not go into hype. Than only true talent will come out and we have a team of professionals.It is a pity that a country of 1 Billion cant produce 11 good players. And I do believe there is no dearth of talent in India, but there is total lack of motivation and honesty in system.

i cannot agree more on those very realistic views Sambit. just because our old parents cannot afford to bread-win for us at their old age do we throw them out? drag them to the streets ? NO.. we think of what they have done in their able-past and be grateful.Same goes for your national sports figures.I am a Sri Lankan.Even though i`m overjoyed at our super form , i wouldn`t stone them even if they slump from here on wards. THEY HAVE GIVEN US OUR MOMENTS WITH THEIR SWEAT AND TOIL PEOPLE !! and how cowardice are you if you burn their effigies or stone their possesions at the hands of a single unlucky moment??..Yeah If India gets out of the tournament you all must be wise enough to asses the scale of damage and control your remorse!i still remember how ugly the fans treated Indian cricketers in 1996 semi-final we won and i pray and hope if history repeats itself at the field tommorrow , whole of India will be in a advanced position to make sure that history at the stadium won`t repeat. GODSPEED MAHELA JAYAWARDHANE AND RAHUL DRAVID

Couldn't have agreed more, I'm a huge fan of cricket and by all means supporting India. But if they loose doesn't mean you go on a destructive spree. Personally I think more than anyone its the media that instigates such behaviour and historically Indians are the most vulnerable set of people who anyone can misdirect. But I sincerely hope that changes and cricket is enjoyed as a game rather than a war field

I think this was one of the best articles I have read in recent times especially since it looked at a point of view that lot of asians, Indians in particular tend to overlook. One thing though worthwhile mentioning is that Indian fans are more or less peaceful except for the stray incidences of bottle throwing and reasonably polite with the visiting teams unlike the aussie ones who regularly toment them with racial slurs especially if you believe Graeme Smith.

Excellent perspective. This is a must-read article for all those cricket-crazed fans out there in the subcontinent. The media in India has just been exploiting the game and cashing in - at the expense of the game and the players. Had the burden of expectation not been weighing this heavily on Indian players and the public and media reactions not so extreme, I suspect the Indian team would have been performing better over the years.

I totally agree with your comments. Cricket is just the sport and Indian and other countries fans should enjoy the game no matter who is winning on a particular day. To my opinion exit in first round for team India may be blessing in disguise for not only for Indian fans but also for media. We need to treat cricket just like any other sport in India and Pakistan.

A Combination of huge fan base and money is a lethal for any sport. For example take soccer, every one knows what happens to the matches in Europe, where people get killed.

The average Indian would not indulge in any kind of violence. It is only a few people who instigate this and trigger a violence. The fans are same all over the world. Visitors mock,make comments, throw cans in Australia, South Africa, England, Canada(A cricketer chased and hit a fan for instigating him)

And I don't think these problems would be resolved if India looses in the first round.

The main people that should be blamed for this is the media. Do they give the same kind of importance to other sports like Hockey, Kabbadi etc. The answer is 'NO'. This has to be corrected and Cricket needs to be treated like any other sport by the media. They have headlines about Cricketer's personal life. This should change.

Great article. Must be published in all the media for everyone to read.

I think it is highly hypocritical of cricinfo to publish this article when they are making a lot of money out of this frenzy. The cricinfo text commentary has succeeded in bringing cricket to the workplaces/desktops of the subcontinent fans. The volume of traffic that you receive must be staggering(how many servers do you have). And what about the revenue? Are you doing all this for free? You are cashing in big time on cricket mania. Lets face it - you wouldn't exist but for this mania. And like every business model that you criticize in your article, your business model depends on the subcontinent fans too. These are the your core customers. I think this article is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

I've no problems with the Indian team. I blame Indian media about this hype. They have gone over board on analysis. Its shame to see TV reporters who have no clue about cricket trying to create sensation. Eg Star News have hired Nikita Anand from Obscurity to present Cricket analysis. What for? This has gone completely wrong and should be stopped.

Sambit bal's views are very well presented, Icc or Bcci should control players endorsements and advertisement so their wealth and values doesn't go out of proportion and concentrate more on game itself.

Good article. Thank you Sambit Bal. I hope many Indians and Pakistanis read this. With 1 billion population how many individual Olympic gold medals have India won? one in what last 55 years? India is obsessed with cricket, I think its time Indians start looking at other sports so the cricket can be only a game.

Great Article. It was spot on. However, the problem of fanatical fans is not isolated to cricket and the sub-continent. Passions of soccer fans in UK, Mexico Brazil and Argentina seems to be just as bad. This seems to be the side effect of the sports being commercially exploited.

This article is a masterclass in cricket appreciation.Incidentally, ESPN-star which has come in for some stick in this article is the most moderate unpartisan voice in the indian media. You need to look no further than Harsha bhogle's articles in the ESPN-star site to realize this. Although most instances of fanaticsm in the subcontinent are real and ugly (eden gardens 96), I get the feeling that all of the recent events are fixed by the media. Lets go through a few : Kaif's house gets attacked after his performance in SA; a few weeks later demonstrations are held in the very same place for Kaif's ouster in the one day squad.
Do they need to report every i ncident of some idiot burning posters and effigies? cant they say this is beaneath us?

I think this was one of the best articles I have read in recent times especially since it looked at a point of view that lot of asians, Indians in particular tend to overlook. One thing though worthwhile mentioning is that Indian fans are more or less peaceful except for the stray incidences of bottle throwing and reasonably polite with the visiting teams unlike those from some nations who regularly toment them with racial slurs especially if you believe a certain G. Smith.

If India looses to Sri Lanka, most of the fans in India would not criticize the players or selectors. Nothing like the ones you said in your article will happen. It won’t be discussed in the parliament and newspapers won’t go harsh on players. However, when Indians could not go to second round just because of their reckless game against Bangladeshis, fans will get upset. Cricket is just a game. But, when players are getting lucrative monies they are also expected to play a responsible game every time. Millions of people are watching them. They should play to their full potential every time. That is what missed in the India’s and Pakistan’s lost games.

Great article as usual!An excellent analysis of today's system!Cricketers should be banned from endorsing sponsors,bookies...India will win tomorrow's match, we all know why...thanks once again for echoing the sentiments of passionate fans and showstealers in india who are very busy burning effigies and resorting to violence on the families of afterall a average cricketing side compared to the aussies... may your article motivate readers to take up other games and sports like swimming,hockey and may sponsors and bookies and the cricket fans move to these neglected fields...all the best for you and your website...btw dravid spoke about media in his last pressconference and wonder why it was not covered in this website...take gui

We should not forget that it is commercialization which drives cricket and cricket related events, and also a portal like cricinfo. If people just take it as just another game, then we I do not think cricket would have survived ( I mean in comparison to today as opposed to in early years) for such a long time coz there would be no financial input and would be like other sports as is the case in India. We can look at any sports, if its doing good then its because of the fans who live that sport. Why would we react if India were to win like 70% of the games, in fact since its a case where we lose most of the games and finally when people expect the team to win against a reasonably fresh team like Bangladesh again Indian cricketers fail and this triggers the emotion. I think if the Indian cricketer were a bit more consistent the crowd would also understand. If we look at India's record they win a few and lose a lot. In case of Australia, I am sure they are also die-hard fans but since their team performs very consistently they can understand when their team loses. It is a game yes, but its also a passion, we expect something good from our cricketers and they being professionals should at least deliver against teams like Bangladesh if not Australia, SouthAfrica.

Very well said boss. cant agree more.. i would like to see the situation if india goes out crashing in the first round... first time want india to loose to check the reality.

Touche. You know there is something rotten in the game when even the pitch curators in West Indies say that the pitches have been made to suit the Indians.

Its the most sensible article in recent times, and its never too late for this reality check. Only if the ICC and the boards were as concerned. I have been a cricket fan for over 30 years now. No one grudges players making money, but has it gone too far? I remember waiting for a test series to start, there would be only a couple in a year and full five test series. It was exciting and lasting. I still remember the Kapil-Vengasarkar magic that they delivered in the middle overs over and over again, but can faintly remember the Sachin onslaught against the Assuies in Sharjah. The volume is the key. The more volume is available, the more routine the game becomes. Only the last result is remembered, and two games on, everything is forgotten. Its the same that happened to music, its the same as with movies, you have to really search for performances that can capture the imagination and more importantly carry the longevity in fans minds. If only one could turn the clock back about 20 years

The article brings an interesting investigative thinking. At the same time to blame every fault on media or fans or organizers would not be appropriate. In some sense Indian players also cling to it. I don’t remember many cases when an Indian cricketer announced his retirement gracefully like McGrath and Shane Warne. It is just a game not life. We all need a reality check.

Why blame just India for Bob Woolmer's death or for commericalisation. It is not as if other countries and organisations are not profiting from it. Who created one-day cricket? What is the reason for creating 20/20? Which league attracts the most foreign players? Which country's players will not stop using any kind of language on the pitch to win ant any cost and then claim winning is more improtant than sportsmanship? Who were the players caught accepting money for pictch report and which late-captain took money from bookies.

It seems it is fashionable to blame the sub-continent for all malice in cricket. Ask ICC why it has moved it's headquarters? Why it introduced extensive ambush-marketing clauses? Why ICC championship was added to the international tournaments?

I fully agree with Sambit. The sooner India comes home with their third rate team and inflated egos and their millions, the better for Cricket. Indian cricket has become one big market with no love for the game. Most Indian fans don't even know what's a Power Play or the difference between a stumping and a run out

One of the sane articles i have read recently. I agree with you, India and Pakistan are the biggest markets of ICC. The media should become more responsible.

The Passion of fans cannot be called as weakness.
It is the passion of fans which make the game more popular and interesting. Sometimes they go overboard. But that happens in all the popular team sports like football.

When the game grows especially when you are talking about expanding the game globally, such things as capitalisation,commercialisation and every other thing happens.

Only that Cricket will not be gentleman's game anymore which is the price we pay for globalisation.

Wonderful article ... Applaud u Sambit Bal!!! U echo my thoughts exactly ... The Indian media have become like British tabloids ... the first time Dhoni scored a 100, he was called the sub-continental Gilchrist and when he fails, they villify him. This kinda frenzy doesnt at all guarantee an improvement in the quality of cricket because how bad our cricketers play, people will always come to watch as there is no other sport where we can call ourselves genuinely world class.

Cricket, more than any other sport, tends to reflect life. Sadly, the system of thinking which currently dominates the whole world, namely capitalism, is a peculiarly corrosive one, as one notes from the ferocity with which its advocates leap to its defence and the blindness of those same advocates to the fact that capitalism is eating them, too, alive. It may well be that the money motive will now rot the cricket "industry" from within. However, the game itself will survive, to take whatever form the world takes in the future. If there are any lessons from this, they are (1) that in spite of what the free marketeers say, capitalism is not the be-all and end-all, any more than any other system. And (2), the values for which Bob Woolmer stood, those of love for the game, its techniques and subtleties, and the process of drawing young players into full maturity as men, must be guarded and honoured. This is cricket's unique gift to the world, not the mere money that can be made from slashing and burning the very men who play it to the highest levels of grace and skill.

It is sad that cricket has degenerated into this mess. I just want to add my voice to this. As some one who grew up playing cricket it is sad to let a wonderful game being exploited. It is high time BCCI is nationalized and regulation brought in to limit sponsorships. Cricket has been and should be a laid back game enjoyed by one and all including the players. It is not enough for people like Sunil gavaskar to comment on Aussie behavior, if he has the spine and moral integrity he should stand up and lead a catharsis of cricket and corruption. I am sure the masses will support him.

I fully agree that cricket has lost it's soul long ago. the day it was exposed that matches are fixed and players are involved , that was the day Cricket lost it soul. Today every match is being viewed by spectators with suspicion . The matches lost by india and pakistan last saturday is also viewed with suspicion and there is every possiblity of some foul play there . Today cricket lovers from their heart are not at peace . Those involved in Match fixing should be ounished heavily . Instead , i was surprised to see Azharudin Indian Exed captain was invited to Hand over Filmfare award. Why such person should be given importance even though they are exposed in match fixing ? Lot needs to be done if Cricket has to get back it's past glory.

It is a real tragedy that Indian cricket fans are more Indian fans and less cricket fans - all the more since cricket is truly a fascinating and entertaining sport.

While being born in Latin America predisposes you to a soccer obsession, it does not mean Brazilians cant enjoy a good game of soccer for its pure value. Similarly, an Indian birth gets you started on cricket. But why do we colour our sports-watching glasses with feudal nationalism.

I cannot help but want the Indian cricket team to win in any game. But running the whole game in a manner that enables India to win, so that the Indian fans can be satiated and made to pay for it stinks!

I would gladly go to reality TV if my wanting it so badly can determine the result of the event thanks to a perverted commercial angle. All I need is to vote for the winner.

It is said that the 2003 WC pitches were tailor-made for Indian batsmen to thrive. I have a feeling that the West Indian organisers may have missed a couple of tricks when they made the pitches slow and low (to suit sub-continental teams) and that explains the Irish and Bangladeshi successes.

If cricket solely thrives because of sub-continental interest, we must just follow the American football or English soccer model for the sport. Have the entire game played in the sub-continent with regional or club teams facing off each other. Get the Aussie and S African superstarts to sign-up for these teams if the indigenous talent is unimpressive.

What's wrong with being obsessed with Cricket? Cricket is the most popular game in India and we should be proud of that. There are other instances where a country becomes obsessed with a game. For example, the game of baseball is most popular in America. The act of a handful of disorderly and misguided people should not be attributed to an entire country. As India is the life force behind today's Cricket, Indian Cricket administrators need to shoulder more responsibility, show the maturity, and guide the Cricket community through its hour of crisis. The future of Cricket lies with India and we should be extra careful in how we shape it up.

This is one of the best sports articles I have read in a long time. Dead-right, spot-on and honest. We need to find a way out of this trap. I hope we will.

Cricket, more than any other sport, tends to reflect life. Sadly, the system of thinking which currently dominates the whole world, namely capitalism, is a peculiarly corrosive one, as one notes from the ferocity with which its advocates leap to its defence and the blindness of those same advocates to the fact that capitalism is eating them, too, alive. It may well be that the money motive will now rot the cricket "industry" from within. However, the game itself will survive, to take whatever form the world takes in the future. If there are any lessons from this, they are (1) that in spite of what the free marketeers say, capitalism is not the be-all and end-all, any more than any other system. And (2), the values for which Bob Woolmer stood, those of love for the game, its techniques and subtleties, and the process of drawing young players into full maturity as men, must be guarded and honoured. This is cricket's unique gift to the world, not the mere money that can be made from slashing and burning the very men who play it to the highest levels of grace and skill.

Fantastic article. "To be a fan is to dream. But to many Indian fans the dream is the reality" - Almost all Indian cricket fans are so because that is how they thrive towards success in their own department. Coming out of cricket, a poor school going boy, who finds it difficult to get his food to save his life, dreams to become a doctor to save others' lives. Sounds so funny right... But he makes it and insists others to dream like him. That is how it goes. This makes us think nothing wrong in dreaming... which eventually can become a reality. Who knows... Dravid might lift the cup next month. He and his so called cricket-mad fans like me are now dreaming India to win this world cup and make a history. Might sound funny... But as said early the dream might come true !

In the subcontinent some people just don’t seem to be able to accept defeat for what it is , its just a result of a match not a blemish upon the nation. Its great to see cricket being as popular as it is in Asia but people seem to forget that this is just a game , a great one albeit but still just a game

Cricket’s fortunes in India have followed a predictable path within the larger context of the emergence of the country. A sustained drift towards a consumerist culture, proliferation of mass-media, and a total dearth of mass-appeal sports have created the perfect storm for Cricket. A country awash with people and newly acquired money has very little to entertain itself with besides Cricket and Bollywood. Quite inevitably, Cricket and Bollywood have taken on the challenge of entertaining the eager masses and of course profiting from it.

India’s relationship with Cricket will always be similar to Brazil’s relationship with Soccer … attendant with glorious miseries and euphoria.

Sambit, this has been by far been your masterpiece. You really have presented a 360 panoramic view on the game and its undesirable peripheries. This one definitely needs to be framed. Nice work man and you have set your bar of excellence and hopefully you would continute to raise it higher!

Sambit, May be I agree if you look cricket in just isolation. But tell me, something of this sort (What happened to Woolmer) is unknown to other sports (I still recall with sadness the killing of Escobar of Columbia, for having allowed a Self Goal to kill the chances of that nation gtting to the 2nd round). Football hooliganism is globally well known. So does cricket follow it.

While I agree with you completely when you said Commercialisation spoiling the sport, I can not see the logic of India's failure to gt through could be a reality check. Do you think an average Aussie would watch England and South African locking horns for the cup. Come on dear.. Games are followed, but then the players are loved, not just in Sub-continent alone - but everywhere in the world..

Oh, come on. Most of what Sambit Bal has written is true, but it's not cricket that needs the wake-up call. It's the fans in India and Pakistan that do. Oh, sorry, I forgot - they're the only fans this site caters for.

Just couldn't agree more... if a game starts taking lives, then things are definitely going overboard. Let alone murder, but even if Bob's demise is due to the stress, fear, anxiety etc caused by Pak's recent performance or Management or reach for the stars expectations of the fans ... then too its a BIG wake up call. Come on, after all this is just a game ... just like hundreds of other international sports, Olympics etc where Ind, Pak lose ever so often ...

And yes much to my surprise ... some where in the corner of my heart i am feeling that if India lose out the Super 8's then that might be a much needed awakening for the groups that have invested millions to cash in billions ...

Commercialization is taking this game nearer to its death ...

The major onslaught scarring the beautiful game has come single handedly from the sub continent, especially Indian fans, as pointed out by Mr. Bal.Indian fans feeling this entitlement to win every game ridiculous. It is not to be confused with passion for the game. A vast majority of the indian fans no nothing much about the game. There are few sports that require appreciation of so many finer points ranging from shine of the ball to the direction of wind in order to be enjoyed. Unfortunately, a beautiful sport with so many nuances has been dumbed down to fit the reducing attention span and patience of the "fans" by both the media's attitude and expression and by the fans themselves.
Whenever people not familiar with cricket take issue with it being just too long, my favourite response is "fast and furious is a shorter pacier movie but that doesnt mean it is better than The Godfather" :) But to really enjoy the Godfather one has to sit back on the couch, sip on a drink and just stare at it quietly for 3 hours, taking in the details and the drama. Instead of the fan taking to the game, the game is being taken to the fan in any which way to please him. This populist attitude driven mostly by commercial interest is the biggest peril for any sport.

Very good article. Its absolutely true that the world of sports is run by money from the advertisers. But its also a fact that, its the capotalism that drives the human nature, I agree with another blogger saying that if not SETMAX someone else will promote it. But the problem with the cricket in india and money in india is that, no longer the game is decided by cricket playing player but someone else sitting in AC room taking bets. I understand in USA all the sports are driven by money even the college sports also. But the fact in USA is none of the games are decided by the bookies, classic example is PETE ROSE. Let money take the cricket to newest level of entertainment but let the game be decided on the field.

Mr. Zubaer seems to love blaming Indians, how about Akthar and the DRUGS, Warne and DRUGS..and the list goes on...
bottomline is that there is a huge amount of MONEY being invested in this STUPID and one of the laziest sports in the world!
This tells a lot about US as nations in general! We are really obsessed with WINNING, there is no more SPIRIT in playing the gentelmans's game!

Exactly why I am 200% sure that India will win against SL even though we have a far inferior team. There is just too much money at stake here for India not to win. Look out for those close decisions that go the Indian way (yes, even umpires are susceptible to be bribed, the last I heard, they were homo sapiens too) or look out for a below par performance by SL, something which can easily be dismissed as that SL just couldnt get their act together. All in all, I think I am very few of the Indian fans who has no anxieties about India losing, coz it aint gonna happen.!!

Very good article. Its absolutely true that the world of sports is run by money from the advertisers. But its also a fact that, its the capotalism that drives the human nature, I agree with another blogger saying that if not SETMAX someone else will promote it. But the problem with the cricket in india and money in india is that, no longer the game is decided by cricket playing player but someone else sitting in AC room taking bets. I understand in USA all the sports are driven by money even the college sports also. But the fact in USA is none of the games are decided by the bookies, classic example is PETE ROSE. Let money take the cricket to newest level of entertainment but let the game be decided on the field.

It's good Article, how indian fancs are expecting there team win in worldcup, But i would like to say one thins.Don't burn the effegies and don't destory the houses of crickets.We have to take cricket as a game there is one winner and one looser.

I agree to a certain extent Rahul Dravids view that Media has played a role/part in syching the fans attitude towards the national team, its players and its coaches. Media has a habit of extra-polating the happenings that takes place both on-field and off-field. A coach is painted as the villian when things go wrong, whereas it is the performance of the team that matters. Media for its circulation/coverage, try to add its own twist to appease the cricket masses, that are already divided on the regional feelings. Taking advantage of the media is our former cricketers who mouth their opinions, just to be heard, which in turn adds to the fans hystery and violent reaction. May be the ex-cricketers feel they have been robbed of their earnings/reputation, as they are no more invited to run the sport they once played.
Back in India, the media, the promoters and the zonal system of administration add fuel to the ego of the players and their influence in the system.
The truth is Indian/Pakistan fans/x-cricketers are loathe to accept foriegners in charge of their cricket team (though other sports have no problem) and willing to accept CHANGES that demands professionalism and commitment.
I may wish to add that more than cricket (or any other sports), even the management style of many organizations even today promote Sychophancy, non-performance and make someone else pay for their management differences.
There is no doubt that fans wants their teams to perform well and win matches.

I share Smbit Bal's views. But what I would like to know is, many other sports around the world have been equally commercialised and commoditised as International Cricket (ex. European Club Soccer, NBA etc.), with obscene amounts of money, and extreme pressures on players being commonplace. But why are those games not degenerating like Cricket is? It is something to do with the countries involved with Cricket (India and Pakistan)? Or is it because the game of Cricket is by nature a lot different from any other sport in the world?

Cricket needs to make money and support itself and support growth. But the way the ICC has taken over the Caribbean for the World Cup is capricious and unnecessary. ICC should lighten up.

it is just a game. It is ridiculous that someone can lose their lives over a game involving hitting a piece of leather with a stick of wood. Unfortunatel for Indians (and Pakistanis) cricket has been the only source pride in any sort of international arena (in spite of the meagre and infrequent victories of note). However, I truly believe that this is poised to change. The very capitalistic theories that have been suggested for this phenomenon will take care of that. There is only so long that people with busy lives will keep supporting an underperforming team. In fact if India crashes out tommorrow this may happen sooner than later.

WONDERFUL ARTICLE!You hit nail on the head.
I totally agree with you,cricket is surounded by money,It was unlike in early 1990's where there used to be some kind balance between a Cricket and its fan and now Its on top of building made of money where the fan watches from the ground,It grew Bigger than the fan.
Who ever may be the cause(ICC,PLAYERS,MATCH FIXING,BETTING)....Its just like"KILLING THE DUCK WHICH LAYS GOLDEN EGGS",in this commercial cricket world.

CRICKET IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST LOOSER!!!

Sambit's view are spot on. Indian cricketers are over hyped, over paid and the expectation of the fans are unrealistic. As Sambit said, India not making to the next round will be a blessing disguise for it might force the cricket administrators and the crazy indian media to think. Cricket as it is losing its charm due to the glut of meaningless matches.

Well written and i agree. But its difficult to judge objectively as the passion and fervour behind cricket matches featuring India has been ingrained into us from childhood.
We need more controls in regulating and bringing to books the culprits of match fixing. What happened to the Azharuddins and Jadeja's?

This is an excellent Article. India is filled with a large uneducated population that believes what the media tells them. They are controlled very easily and believe things that they wish to be true (but are not). I admire the passion of the people, but not their ignorance.

Even though you make a relevant point, I find it tiring when people keep going back to the "good old days" theme. And who do you think is paying for cricket in all these "minnow" countries, and maybe even test playing countries (WI,BAN)? its the indian fans. To be fair, I agree with you that some fans are going over the top about the teams' performance, but I think you are doing the same thing now about the fans.

Yes, cricket needs a reality check. The players should take it upon themselves to do this.They must first eschew the lure of more fame and money when they get it right on the field. Then they can voice against the insane personal attacks on person & property when they fail in the middle. It is largely felt that the British football hooligans are the worst fans in the world, but I think Indian & Pakistan cricket fans are worse. I think this present Indian team has got serious talent & even more serious clout amongst the fans. They should put their hands up and refuse to play cricket for the next 1 year as a protest to the intense backlash they receive when they lose. They need to emphasize that this is merely a sport and winning and losing are part and parcel of it. Fans need to be taught a lesson and for that something drastic like that needs to take place.

Ofcourse I know this is wishful thinking and will never happen. Even if players agree, the BCCI will never let the "golden duck" sit idle. The sensationalism that some parts of mass media create are equally responsible for creating the hype. This is were the highest judiciary should intervene and keep a check on this uninhibited mass media sensationalism. Maybe, then maybe cricket will one day cease being a religion and become "just a game".

I don't mind the cricket body making money as long as ...

1) They pick teams purely on merit and the team performs well , if not for pride atleast for money!
2) They contribute something towards other ailing sports bodies in the country like Athletics, Volleyball, basketball, weightlifting, boxing etc...

I dont agree with you at all. There is nothing wrong with cricket right now and only problem with Indian and Pakistan Lunatic Masses. Half of the population on both countries dont have JOBS and all they can do is Violence. who the hell in this world except INDIA and Pakistan win the world cup??? Every sport in this world run by CAPATALISTS and without money there is No sport. Check in america, australia, Europe or everywhere.

I cannot but agree heavy heartedly with Sambit on the fact that the game of cricket has now been overtaken by the economics of cricket.In the last world cup we heard news like the Indian fans threatening the players will return to thier graves if atleast they did not reach the semifinal and this time Dhoni's home was attacked and his effigy burned to show some sort of emotion!Given the fact that economics play a vital role in everything and that media fuels the frenzy this seems like an irreversible process,but maybe yet we can save the game!To the list we can add the attitude of some of the players also when they make comments like 'I am going to do this to that bowler/batsman'example! Dhoni's comments last time he visited Pakistan.Sachin is a great player but never quoted any vicious remarks,why? because he loves the game and not just the fame!Microphones on the field should be removed, why? because there are all grown up men playing out there if some body makes a comment opponent does not like they should not be complaining like little boys to anybody,deal with it in words and better still by thier play! Sledging has always been a part of cricket to some extent but it has been converted into a marketting tool now,the more we high light a bad behavior the more attention it gets and not so smarts pick it up,ask any psychologist/psychiatrist.Personally I enjoy cricket especially when a weaker team beats a stronger one,and ofcourse when Pakistan wins! but that has nothing to do with the game they are associated with my emotions,if Pakistan is beaten by Ireland I feel depressed for 20 mts.but one has to realize the fact that Ireland must have played very well or Pakistan played too poorly,either case, result was the natural outcome.
Too much is on stake with a game of cricket as of now, life of the people concerned! that is not the way anything should be!
Sobia.
Chicago

I dont agree with you at all. There is nothing wrong with cricket right now and only problem with Indian and Pakistan Lunatic Masses. Half of the population on both countries dont have JOBS and all they can do is Violence. who the hell in this world except INDIA and Pakistan win the world cup??? Every sport in this world run by CAPATALISTS and without money there is No sport. You can play in your back yard but who cares. if people wants to care then Money matters.
Check in america, australia, Europe or everywhere.

I abosultely am with you on your thoughts on this one. Rest all aside, my main concern is whether cricket has truned out to be this demon which will not promote too much interest now and in the future for those who insipre to play this sport. Agreed on the fame and money that is a given, but the sheer feeling of being under threat (just bcoz one or two games might go for a toss)might not inspire a good lot to come into this frame of sport. Bottom LIne - Enough is Enough guys - Let us give our team a breather and stand by them. I am sure they will come up to their best and what ever they can (within their reach and potential) to make everyone a happier lot. I guess that is what is the difference between our guys and the leads like Australia.

Even though the article is correct, it does not suggest any tangible process to achieve the semblance. My two cents is that, the captain, coach of Indian team, other players should be more honest with the public. They are tend to be self boasting and can create false impressions. They should stay away from super hero advertisements.

I do agree it is a game. Nobody has the right to take anyone's life. If Bob has been murdered then the whole of pakistan team should be banned and charged with murder. Pakistan should be thrown out of the cricket world. Nobody would want to coach them with the fear of their lives.

The thoughts expressed by Bal are so true, but not just about cricket, but increasingly about professional sport itself. Footballers complain about too many matches in a season in Europe, but continue to risk serious injury and burnout because the sponsors are finding the lure of milking them for another ounce of flesh too difficult to avoid. In North America, the money involved in sport is so collossal that fringe players earn salaries 100 times greater than the average worker will earn in his life. Because sponsors earn so much more from the game, bad behaviour on the part of players is overlooked, especially as it adds interest to the sport and generates greater income. Unfortunately, sport in general has lost its soul to the point where one life is inconsequential when compared to winning or losing.

Sambit, you read my mind!
Statistically speaking, India should be the best cricket nation on earth, but it is nowhere even near the top three. That comment is not meant to take away from the genuine talent prevalent around the world (especially Bangladesh's deserved win), but to highlight the abject failure of the BCCI.
The cricket world needs India to be knocked out in the first round, followed by a complete restructuring of Indian cricket. It will be painful, but is a necessity to preserve the future of the game.

I tend to agree with certain bits of the article. I however do not agree that cricket is just a game. It is a means of livelihood to thousands of professionals who would be lost and penniless without it. It may be a game to the people on the streets and people watching at home but it certainly is no game to the men out there in the middle. By calling it that we are condemning it to a trivial nature and that simply is not true. I do agree that the Bob Woolmer incident was tragic but I don't believe for one second that people including the author predicted it or noticed the signs. A week back everyone was looking forward to a wonderful world cup in the backdrop of beautiful locales and people. Sure commercialization is doing more harm than good but it definitely did not border on the tragic.

Very well said. Cricket is heading for disaster with the current business model. If Bob Woolmer is indeed murdered (I sincerely hope not), then cricket has lost it's purpose and as far as I'm concerned, it is doomed. Fans in India and Pakistan needs a reality check. I think it will be good for cricket it India gets knocked out just like Pakistan. I wish the sponsors who are responsible for creating this cricket daemon, face significant loss and learn a hard lesson with the departure of India and Pakistan in first round. No hard feelings for the Indian and Pakistani players, but as Sambit mentioned, it will be beneficial for the game.

Even though the article is correct, it does not suggest any tangible process to achieve the semblance. My two cents is that, the captain, coach of Indian team, other players should be more honest with the public. They are tend to be self boasting and can create false impressions. They should stay away from super hero advertisements.

Even though the article is correct, it does not suggest any tangible process to achieve the semblance. My two cents is that, the captain, coach of Indian team, other players should be more honest with the public. They are tend to be self boasting and can create false impressions. They should stay away from super hero advertisements.

I dont agree with you at all. There is nothing wrong with cricket right now and only problem with Indian and Pakistan Lunatic Masses. Half of the population on both countries dont have JOBS and all they can do is Violence. who the hell in this world expect INDIA and Pakistan win the world cup??? Every sport in this world run by CAPATALISTS and without money there is No sport.
Check in america, australia, Europe or everywhere.
THIS WORLD IS ALL ABOUT MONEY BROTHER. WHETHER IT IS SPORT OR ANY OTHER PROFESSION

As someone based in the US, I think Mr. Bal's opinions reflect the problem. Cricket continues to operate in the twilight zone between ameteurism and profesionalism. So there's always someone like Mr. Bal who's tut-tutting about how money is spoiling the game.
Cricket needs to be totally professionalized which means it needs to have a season, a schedule and a structure (even if under a nation vs. nation format), as most professional sports do. Right now most of the cricket played is meaningless because it does not contribute in any way to a team's ranking. What possible incentive can a player have to play in meaningless tournament after tournament thousands of miles from home. It is a recipe for burn out, corruption and the sordid episodes that have now become routine in cricket.

While on the surface Samit's aritle seems ok, I fundamentally disagree with the conclusions. First of all any sport is about passion and emotion. Without passionate fans sports would die. Given a passionate fan following, it is but natural for marketers to take advantage of it. I wonder where Cricinfo website would be but for the passionate Indian fan who is ready to spend money to buy products and look at advertisements on the site.

The key questions are whether the money that is being generated is spent wisely and whether the people in-charge are managing brand CRICKET well. I will have to conclude that the answer to both these questions is a firm NO and No. We seem to have too much cricket nowadays which might ultimately kill the brand and not much good seems to have come from all the money pouring into the sport. It is funny that the chief selector of India talks about there being a dearth of talent, despite the country having the richest board. So instead of blaming the commercialization, the constructive approach is to see how best we can use the money to the betterment of the game.

In my opinion, people talking about the good old days are just being regressive. Mass media and passionate fans are a reality which we have to learn to live with.

"you can't call yourself a true fan if the sight of 18-year old Tamim Iqbal charging down pitch to belt Indian quick bowlers brought you no thrill"

I told exactly the same thing that you mentioned in you column to my friends. They called me nuts and dissmissed the thought. Such is the media !

Sambit,

Your article articulates what has been known for a very long time among those who run, play and watch cricket. Unfortunately, unless the current and former players themselves revolt against the status quo nothing significant by the way of change will occur.

As an example - we have our very own Gavaskar going on a mindless tirade aginst the Aussie's sledging culture blissfully ignoring the pathetic state of our own cricket, be its administration or the performance of the team itself. And Gavaskar is supposed to have "stature." Little surprise then that cricket in the subcontinent has become what religion has been for a long time - an opiate for the masses.

But this has now become a cultural thing and as with all things cultural, change will be hard to come by.

If I were king for a day here is what I would do -Reduce the one day internationals that the subcontinent teams play by 50%. Sure there will be a drop in the revenues for a while but in the long run if the game is attractive enough people will flock to see the test matches. That still remains the yardstick for gauging the true calibre of the teams and the players.

Towards the end of 2006 it was reported that the BCCI were going to pitch for ICC global marketing rights. I am not sure where that process is at present but the arrogance of the thinking behind that is matched only by the preposterous idea that a self-interested, national cricket board should wield control over the commercial interests of the international game. Very sporting... and who guards the guardians comes to mind.

Dear Sambit bhai
I agree with you whole heartedly, I have been following international cricket in Canada for last 12 years on the television , after left Pakistan in 1976. I must say that the cricket culture has taken very dangerous turn from gentleman cricket to highly explosive commercial business. The players are merely became a commodity to the gambler and to the die hard cricket fans life and death scernio. This leaves the player of Indian/Pakistani countries with only one option i.e to win at all cost and failure is not the option, unlike the games in north america.
I sincerely hope that the cricket fans,players, and the management will come to terms with this new reality to find ways overcome this very new and dangerous hidden disease.

Taufiq Yusuf
Toronto, Canada

Great Article and I agree with it 100%. If you are a fan of this game, then you must have enjoyed the way Bangladesh played in the first game. In all three departments they showed full commitment and completely outplayed India. They deserved to win the game. As a fan of Cricket and big supporter of Indian team, I have to say that was a good game. Excellent performance by Bangladeshi team... We need performance like these from small teams so that people can dream to achieve big and in my opinion this will help to spread the game....more young people will be interested in joining the game and the game was good for Cricket overall..

At the end of the day one team will win…in this case it was Bangladesh.

you are absolutly right on that..the caricket has almost lost its meaning in india and pakistan..these great teams must learn something from the one time minnow called shri lanka.and the quickly progressing bangladesh..the people of each team should also consider the team's reality and the lost..the burst should be done now and it will..i am also an indian but the india's early exit will solve i guess so many problem..and that might me the start of cricket that used to be played before..

As long as games are not fixed in advance, there is nothing wrong with power houses pushing a sport that is widely followed in any geographical location. These power houses are corporates, media networks or sportsmen themselves - who take the game, viewer ship, salary, profitability and the hype to the next level. Soccer in Europe, Football in the US is no different as far as commercialization is concerned - when compared to cricket, especially cricket in India. So enjoy the game; ignore the commercial aspect- it does not change lives of followers; criticize when you learn a game was fixed.

Highly one-dimensional. Where there is sport, where there is following, money will eventually go there. Which popular sport in the world is not fuelled by crazy amounts of money?
Why does soccer generate so much revenue ? Its only because teams like Argentina, Brazil and Italy make it interesting. If these three teams were out there wouldnt be any interest in football too.
Instead of blaming companies, which are merely looking after their profits,(which is totally OK), the public should learn to treat a game as a game. But what would you say to the millions who dont have a job and have to expend their energy and restlessness somewhere?

It's not that money is controling the game Cricket alone. It's happening in all sports like Foot Ball, F1 race, and many more. Infact everyone still remembers the unfit Ronaldo plaing in the finals of the 1998 World cup Football Final due to the insistance of the title sponsors. Every where sports has become commercialised. It's inevitable. If you want coverage, it cannot be done at free of cost and we cannot be served all the time. We want sport, they want money - as simple as that. In between some bad things might happen and probably happened.

The passion of fans is not the same as was 5-6 years ago. Already it starts diminishing. Hence the author need not worry about Indian advertisors sopiling the World Cricket.

The Indian cricket itself is slowly dying. When there is no growth, it can be termed as death. correct?

Couldn't agree more! Cricket is just a game and every games has a winner and a loser, and like any other game sometimes you win sometimes you lose. Learn to live with it.

I completely agree with Sachin Moghe.. We need some other sport in India to compete with Cricket for the attention of the public.. Until that day comes fans would not have anywhere to go except Cricket..

why i relate so much to this article is that an an RJ with a leading radio station in India, i spoke the same on my show when India lost to Bangladesh. We needed it.

I love the article. The way it's written. But what is unfortunate is that the people who actually go about causing riots over India's defeat will never read it. Most of them dont know how to.. and to get this message to them, is the responsibility of the sensation-hungry media. We as educated class will read this and be content. What about those who need the message put across in their language? Why is our media fraternity so unpatriotic? Why can't the country be made to think "sportively" about cricket?

Sambit Bal has raised a major issue in a softer tone. It's a good reminder to cricket fans that "Cricket is only a Game", but not a very strong message to the cricket administrators. Cricket is now more often branded as a consumer product rather than a game by most of the administrators. BCCI has pioneered the path for making more profit than investment in cricket than any other business. As a regulatory body, ICC is responsible to formulate a framework and take appropriate measures to monitor and create provision for check and balance between the game and the commercial aspects of cricket. But ICC has decided to follow the BCCI lead to make more profit!

The spirit of sportsmanship has long lost from cricket and now money-muscle controls the game. The result is now clearly known to everyone. It is taking its toll. I fear, unnatural death of highly respected cricket coach Bob Woolmer is not the end of the toll, it is the beginning. Nasty power tussle between Jagamohan Dalmiya, who pioneered the commercialization of cricket, and Sharad Power, a shrewd politician, for the top BCCI position was the foreplay. Role of bookies are also important in brewing such an outcome.

Bob Woolmer will remain in the heart of millions of cricket fans for his innovative cricket ideas and its applications. But it will be a shame if we, the sport of cricket lovers, allow the cricket administrators to continue this business in the name of cricket. It must be stopped.

Right on the money Sambit! Let us all,who love the game, do our part to stop the "madness" as alluded in your article. As Sambit says, let us all enjoy the game called Cricket.

This is life! Why fret over such things? Don't you see the same degradation in every other sphere of human activity?? When education/jobs/marriages, everything has become commercialised, how is sports any different??
More than anything, all this is a reflection of a stagnation and degradation of human minds and hearts. This is what manifests and reflects in everything such a society takes part in. This applies to all the people, not only Indians (as Zubaer puts it).

You couldn't have been more correct than this. Good article. I only hope one of the cricketers comes out and fights against it. But that would be just... impossible.
On the other hand, what is not commercialized? From love to fame, everything, every aspect of human life is now a victim of stupid commercialization. Then what is cricket?

We Indians love cricket an we should be proud for that. We love it, we are obsessed with it, but it is none of our fault. Yes, it needs some discipline, but if countries other than India can not support their teams as much as we do then obviously the game is likely to be onesided. And by the way, our passion is perhaps no way near to that of football here in UK or for superball in US. What is needed is the Indian team to rise to the challenge and give the value for their money.

The article hits the nail on the head. Right now is a great time to remind the Indian fans of sense of perspective.
Though stating the status quo and asking questions is something a lot of experts can do. Everbody seems to know what is wrong with cricket, but who has ideas to fix it?

This is a wonderful article and puts things into perspective. Like some else also commented Indian population needs something other than cricket too to cling on to, to dream about. It is high time the other games are promoted. We need more Sania Mirzas in tennis and other sports too. We need more heroes to dream or dreams and achieve them.
But the issue really is commercialization of sport , it has reached ridiculous proportions.

It couldn't have been put better. In fact, most of my friends don't have any interest in watching matches that don't feature India, and while I'm not surprised, I do feel that such fans are ill-equipped to develop a perspective on the game, and have no desire to appreciate its finer points either. The television media's coverage of cricket, especially by the Hindi news channels, is not only shoddy, but completely lacking in taste (sample names of shows such as "Match ka Mujrim"). Simply pathetic and disgusting.

thats spot on about what your saying but you shouldnt comment about india being a bad cricket team. rather you could say their out of form or in or have injury problems

Can't agree more with Samit... The BCCI with all it's politicians and muscle power has virtually taken over world cricket. How much of the money the BCCI is making is put back into cricket in the country? I am betting it is a very tiny fraction of what they make. Just see how the BCCI along with the other sub-continental teams bulldozed Aus-NZ chances of getting the 2011 world cup.

Just like Samit , I would not mind India going out of the world cup soon. The Indian cricket team is probably as inept as the English football team. The saddest part is the Indian media hype around them is becoming as stupid as the English media's hype around their football team.

I am from Bangladesh. We are new in cricket if you compare to other nation. We are very lucky that our cricket fan understand what takes to be a champion. So we dont have this kind of problem in my country. but we want out team to do good. Its game and its not bigger than life. i think people from subcontinent are so passionate about cricket because........to be honest no matter which sport you talk about none of them is in world cup or world championship. none of the football team is in world cup. Cricket is the only game which represent us in world map.

I hope ICC will take a serious action about bob’s death and save the game for all of us.

Isn't it the same with other sports as well? What happens during soccer world cup with South American teams like Brazil, Argentina etc. Don't we see frenzied fans, nations mourning losses and celebrating wins..

I agree with Sambit's assessment of Indian team -they don't match up like Brazil in soccer. It's an overrated team with hardly a world class bowling or a fielding outfit. Also unlike, the commerical angle with cricket appears cheap.

India is still a one sport nation but I expect this frenzy to subside in few years time if we have some winners coming from other sports. Unfortunately Indians don't have much of an outlet in terms of other sports.

Dear Mr. SAMBIT BAl,
Just look around your article, there are ad's... What are they? Money earners for cricinfo and all of them Indian. Why so May I ask you? or all the ads on the home page of cricinfo.....DOnt you think you too are selling cricket and that too to the very same indian audience.
Why should someone watch TV for 10 hours, if the end result is seeing their team lose to a second rate team... Which you should have won....
I think sir, you lack conscience.... yes every indian loves to watch the game and even if their team looses they want to see their teams go down fighting...Thatz what angers the crowd.... Who will complain if their team goes down fighting....No one and dont call the public as fatalists... The need is for a change of attitude of the players who playact in cricket and take hefty sums home even if they lose.
The players dont have conscience, probably they dont feel ashamed.... But we do

Very good article I must say. But I dnt know about India getting knocked out in the first round. Because, even if we do get knocked out now .. I am sure all the frenzy would be back on when we play australia later.. I think what would we really want is for other sports like soccer, tennis etc to become more popular in India.. Also, I am really scared that our team won't be as good anymore once sachin, ganguly and dravid retire and cricket craze would hopefulyl go down then..

Yes it is true, cricket is more than a game in India. Its a national pride and it is the responsibility of players and the board to uphold it. While i agree its unrealistic to expect these bunch of 15 to even get into super8, its so hard on the die hard indian fans to accept the reality. Indian fans can accpet defeat as it is part of the sport. But what they cant accept is only defeat and that too against teams like bangladesh and kenya. Is it too much to expect the team to be number one where the country's population is billion plus and almost every one and every where cricket is played. With so much money if the BCCI cant get indian cricket to top place then whatever happens to the members of the board or players is well deserved.

I personally want India to win and as any another fan take some time to absorb the loss. In a land of billion people there will be some percentage hooligans, What do that is the volume of people. Just because of that reflecting as if all indians are some fanatics is a bit off. The typical elitist media approach of labeling whole people as if all are same is not justified. Specific reference of some hooligans, some fanatics reflects correctly. The danger to cricket is due to such elements than whole of sub continent etc.,

Congratulations on wonderful article and insightful discussion on need for cricket boards to revisit what they do? why they do? and how they do?

However, I feel organizations competing for broadcasting rights are not only smart they have substantial enough infrastructure to evaluate risk associated with betting on one team's chance to make it to finals. Specially when there is no information asymmetry and performance of each team is available to everyone. My assumption is $1.1 billion assessment includes pay-offs and risks associated to it.

Interestingly enough, what has started affecting the game in past decade is unregulated market of betting. It is similar to trading of USD in closed market economy at higher than market value. Should we start questioning the printing of USD or look at the socio-economic conditions leading to under ground economy resulting in affecting regulated market? Incase of USD solutions was open market economy.

Having said that solution for the problems we have will not be simple and quick. It will need political leadership beyond cricket control boards to address the issue and re-gain the viewers confidence.

Cheers and good luck to cricket fans!!

Isn't it the same with other sports as well? What happens during soccer world cup with South American teams like Brazil, Argentina etc. Don't we see frenzied fans, nations mourning losses and celebrating wins..

I agree with Sambit's assessment of Indian team -they don't match up like Brazil in soccer. It's an overrated team with hardly a world class bowling or a fielding outfit. Also unlike, the commerical angle with cricket appears cheap.

India is still a one sport nation but I expect this frenzy to subside in few years time if we have some winners coming from other sports. Unfortunately Indians don't have much of an outlet in terms of other sports.

Congratulations on wonderful article and insightful discussion on need for cricket boards to revisit what they do? why they do? and how they do?

However, I feel organizations competing for broadcasting rights are not only smart they have substantial enough infrastructure to evaluate risk associated with betting on one team's chance to make it to finals. Specially when there is no information asymmetry and performance of each team is available to everyone. My assumption is $1.1 billion assessment includes pay-offs and risks associated to it.

Interestingly enough, what has started affecting the game in past decade is unregulated market of betting. It is similar to trading of USD in closed market economy at higher than market value. Should we start questioning the printing of USD or look at the socio-economic conditions leading to under ground economy resulting in affecting regulated market? Incase of USD solutions was open market economy.

Having said that solution for the problems we have will not be simple and quick. It will need political leadership beyond cricket control boards to address the issue and re-gain the viewers confidence.

Cheers and good luck to cricket fans!!

i find the article very correct but 2 questions to mr bal why does india should exit early in the world cup for the good of the game
show me one game which is popular and driven by money

Can't agree more with Samit... The BCCI with all it's politicians and muscle power has virtually taken over world cricket. How much of the money the BCCI is making is put back into cricket in the country? I am betting it is a very tiny fraction of what they make. Just see how the BCCI along with the other sub-continental teams bulldozed Aus-NZ chances of getting the 2011 world cup.

Just like Samit , I would not mind India going out of the world cup soon. The Indian cricket team is probably as inept as the English football team. The saddest part is the Indian media hype around them is becoming as stupid as the English media's hype around their football team.

We are more curious,now, than being sad related to Bob Woolmer's demise. We are waiting for another postmortem result.
But this the real postmortem of modern cricket.
You said it right. Despite of their supremacy in world cricket, teams like Australia, South Africa etc doesn't attract as money as teams in sub continent do. The media is mainly responsible for the stardom. If you need an example, take this...One year back, media were thirsty for Sourav Ganguly's blood, now they have given him the title of "India's saviour". Same thing will happen with Sehawag as well. Everything, starting from the pre match analysis to post match interviews, everything is based on a commercial motivation. If we want to see the real cricket game, the money factor should be the least efective one. Thats why we are happy to see the victories of so called minnows, even if we have seen very less out of them. They play with the passion that a true cricket lover want to see. Being one among those millions who love cricket, a sincere request to all cricketers - PLAY CRICKET FOR PLAYING CRICKET.

Sambit ..I like this approach ICC and its editorial staff has taken . Whenever , Pakistan is involved pump up the volume on the rumor mill of defamation and create a negative twist. In your article without using the name Pakistan you have done an excellent job in painting them as criminals and what not .Now , this article is no different than Times of India or Hindustan Times. Stabbing from behind ..the existential predisposition.I don't remeber seeing any conspiracy specific articles on Cricinfo when Dhoni's house was torched. It was hush hush .How come.And please stop using pseudonyms. People can read through the thought and the name don't matter.

Kind Regards

Jack

i find the article very correct but 2 questions to mr bal why does india should exit early in the world cup for the good of the game
show me one game which is popular and not driven by money

Excellent piece of work hopefuly it should get through to the right people & necessary action taken asap

Well... circket is a game and it should be treated just as a game. Any side can have an off day, and can lose to the side that plays better ( irrespective of thier ICC rankings). I mean, Zimbabwe in '83, Sri Lanka in '79, Zimbabwe tied against England in '92, Kenya '96, Zimbawe in '99.. these things happen. What has hurt the game to some extent is the amount of money involved. And to top it we have all kinds of controversies like ball tampering, match fixing, doping .. you name it and its there ... Cricket has stppoed being a game nowadays. What was earlier a mode of relaxation , now is a mode for increasing tension. How sad ...

Awesome article.

I think its time the media starts to condemn the effigy burning, house attacking practises of some deranged fans. If anyone remembers watching IBN7 on March 18th, the channel was portraying the players as villians and even went to as far as calling Dravind as Zero No 1. Sehwag as Zero No 2. One caption which caught my attention was: "100 crore logon ke saath DHOKHA" (con against 100 crore people). I couldnt help but think - has the channel gone mad. Doesn't it have an iota of moral responsibility. When a channel portrays a player as a failure and villian of cricket, some fanatics are bound to get enraged and get onto the streets. Adding to that, the channel shows the attacks on houses as just a display of frustation of cricket fans. At no point does it say it is illegal nor does it try to understand how much stress and fear, the player's family might go through.

In my opinion, there needs to be a law where media has to be punished when it shows defamatory and instigating types of news against any player.

I dont agree ..
Cricket has a lot to do to lend solidarity to a nation being torn apart by caste relegion language and so on .. Today, only cricket commands passions that cut across states, relegion and helps show the nationalism thats is India. It was sorry to note Sambit saying that India should loose, why do we have too ?? In one day cricket every David can slay a Goliath and so what if India beats SA and Aussies and go on to win the world cup, how does it harm anyones interest, not definitely the game's in whatever prespective you look.

If India should not go the Soviet way after 50 years, then we need Cricket to survive, a Tendulkar,Ganguly,Kapil Dev being born again and again and passion kindling every Indian.

Shame on you Sambit to even think of India loosing.

Sambit you are right on target. As you say the bubbles needs to burst and we all can do it if we need. But main problem with the fans from india and pakistan is, a large chunk of it are not educated. And for this reason would behave rather sporadically than the little educated people who really appreciate and see cricket. It is hard to change the fact that the Advertising agencies are targetting the poor and uneducated(they can be easily convinced) more than the others. So nothing is going to change the attitude of people towards cricket, even if india is ousted out of the world cup in the first round for which the fans are going to be dejected for sometime, they come back with the same excitement when india play's their next game.

My only suggestion would be to entertain other games like soccer or hokey, so that fans are more distributed and pressure of advertising, losing a game wouldn't really matter. It also increases the chance of winning, because even if indian cricket team is out of world cup, you never know indian soccer team would make it up, or indian hockey team would get their hands on the World Cup.

Let give other games also a chance and see how well they do.

Thanks

Nice write-up! Probably somebody made money writing and publishing this article too. If its just a game, lets just watch it and forget about it. Why think about it so much and come up with a nice article. Why have thousands of web sites reporting on it, why have paid live streaming videos available, why feed people with cricket all over the place be it TV, Advertisements, WWW etc etc. All said and done, people are passionate about things and then there are business models weaved around it to earn "money". You can say the same thing about a lot of sports. Look at Baseball, basketball in US; Football in England. There is a passionate following and commercialization of these games too. And there is nothing wrong with it. To write about cricket and portraying that the game has lost its soul demeans the great work a lot of people are doing about the game. If a handful of criminals are using the game illegally, it is for the authorities to deal with them. Systems will evolve, people will be caught and illegal stuff will still continue. As far as we are concerned, we should continue to love this game, talk about it, write about it, read about it, stand in front of shops to catch a glimpse of a live match, strain our ears to listen to the score from a pocket transistor, bunk classes to catch Sehwag batting, hug people we dont know when our team wins, feel depressed when it loses... Whats a game without passion! The show must go on and with the same passion!!

This has been one of the best analysis of the facts that surrounds cricket today. It is the bitter truth that most of us will not accept.Well done Sambit and I hope the Indian fans (including me) will try to understand that the players are also human beings. It certainly hurts everyone when the indian team is not performing, especially when India's worl cup dream is like the "Cat on the Wall". Does it serve any purpose to pelt stones or burn effigies of players in the pursuit of trying to boost their confidence? Certainly not. The media has blown this issue out of proportion and as you correctly pointed out we have to hope that the team wins, Cheer them up in difficult circumstances. Thats like a true sportive fan. Everyone should understand that the team did not go to the Caribbean to make a first round exit. So let's hope for the best and if something unexpected occurs try to find solutions rather raise more questions.

What a hypocrite? Cricinfo and your job is based on the rapid commercializing of cricket....and you are telling us how it has lost its soul. Do not bring down how the game has developed. For all the money it is generating - its still a fraction of what other sports do. Furthermore maybe you should criticize the fans. They do not appear to be able to control their emotions. The media you say stirs up the frenzy? If fans in Pakistan or India are naive enough to react the way they do - then what can be done? The media is catering to the fans interest in cricket - their passion. It is their unbridled passion that is the problem. Perhaps that has to be addressed. Not the fact that Indian cricket a behemoth in the modern game is in anyway to blame for this death. As long as the money that is earned is funneled towards the further development of the game (which I agree is not alwways the case) then I see no problem in earning money. As for the ICC? I have looked at their balance sheet and the amount of money they have in their coffers for the development of the game is considerably low. Compare it to FIFA or any US major league sport. You keep pointing fingers Sambit - the point is a coach has died - if it is murder then it is unbridled passion that is to blame. Put the blame on the fans not on Indian cricket. I look forward to some kind of reply from you on this matter

i agree with the author,what is missing is the amount of money earned by Board is not accountable does any one asking ?? about that in india 'NO',then the players are not whole hearlty palying for the country,they lack dicipline,mental strenght,professionalism because their mind is some where thinking how to earn more money etc..etc..our fans must think we left all our daily life just to watch our players.is that same commitment and esp the 'HOPE OF OUR TEAM CAN WIN' MENTALITY is in with our players..NO NO NO.. look at SriLanka they learned cricket after us and compare to their ability to win outside sub continent is mroe than us..the problem is we dont have any sports to follow in india..bcoz of f*** politics...i just wondering how come a biilion odd people country cant have more sportsmans..because Politics spoil everything..the reason cricket is there is mainly for its making more money,moeny...

think about our teams bench strength..we haardly remember a name of the player in the bench..think Autralia..bench..they have more class then our's..reason they play as a professional for us..i dont want tosay..it's true we have so many players which play better then Aus.. bench but nobody given thema chance to show because of Zonal Politics..hmm seems everything all bcoz of Money,Politics..

I disagree with Sambit's view that this is just a game. We are definitely no longer playing gully cricket or even some friendly's. I don't see anything wrong with such levels of competitiveness. If commercialization is added to the mix, can't see anything wrong with that either. There are a lot of sports in the world that are as much or more dependent on money. What that does is increases the stakes involved, but why complain about it?? Thats how games are evolving and for that matter all aspects of life too. Infact the attitude in this article is to tone things down. This is where I disagree, I think we should use the money judiciously and bring out better training practices, coaches, facilities, starting with the top and trickle it down to the grassroots. I can't even begin to imagine why we cannot change our players into super fit humans. I started as a 100kg overweight person with a soft belly. But in the last 3 year I have run 3 marathons and have become superfit, scuplted if u will. Althought my intentions are to look good and feel good, I have no clue why on earth Sehwag's belly is hanging out. If I had access to the facilities and resources I have now, when growing up, I may never have gotten in bad shape. But 5 years ago, I felt the indian cricketers are in so much better shape than me. Now after disciplined hard work, I am sure I am much better in shape, fitness and energy than 90% of the cricketers we have in the team. Not because I have gone overboard, but because the players are not putting in their bit to get to that level of professionalism.
Let us stop making a hue and cry about commercializing sports. Lets commercialize it more and get more money pumped in. Pay are athletes more money and make sure they invest more in becoming sharpers, stronger, fitter and more focused. Lets get even better coaches and more technology to help.
India needs world beaters. We need heroes. For 1 billion ppl we have no world class athlete to show, no not one. Lets bring out more Dhoni's and pathan's and make them super human. Let us face this world proud, and inspired which will translate into better performers in ourselves.

Interesting article from Sambit Bal. The responses to the article are even more interesting. The responses indicate that quite a few Indians (including Mr. Bal) have already resigned to the fact that India is not going to the next round and are looking for some solace. I bet if India had already qualified for the next round the responses from my Indian brothers (including Mr. Bal) would have been different.
Having said that, Mr. Bal makes some interesting observations about money in cricket. But it is not fair to blame India alone for it. Firstly commercialization of cricket is not all that bad. Not too long ago cricket was a sport played by elite in bigger cities - not so anymore. TV and media has taken criket to all the nooks and corners of the country.
As for obsession with cricket in India and Pakistan, I think its because we do not have any other world class teams. Plus, fanaticism is part of sub-continent culture.
If India loses tomorrow, we will hear more of this from the Indian writers but if they win, all will be forgotten and they will join the Indian bandwagon again.

I think the author is right. But the sad reality today is that sports are governed by money. The premiership, NFL, NBA etc - the list is long. But I think it is the combination of the fact that as a nation India only excels at one sport(even that is debatable) and people dont have anything to look forward to. This is one way people feel part of Team India - thourgh the media and the media feeds this frenzy in return. Having said all that cricket is not the only culprit. Look at Sania Mirza - she has become the poster girl in India after her recent exploits in tennis.

We, as a nation, get carried away very quickly and we are now seeing the effects - unrealistic expectations of our players among others.

I hope that India do not crash out tomorrow because the players' families will have to live with the consequences of the poor performance in the Carribean and that is unfair on them.

Sports need sportsmanship, Supporters also need supportmansship. In sports there is only one winner. Whoever play better cricket should win.

In India and Pakistan, lack of education, law and order are main sources of all this mess.

Totally agrred upon your thoughts Mr. Bal. But these are all the facts. Nobody is trying to find the solution. India needs revolutionary changes in its sporting structure and that should start both from grass root level as well as upper level. We need more consistently defined cricket leagues that and general public should also be made aware of the fact that our team might not be the best in the world but it is one of the mere competetors. All the thoughts pondered by other people here seem to come from a "third person" perspective. Means, we learn more about ourselves when we go outside our country. As rightly stated by one of the coments, we as a nation, need to change our perspective.

Dear Mr. Bal,

If all the negative influences of capitalism on cricket did not exist, there would be no website for you to publish your article on, you would not be writing it and I would not be reading it.
Commercialisation of sport, and anything even remotely popular with the masses, is an essential effect of globalisation and capitalism. This, we need to accept and live with.

Rajeev

Hats off to a wonderful article! I guess this should be published in newspapers so that everyone understand the reality. As someone pointed out, why isn't the league matches are not publicised at all and why doesn't anyone watch a Ranji Trophy. If more importance and advertisement is given to the state teams, fanatism may dissolve but then the unity of the nation when represented as a national team may not remain anymore and everyone would support only their dude from their state or their city.

I think people just have to have an open mind and understand that everyone is a human being and understand the composition of the national team, its strengths and weaknesses and truly we haven't won a championship outside India after 1985.

I completely agree with the author. Though I am a true Indian unfortunate I want India to exit from the preliminary stage as I don’t want to see Indian Cricket being buried same like the way hockey was buried by the politicians and some selfish power holding personalities. The local media also visualize too much on cricket than any other sports. Too much of money have been put in and now a days it’s been visualized by the organizers and the players as a business rather than an entertainment.

Cricket, directly due to the ICC has been loosing its soul for a long time. The players are placed under increasing pressure to play more and more games, in more and more meaningless tournaments. All for the power of the dollar. Players are forcing themselvs to play through injury and as a result are sustaining life long aches and pains, this is directly due to the ICC and televisions greed.

If you ask a player like INZY to recall any games he has played, rest assured he will only be able to recall a handful.

A few years ago I remember Gary Kirsen saying he remembers waking up, not knowing which city he was in, what tournament they were playing and worst of all who they were playing. This was about 8 years ago and the situation is far worse today.

It is high time another Packer came along and shook the ICC by the throat. Players and spectators alike would far prefer fewer games with way more meaning, long tours should be brought back with way fewer one day games. The ICC
must stop ruining players, they seem to have forgotten that without the players there is nothing there for them , an alternative to the ICC needs to found and quickly, to save the players as well as the spectators. Greed should have no part of this great game.

This article is really an eye opener for any true cricket fan who loves the game to its depth. This shoudl really trigger a debate at higher level on where really this game is heading to.

Yes, the game has been commercialized similarly to a major US sports but the passion and following is very different. Why do we always expect India and Pakistan to be playing the semis or finals ? As it stands today, Pakistan ranks # 4 and India # 6 in ICC rankings yet, all the money is on India or to a lesser extent Pakistan who are already out of the tournament. We can see buzz all around that there are more worries about the financial loss than the prestigious world cup tournament itself. I believe this is the breeding ground for match fixing and gambling at the highest level which will eventually be uncontrollable by ICC.

The passion, especially of Indian and Pakistani fans should tone down and the attitude should be "Its only a game". The game should be played with passion and dedication but the results - win or a loss should be treated equally. One day we are burning the effigies and the other day we are praising their performance.

Being a dedicated fan and a regular player in our state league, it really is shocking to see the reaction of fans in India and Pakistan.

In the past 3 years Pakistan constantly hit 2nd and 3rd spot in the ICC ranking but today the whole team is being blasted all around. Win and loss is part of the game and again, end of the day .. its just a game !

In a capitalist economy sports is a great form of entertainment. And that drives how a particular sport evolves. Thats the reason why One days have become popular than Tests. There is nothing wrong with the association of money and a sport. If there seems to be some flaws with this, then they are the same flaws associated with Capitalism as an economic model. But we are not here to discuss that anyway.
Coming to the second point- fanatism. Well India is a one billion country and these 11 player team is supposed to quench all their sporting fervour, thirst, hunger and to a higher degree aspirations.
This is simply 'Asking for too much' from the 11 players. You need to make use of/ distribute this enormous passion by promoting regional games more interesting, by pumping more money into Ranji, by making Ranji games as One day games, by telecasting matches against Karnataka and Mumbai on the prime time... We all like cricket. If a game between two states is made interesting, I wont mind watching that. I can distribute my passion to my state team, may be to my college team, and then to my national team. Then I won't put such a pressure on those 11 players.
There is so much money in cricket, I dont understand why this is not being used for promoting this game.

Let's not go in to the blame game. India did this, India did that… When it comes to India they have 1B fan verses may be few million fan from other counties, which are following cricket. When you have that bigger number of fan's just following 1 sports its going to happen that cricket's been promoted more, than any other sports by tele's. If you think of any other sports e.g. Baseball in US its only 1/3 of people in US follow or may be more but they are not so passionate about it, (Plz don’t take me wrong, there are hardcore fan’s of this sports also) because they have other sports also to be followed with same interest. Media will work there own ways to earn the money, the biggest problems are batting systems, cricket boards & other sports promotions in India & Pakistan.
Other than Asian cricket following countries, betting system is all legal in there countries, which automatically shuts down underground following for the game. Cricket board system in both the countries is so dull, they only worried about there WIN for next game, but what happens to parts of the game. Fitness, ground etc…. I m 28 year old guy… I am hearing about Indian grounds issue with fast bowling problems since my childhood, when that’s going to be solved. Every time we come from playing abroad we hear that our grounds need to be fixed for bounces. Its so funny, 1B people always hear this but never react… to ask WHEN? THAT WILL HAPPEN? All the Asian teams are playing the game of cricket for more than 50 years, still we need outside countries couch to teach, train and make our players good.. Isn’t that something stupid to think of…. What are our X-Players doing…. AD’s and commentaries. There is lot to talk about, but lets not forget; this article was written because something really bad has happened in the world of cricket, if ICC does not take actions now. Then in next 20 years, I don’t see any country playing cricket other than Asian countries or atleast fan following will be… Don’t you see empty stands in WC07 for big games………………..

It's time India and Indians stopped wasting time on cricket and concentrating on sports/games at the Olympics

For Cricket's sake, I agree with the author's view that it may not be a bad thing for India to be eliminated in the first round. I would like India to a true world beaters like ozies who have rule the field for 8 years irrespective of the country, grounds and opposition. Not once did they blame about pitches or climate or fate. Though they played their game tough. I do not like India to emulate what Pakistan did in 1992, their win was just a fluke blame it on luck or D/L methods.Ranking 6th position in a group of 8 is ridiculous i.e. about 80% of below the best.

Anything 'popular' will come with its bad baggage like money, glamour, hype, irrationality and insanity. Who doesn't want money in world? Everyone wants it and Media esp. in India will do anything and everything for it.

Don't blame our innocent fans who have nothing but CRICKET and MOVIES as their only source of entertainment. How many of the commoners can afford Rs300-500 per person to go to a water park or an amusement park to get entertained for a day with their family.

Unfortunately or fortunately cricket is the only sport that is easily available(afordable) to us, pick up anything that is round and use it as a ball and anything that is a flat and rectangular for a bat and you can start playing and a gully is your playground. Can you do the same thing for a hockey or basket ball or a volley ball? No. Neither the government nor local municipalities bother to create such avenues because they have spend money (as if from their own pockets).

In a billion, only sport we are some what good is cricket and nothing else Of course we will have occasionally someone like Leander Paes, Bhupatis, Anands but again Tennis and Chess are not easily available to commoners. Even middle class cannot afford them these days.

Last but not the least with the so called westernization or urbanization promoted by Media which I personally think is more vulgarization. Who is Manidra Bedi or Sania Mirza or those fashion experts to comment on cricket (No I am not a MCP) , who care if she wears a spaghetti strings or nothing. Please do not get sex into cricket. Our cricketers already deviate from the game with ads.

A nice thoughtful article. But here, we need to understand one thing. India is starving for sporting heroes . True, we have a Milkha singh, a PT usha, Lee-Hesh, Anand and of late, Narain and Sania, but most of these are indivudual sports which doesnt do much to arouse the so called TEAM spirit. Also true that we have not won much of notice in the last decade in Cricket. but then, Cricket had thrown a fair share of sporting heroes at regular intervals which has made an average Indian hook on to the sport and display the passion for the sport. Also, we must not totally portray the Indian Cricket administrators as Villains. They have done a wonderful job in making the sport commercial and indeed in making India a cricketing giant though not fully by performance. But it should be accepted that the commercial aspect of Cricket has gone a step too far and is now looking at the point where people who lose 1 billion if some country doesnt win would not mind losing a million to make sure that country wins.
I beg to differ in one more point which the article talks about which is , if India reaches the final , it would be over achievement. When I think over the last few world cups from 1987, except for 1996 and 2003, the best team or the favorites in the world cup have not always taken the cup. India and Pakistan were stronger than Aussies in 87. Pakistan were down in the dumps in 92 and South africa were by far the best team in 1999. But then, Cricket being a game of unpredictability, over achievement makes this game great and I doubt if this world cup would be won by expected teams.
But finally, everything is summarised by just one line.
We must learn to once again enjoy cricket as a game.

The writer forgets to mention that he himself and Cricinfo are a part of this "unhealthy, and unsustainable, business model."
Nevertheless, it's a good article that brings forth interesting points. As one of the comments appropriately said, India needs to promote other sports so that the fanaticism is spread out.

I agree with Sachin Moghe, when he said..."We need to give people something else to "worry" about." At this time, cricket is the main sport in india and we are not even best in the world, not even close. At the end of the day, we the fans are the losers. Everyone else (players, team, management, companies etc) is making money at our expense. Its about time, something need to change.

Nice article. It indeed reflects the irony of Indian cricket and its fans!!!

An article that brings some sanity and perspective. Basic Indian psychology is to identify heroes and worship them to the point of losing one's mind. Think politics, think cinema and think cricket, the big 3 of the Indian way of life. The disappointments on seeing their improbable expectations not being met kindles frenzy of unimaginable proportions. Media adds fuel to this raging fire. Only when the game is appreciated for its beauty, great performances and sportsmanship can there be normalcy. But the current phase will pass.

Interesting Article. It pinpoints on the extreme commercialisation of sport and its darkside. There is no doubt fans especially here in india must enjoy the game more and not worry about the result. One must also appreciate how team india plays under tremendous pressure every time. Whether they match huge expectations is a different question. Fans must enjoy the game just for the thrill of it and media mustnt exaggerate the results and reduce the unfair hype around it. Fans must be more realisitic as more and more even performances teams produce it will be great for the game. Expectations are always huge on a team which has great fan following like Ferrari or Federer etc, but every game will even out considerably in the future and cricket is no exception. So Let us continue to cheer our team to win the world cup but if they dont let us keep our head cool and move on..afterall its a game!

Great article Sambit. Could not agree more. I wonder whether our unhealthy obsession with cricket and films points to a larger social malaise.

I would much rather we heap adulation on our scientists (think of the achievements of ISRO), our surgoens, our military and the constable who faithfully regulates traffic under the blazing sun, rather than a bunch of guys who make a living put bat to ball. It is a measure of how misplaced our priorities are that many of our real heroes barely manage to make ends meet, while our make believe heroes rake in millions.

And what good can be said about all those corporations that cynically manipulate our misplaced obsessions?

Great article Sambit. Could not agree more. I wonder whether our unhealthy obsession with cricket and films points to a larger social malaise.

I would much rather we heap adulation on our scientists (think of the achievements of ISRO), our surgoens, our military and the constable who faithfully regulates traffic under the blazing sun, rather than a bunch of guys who make a living put bat to ball. It is a measure of how misplaced our priorities are that many of our real heroes barely manage to make ends meet, while our make believe heroes rake in millions.

And what good can be said about all those corporations that cynically manipulate our misplaced obsessions?

Day After Pakistan lost, Everyone should move on with their LIVES. we played, we lost lets get ready for next time.

Who cares after 2 weeks of knock out. If it takes somebody's life, its just WRONG, no matter if its Pakistan, India or South Africa.

Game should be played as a game, when it becomes the matter of life and death, it is NO GAME Anymore.

Two words for the article; pragmatic and revealing. It is true that cricket over the years especially after the trun of century has lost its competitiveness and the gentleman quality. I personally dont mind the latter one being purged but intense competition should stem right down the roots of cricket. The plague that is destroying cricket is too evident for even the most aloof supporter of this once beautiful game. Money and nothing else. Be it in form of central contracts, endorsements (ads etc) or any other monetary backing that players are always offered or in some cases are after. Patriotism and nationalism takes back seat when a sportsman mind is engulfed by money or any other materialistic gains. I dont mean that each test playing nation is indulging in such practices or players for that matter; but it is a common practice esp here in sub continent. Just look at the amount of one day matches India, Pakistan play in a calendar year. If that was not enough; welcome to the world of 20-20 cricket. Another money engendering initiative. Its a world known fact that too much of something results in diminishing quality. Cricket is facing the same dilemma. Players seem reluctatnt to perform to their best of ability; perhaps mental fatigue or some ennui or quite simply a lack of stimulus to play.Whatever the reason or reasons might be, people running the show should sit up and take notice of this constant downslide in world cricket. I sincerely think that they should have started doing so by now. Cricket is at the cross roads of financial magnetism and at the same time upholding spectators/viewers that make this game what it is by offering quality (well supposedly) matches. No player is bigger than the game and it would be appropriate for fans (esp in Sub continent) to realize it sooner than later if we want to enjoy this game.Bob's death is really a poignant news for all the cricket lovers. I hope that this debacle reitrates the fact that at the end of the day it is still a game of cricket that we watch and enjoy not a matter of life and death that we so disingenuously perceive.

Mr. Bal, your article is nice, however I am sorry to say that it lacks realism and logic. Basically, this article has two parts: capitalism in cricket and fanaticism in cricket. You have basically mixed these two parts and have messed up the whole thing.

Capitalism in cricket: Cricket is a professional sport. Capital is involved and people try to make profits. It is quite natural. I don't think cricket has lost anything. Just because cricketers earn huge sums of money, there is no reason to say that the game has lost its soul. Moreover, professionalism has been really advantageous to cricket. I don’t think many people in different parts of the world had access (satellite) to say 1975 world cup or some test series in the 80s. Now, it is readily available and for cricket lovers this is really great.

Fanaticism in cricket: People in the sub-continent are highly emotional and are cricket fanatics, so you do expect reactions when team succeeds or fails. But I don't agree with people being violent etc. That shows immaturity. People in the sub-continent should feel ashamed of such acts and it must be publicly condemned and discouraged. The reasons behind people expecting too much from cricketers is manifold. However, I’ll not go into details here.

Moreover, this article assumes ("highly likely") that "Woolmer was a victim of cricket's seamier side". It is ridiculous to even contemplate about this possibility. At this point of time it is highly inappropriate. Don’t assume anything. Let truth prevail.

By the way, cut this ‘it is only a game’ crap. Were people like Woolmer fools to be so passionate and involved in cricket? Cut the crap because it is bigger than life to some people.

To put things into perspective, the Author has to take into account the situation of Sports in India. The problem is Cricket is pretty much the only sport that gets promoted. This is probably the only stage where India can compete internationally today. Look how they perform in Olympics or even Asian games. Every once in a while, miraculously there is a person representing India at the world stage randomly in some sport - Chess, Tennis or Formula One Racing. And that is few out of Billion people in a decade. What does Indian Govt do to create more soccer stars, hockey stars. If Kenya can create so many athletes, cricketers and stars in several sports, why not India? You cannot blame all this on media and fans. Media and fans always follow some kind of sports.

Although well written, the article over-emphasises the point. It really is not that big of a deal. Lighten up! I think it is great that cricket too has a loyal fan base. The problem, if you can call it that, is that the cricket fans, media and all concerned tend to over-analyse everything. If you compare the level of fanaticism in cricket with other sports, Football (soccer) for example, the cricket maniacs would shy in comparison. So please, stop sensationalising a non-issue. It's great that there is so much money involved. That's how a sport flourishes.

Hats off to Sambit for being brave enough to reveal the ugly side of cricket. We are now going through a period where money has become the prime driver of the game and it has seriously undermine the true spirit of the game. Sadly, knowlingly or unknowingly fans have become the victims of this money mania. I truly accept that Sri Lankan cricket fans are far more stoic and know that winning and losing is part of life.

It is true that Indian fans are strangely 'crazy' about cricket, but you must understand the players' views too. The Indian team, I am sure, do not want this rude behaviour towards them if they lose a match, but the sport should not be taken away from the country. But what can you do?

Mr. Sambit being a pragmatic, I also think neither India nor Pakistan is quality enough to win any big tournament in the current mind set and the pool of players. I am sick and tired of listening we as being very talented players. I am glad some one like you has courage to nail it down; when did we win any big tournament with the recent pool of players any way, honestly never. I don't understand why fans have wrong expectations at the very first place; as a mature nation we have to change our attitude and start accepting the reality, because at the end blame goes back to our fans for not being realistic. Being said that, still enjoy the game and support your team, and there is no need to be panicked; believe me one day when we have good enough players who are both technically and mentally strong, we will start wining the big tournaments again.

Well written.. I agree with it. Healthy competition has lots its meaning and force players and athletes to stoop down to unethical means like drugs, threatens, etc
If what is being suspected about Bob woolmer is true, its shameful and I believe the right thing to do is ban Pakistan from playing cricket all together. If you cannot play and enjoy the game with the true spirit, you don't deserve to play it at all.

Guys, I agree to some extent with ya'll. But what do you have to say about football(soccer) in Columbia. They are crazier than we are about cricket. So what I mean is, certain things are taken to heart and Cricket is one such thing in India and maybe Pakistan.
And Sambit, I disagree with you about India not being a possible Winner of WC. India Rocks, maybe they are just passing thru a phase.

Hats off to Sambit for being brave enough to reveal the ugly side of cricket. We are now going through a period where money has become the prime driver of the game and it has seriously undermine the true spirit of the game. Sadly, knowlingly or unknowingly fans have become the victims of this money mania. I truly accept that Sri Lankan cricket fans are far more stoic and know that winning and losing is part of life.

Sumit makes some particularly important remarks. However, I would like point out that the major difference between professional sports such as the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL and international cricket lies in the fact that the former teams are operated as pure businesses, while cricket is operated as business cum national entity, hence the supreme elevation of emotions. National interests do not always coincide with commerical interets - thats why normal business conditions such as divesting unprofitable invests (underperforming players) does not occur.

Someone mentioned that the average Indian wont make the millions that a Indian cricketer makes in his lifetime. Why should the millions a cricketer makes bother the common man? What does he lose? Why cant people just understand that some professions pay more than others? India is a country that idolizes its cricketers and its movie stars. Yet, if a Shah Rukh Khan movie flops, will the public start demolishing his house? Will any man from Orissa revolt saying that there is no movie star in Bollywood from Orissa? Will anybody talk about Shah Rukh being accountable to the public? Then why cricket? This is just really difficult to understand. Who made the cricketers national property? The Government of India does not own the cricket team. They only represent India. There are so many other people in Indian society that represent India. There are so many businessmen and seasoned politicians and cabinet ministers who represent India at various conferences etc. Yet, if a business does poorly will the public revolt? If the Tatas had lost the Corus deal would the public have revolted? Then why is it that only the Indian team is subject to so much pressure. The Indian cricket team is not owned by the government of India. The BCCI is only a trust that controls cricketing affairs in India and chooses a national team that represents the country. The only investment the Indian public makes on the Indian cricket Team is their time. Don't they invest more time watching movies of their favourite movie stars? Why arent the houses of Bollywood stars stoned if any of their movies flop? Its time the BCCI sat down and discussed this important issue. The country is being milked by the ICC for its money. The BCCI is the only body that can save the situation. BCCI needs to stop giving into the ICC 10 year international schedule. It needs to stand up for its players. None of us want to see any more victims in the mess.

A timely article indeed. I find one day cricket in its current form extremely boring.

Firstly, far too much one day cricket is being played. The world cup used to be a special event, but with the plethora of contests, it all seems pretty meaningless.

Secondly, bowling seems to have lost its place in the one day game. Score of over 300 are normal and flat tracks are prepared for games all over the world. This should not be the case. Nobody likes to see one sided competitions.

Finally, the obsession with TV rights has, as the author points out, not been universally good for the game. The number of advertisements per match in India borders on the ridiculous. Consequently, the Indian players seem motivated only to make an initial splash in international cricket and sign as many sponsorship deals as possible. The long term development of their individual games takes a backseat to this rush for cash. This is reflected in the inconsistent performance of the Indian team over the years.

This world cup needs something to shake it up. SA's emergence in 1992 and New Zealand's creative play made that world cup memorable. Similarly, Sri Lanka's emergence in 1996 was sensational too. For the good of the game, despite being an Indian fan, I hope that Bangladesh get through and teams like New Zealand perform well in the competition.

In the longer term, the ICC really needs to cap the number of games and change the rules to make it a more even contest between bat and ball. But the chances of this happening are zero. We are condemned a future of formulaic and repetitive cricket.

The author misses many links in this story.
1. If the author has woken up to only this tragic death, a reminder is there are many deaths of fans happened due to the passion they have on this game(Recent being a 17 year old fan watching India-bangla match).

2. Are the Asians particularly Indians are the only people so passionate and treat sports as religion ? The answer is No. What about football? Dont we know how this game is played in south america and europe.

3. There is no point in pointing a fingure at commercials. They are not encouraging fans to behave rash. It is only the stupidity of the fans if at all to blame. A non-performer in sports is not been celebrated. Only the celeberated personnels are highlighted.

Only the education about "its only a game" can help matters. And without actually knowing the reason/cause for the Bob's death there is no point in linking that with other conjectures.

The pictures shown yesterday of Malcolm Speed sitting at *his* tournament, completely alone in a stand, spoke volumes. The ICC is rudderless except when faced with any issue that affects the sub-continental cartel of nations. When will they wake up and smell the scent of hundreds of thousands of players, administrators and fans becoming completely dis-illusioned with the international game? No matter how hard they try, cricket will NEVER become a global game as football is - it's too intricate a past-time for most people to begin to even understand, let alone play. Why then try to develop the game in places where it can never attain sustainability? The best that can happen is that Test cricket reverts back to the countries where full and proper pyramids are in place for the development of the game and limit the further development of international teams to the mickey-mouse one-day and Twenty20 formats.

Perhaps we can then return to the good old days where cricket watchers had something truly special to behold.

I hope India loses the next match. And I hope even more people shift to watching EPL, and other sports. Then maybe, oneday you will be writing when the decline in cricket in India started. It will be because of attitudes like this, not commericalization.

Yes you are right…. Cricket is a game but the game requires money. If you want to spread Cricket to countries like Ireland, Holland and other parts of the world, you need money. There is nothing wrong with making money and to blame India is totally out of context. If India stops playing cricket, there would be no sponsors, people won't be fighting for TV rights and the buzz around the game would be non-existent. There is no doubt in my mind that we love Cricket more than any other nation. It’s not the ICC’s fault that some nations see Cricket more than a game. It’s the people who have to change their mindset and treat it like a game. I live in United States and see people really passionate about their sports. I have seen big brawls, confrontations and there is nothing wrong with that unless you cross the line. The question is who defines that line – In my view, it is the MEDIA. MEDIA escalates things/events that make supporters emotional about a win or loss. INDIAN MEDIA is the worst I have seen in my life. They only care about either their channels ranking or newspaper’s ranking or being the number one website. They are the ones’ who want money and status; so to blame the ICC and India is ridiculous and ignorant.

On the other side, don’t know the cause of Bob Woolmer's death but am deeply saddened by it. He was a gritty player, great coach and above all a proud human being and he wanted to do well for his team. It is a game but for some people it is their life.

Evolution is not complete yet. We need more time to become human.

Well there can be no stopping to the 'crcket economy'. why do young players in India aspire to be cricketers and not hockey players? They want the spotlight and the lifestyle (read MONEY). Why is cricket in the Caribbean on the downfall? Because young boys go for Basketball rather than Cricket to enjoy the lifestyle (MONEY) - this is not very good, but this is the reality.

If we remember that some world cups ago, a footballer was murdered because he hit an own goal. But football is alive, well and thriving.

Such incidents will happen and the game will evolve.

As the adage goes, 'money makes the world go round'. Why should cricket be any different?

Sambit,
If the ad companies want to make some money, let them do it. Like the game they win some and lose some. There is an inner sphere and an outer circle to cricket. The outer circle as you said is trying to commoditize the game, but how is it negatively affecting the game? At the least it is making the game popular in more than the existing paltry 8 countries.
“Who profess passion” for the game is the inner sphere. Unfortunately apart from partisans like you and me it also has fanatics who burn houses and effigies. If these fanatics are fuelled by mass media, it is not the wrong doing neither of ad companies nor fattened cricketing boards. The ad world is only utilizing an opportunity to market their products. Television only shows the game, where as the print media with irresponsible comments fuel the fanatics’ passions. It is in very poor taste saying Bangladesh and Sri Lanka fans are better than Indian and Pakistan fans. How long have they been playing cricket? Wait a few years and I will bet my last dollar that you can find equal fanatics in either of those countries.
It is pathetic that only solution you can come up to counter this trend is India exiting the world cup in first round. These kinds of irrational testimony stimulate the fanatics. There are far more commoditized sports and they go on well just because of the inner sphere. Methods and practices always change but rest assured Cricket will be around for ages to come.

Sambit Bal is indeed correct in his assesment that Cricket's economy revolves solely around the fortures of one team. This is indeed an unhealthy state of affairs and reflects the fact that Cricket's presence is very minor in most parts of the world except the Indian sub-continent. However, the situation cannot be changed unless the way the game is conducted at the moment is overhauled. With only international matches attracting all the attention and absolutely no interest in the domestic circuit, sub continetal fans are left with no option but to support a weak Indian team which is inconsistent. Taking the example of Football, England does not have a very strong national team but people in England love football and to a great extent football's economy is based on the English premier league (EPL) which features stars from all over the world and not just english players. This way, football fans get to watch high quality football and although English football fans are disappointed like Inidan cricket fans at every world cup, they have some thing else like their EPL club game to look forward to. Even though Inida is by far has the richest cricketing board, Indian players go to play County cricket to supplement their earnings. An Indian domestic Cricketer is a nobody who is probably paid in peanuts at the end of every game. Given the huge fan base for Cricket in the sub-continent, there should be a Cricketing structure in place that can be a breeding ground for Cricketing talent from all over the world just like the EPL. With nothing but intenational matches between all too familiar opponents on offer, Cricket lacks variety and international matches which ought to be big occasions lose their meaning. I think Inida needs to over haul the structure of domesitc cricket along the lines of the Baseball/basketball leagues in the US. Baseball is played only in the US but people are equally passionate about supporting their state teams. India should cut back on international cricket and promote a healthy and lucrative domestic setup.

Money, fame, , failure, despondency & fans are part n' parcel of Cricket now. We have to realize that and move on. There is no point in being romantic about the past.
1. What we need is a strong domestic cricket structure that'll ensure that we have a good bench of 11 world class players in addition to the folks playing for India. Rahul Dravid & many others have repeatedly mentioned that the gap between Ranji players and International players is too wide. Well - let us focus on bridging the gap - howsoever it may be, by having a fantastic domestic structure in place. When the 11 folks playing for the country know that they are expendable, they'll perform.
2. Cricket team should be looked at as comprising 16 players and not 11. That way, we'll have the flexibility to adapt when a player is injured and the adaptability to perform at varying conditions. It is a fact that ODI is going to be a larger component. Twenty20 will only add more pressure. Act now lest we regret later.

The ICC should promote club cricket in a way similar to other sports like soccer. I think that would be an effective way to distribute the money,the following and the passion surrounding the game. After all, it is impossible for a single team of eleven players to constantly absorb the pressures from a billion people. Club cricket will also help improve and popularize the game in two ways. Regionally, in countries like India and Pakistan, it will give a chance in the limelight to all those superbly talented individuals who cannot make it to their national team. Globally it will bring in the talented cricketers from the lesser known cricketing nations into the main cricketing sphere.It will help improve the game of cricket in the truest sense.

I fail to understand,why anybody would complain if BCCI sells television rights for $1.1 billion?
The people investing that much money are mindful of the money they have in the pot or they think its a reasonable price to pay to pander their product or they are just morons!I am not sure which nor do I care. If you think about it, even with the amount of money being paid to top players, its peanuts if it is compared to top athletes in football,basketball etc... Cricket ceased to be "just a game" as soon as you had a player endorsing any product.Cricket has not been "just a game" for decades.... its "just a game" when the fans play for fun, not for professionals. I would rather have players who understand the financial implications of their on-field performance rather than have a player who thinks its "just a game"... They are supposed to be professional cricket players, they better understand and know how to deal with the pressures associated with it or get the hell out.The influx of money,sponsorship etc is driving the game to get mature, forcing it to deal with the realities of the world and it is getting mature so stop cribbing about wanting "just a game". If you want "just a game" go play with your friends...

I think there are some bitter pills to be swallowed by all involved here. True, it's the corporates that rule every facet of modern life, be it the governments or sports, and they will torture a stone to give water if it yields benefits. However, an equal proportion of the blame is to be shared by the audience as well. It's a bit like corruption - if everyone stops paying money, how would it matter if somebody asks for it or not. Isn't it wrong to construct temples and perform yagnas and whatever before the world cup? How is that any better than all the television channels hopping on to the World Cup bandwagon to earn that extra buck? Why shouls fans pray for Saurav's return to Durga? I understand it's the love for the game, for heroes, but there has to be a limit to it.

Comparisons with American sports are also a bit out of place. The average American would be keenly following at least two different teams or two different sports at a given time. Sadly, in India, our obsession with heroes and idols means that we only worship the rising sun. Why don't we support our Davis Cup team? Why don't we offer prayers for Karthikeyan? It's because we desire overnight heroes and instant celebrations. Sadly, as is the case with Woolmer, Columbian football and NBA, such obsessions often cost lives.

Finally, professionalism is the last thing talked about, outside maybe the IT campuses of Bangalore. I am not belittling anyone here, but what right do politicians have to waste taxpayer money on discussing cricket in Parliament? How are they qualified to comment on Saurav's place in the team or Chappell's performance as a coach? Is that professionalism? I used to go to every match held at Wankhede while I was in Bombay. For all the money coming in to BCCI and the sport at large, I haven't seen more shambolic drinking water arrangements anywhere on earth. Why should anyone pay INR 10 a pouch for drinking water - we're not in the midst of Sahara, are we? Flyovers are built and start rotting within a year. Roads are levelled only for them to be dug up the very next month. Don't these things demand professionalism on part of everyone involved? Where is professionalism in journalism, when an indecent amount of time is given to a poor soul who got trapped in a well? Where is professionalism when elements like Rahul Gandhi dig up prehistoric issues and these are splashed on the front pages of news papers and websites? Sadly, I think, more than sharp ground fielding, good running between the wickets, a strong first serve or a world-class racing track, it is the lack of the basic element of professionalism that is going to be India's undoing time and again.

Comercialism of any sport is totally unavoidable. The more interest that a sport generates, the more the interest of companies eager to take advantage of advertising. Players reap the benefit of their sport's popularity and that is only right and fitting. The sports betting aspect is also unavoidable as there is mass interest in the world today on betting on anythying that moves and that is not about to change anytime soon. In as much as there is insider trading on the world's stock markets there are bound to be individuals within cricket who would be easily tempted into taking advantage of their 'insider information'. I would like to use the sport of golf and in particular the US PGA as an example of all that is good in sport in spite of the huge financial rewards available to the professional golfers.
Since Tiger Woods burst on the scene some ten years ago the financial rewards for professional golfers have increased out of all recognition. A huge amount is donated to charitable causes each and every week as a result of a PGA Tournament. Tiger Woods himself has a foundation where he invests huge amounts of money into encouraging children and the youth of today to achieve their full potential and not necessarily restricted to sports activity. The players who take part in that sport have a tremendous amount of respect for the rules governing their sport and own up to inadvertant infringements of the rules. There is an enormous amount of betting that takes place on golf matches and tournaments every week. I am not aware of any betting scandals that have been associated with this sport.
It is with regret that I more readily compare cricket with football where the professional foul or the dive is so prevalent. Cricket also has excessive appealing for catches that have clearly been nowhere near the bat. Bowlers and fielders are guilty in equal measure. Most batsmen are also guilty of remaining in their crease and waiting for the umpire's decision knowing full well that they have nicked a catch.
As with any sport, cricket has players who set an excellent example and I don't have to name any names as they are well known. It is just a huge shame that it is not the norm.
I wholeheartedly agree that cricket needs to take a look at where it is headed. I do not have any easy answers for cricket as I feel it is the responsibility of everyone involved with the game to make it more like golf than football. We will all rejoice in watching a wonderful game played fairly and perhaps accept the ebbs and flows of form with equanamity. Burning flags, efigies of players and damaging their homes is something that reflects poorly on society. Why do we allow nationalism to spoil our enjoyment of a game that is after all only a game.

After reading a few of the comments I realized how "money" is made the demon here. I have to totally disagree on that.

Passion for the sport has nothing to do with money nor does it change the way a person views the game he/she loves.

Take for instance the money players make in the NBA or NFL or Baseball in the USA, no other sport parallels what they make individually. There is a lot at stake. Michael Jordan might have made more money than any other sports personality ever; thru the game and thru endorsements. However his love for the game of basketball never wavered. Passion is something that comes out of pure love for the game. Motivation is totally another aspect. But if someone with the talent has to be motivated with money, they don't belong in the game.

It's an eye-opener. Truly well-written. What I feel and perhaps know that there are two economies thriving around cricket (particularly in the sub-continent and the U.A.E)one is the white economy which sambit mentioned in detail, but the other one is the "black" one and that is perhaps the more powerful one. Book makers and the sattabaz, black economy is a much bigger business than the white one. It has now been proved that these people can go to any limits to save their money. Bob Wolmer was a cricketer of an era when cricket was truly a game of gentlemen, a true servent of the gentlemens' game.

Cricket does need a reality check but as far as pakistani cricket is concern ,it is just not a matter of one defeat which brings people on the streets it is actually the inefficinecy of whole cricket structure which brings people to rage ,what do we expect a dummy cricketing commitee which keeps on making the fool out millions and millions of people and it is just not now its been there for ages, they think that people ain't got any cricketing sense and they can make the fool out of anyonem whatever is happening to pakistan cicket rite now is just not happening because what they have done in this world cup it is happening because whatever is going on from quite sometime.

Yes, this article does give an idea of the money being funneled to cricket. However, my stance to this argument is similar to an earlier comment; its a capitalist driven society, there is a need to exploit the opportunities. The recent boom in the popularity in Bangladesh cricket is a classic example. Just a few years ago, (not even a decade), cricket was not THE game in Bangladesh, it was soccer. A handful of teams in the premier league would make headlines in local sports world, and people were happy to see their team win.

Then came the dish-era, which gave exposure to more cricket matches being telecast, and then finally more sponsors started pouring in their petty cash from their marketing bucket for cricket. Why won’t they? There is a market for it. We’re talking about millions of potential customers who can be influenced by cricket, and at the same time build a cricket nation. Bangladesh cricket is much younger in age now, and has a bigger and better inventory pool to offer to the selectors now, thanks to the progressive companies that put in so much cash into them. Infrastructure is a key to such an evolution, and sponsors can help big time, it’s a great catalyst for success of cricket.

We are a nation with a billion people.Some miscreants burn effigies and other stupid activities which I agree is wrong ,but we hv to realize its only a drop in the ocean who actually do all these stupid things and we should not worry too much about these things.

World cup comes after every four years and its natural that fans want their team to atleast put up a decent performance.Few individuals cant check their emotions ,doesn’t mean everybody is same,so Mr.Sambit chill out,enjoy cricket!
We r living in a capitalist world and money speaks in these times.I find nothng wrong with it,so many people ,including the author(i m sure cricinfo must b paying the author something for writing these articles) get livelihood from this sport.Imagine, how many people are employed in sports channels these days.everything has good and bad side to it.few incidents here and there should not be held against beautiful sport cricket.i do not care who earns what or anything else,it gives me pure joy to watch cricket and I will continue doing it all my life.how india loosing to Sri lanka tomorrow, will purify crickets soul,it baffles me .Can author be more specific on this?If he thinks, by India getting knocked out in the 1st round ,cricket will die in India or people will stop watching cricke.he is highly mistaken,nothing of that sort will happen.Public memory is short and love for the game is too much in India for things to change dramatically.The very 1st series in India after world cup there will be big crowds as usual.So every Indian should pray for Indian victory tomorrow.We will win tomorrow ,tatahstu

Yes it is true, cricket is more than a game in India. Its a national pride and it is the responsibility of players and the board to uphold it. While i agree its unrealistic to expect these bunch of 15 to even get into super8, its so hard on the die hard indian fans to accept the reality. Indian fans can accpet defeat as it is part of the sport. But what they cant accept is only defeat and that too against teams like bangladesh and kenya. Is it too much to expect the team to be number one where the country's population is billion plus and almost every one and every where cricket is played. With so much money if the BCCI cant get indian cricket to top place then whatever happens to the members of the board or players is well deserved.
Its not the public to be blamed. Without the crazy public the sport would have dead now. And this crazy patriotic indian fans have no where to go but look at the indian cricket for some pride. Its time the BCCI and the players understand the people and only the best get to represent the country.

Although Sambit has clearly touched something that is clearly not written by most cricket writers, i still feel blaming Indian cricket for this situation is preposterous. We don't know how Bob Woolmer died and we might never but his death cannot be attributed to Indian cricket and it's affairs. Sure the fans in india go to extremes but there are many reasons for that. A complete and total degeneration of Indian Hockey has made Cricket the sole sport which brings a smile to people's faces. Yes, money has it's evils but it's a necessary evil. If Bangladesh has been able to beat india convincingly, it is because money has lured those 17/18 year olds to play cricket. The game has developed in leaps and bounds and there are bound to be some fallouts of this. Each country has a game that people passionately follow, some countries are lucky enough to have 2 or 3, others like India don't. I also cannot see how India losing to SL tomorrow will be make all of this dissappear. Each and every cricket board tries it's maximum to earn money. The bullish indian market is making this possible for BCCI and not for many others. Let the focus shift to cricket for the time being because the WC is losing because of all this. If there was any foul play, i am sure the police and investigating body will track down the individual/group and bring them to face justice.

As someone said, Indians do not have any other sport to cling on to. Other sports (like hockey)are either not marketed well or did not have any initial success (like cricket World Cup win of 1983) to propel the sport into something of a national passion.

Passion of Indian fans is a great asset for the game. There are a few hundred sick 'fans' who are bringing disrepute to millions of true fans who live all over the world. This great asset (the passion of Indian fans), if leveraged properly can actually turn the game in India and also the game in general on its head.

Let us start with how the game is run and administered in India. If BCCI is turned into an accountable and professionally managed body, half the ills would be eliminated. And then have a domestic league on the lines of NFL/NBA for a 4 to 6 month duration every year. If quality is ensured by limiting the number of teams and also allowing foreign players to ply their wares here, television audience is guaranteed. If there are eyeballs, there are sponsors and then the money follows. Since these are professional teams managed by full-time paid administrators and managers (unlike the honorary positions in BCCI), players will be accountable for their performances and as a result their pay will be purely based on how they perform. If the game thrives in India, I have no reason to believe it would not thrive outside India. All it takes is some honest instrospection at BCCI and sincere reform.

the fans in india who go to extreme are not great in numbers. it's just that we see the extreme fans in news all the time so we keep our focus on that. most people are normal who just love the game of cricket and if their time losses they go on with their regular life. overall the game of crciket is moving towards good direction with more and more young people taking interest in the game.

the fans in india who go to extreme are not great in numbers. it's just that we see the extreme fans in news all the time so we keep our focus on that. most people are normal who just love the game of cricket and if their time losses they go on with their regular life. overall the game of crciket is moving towards good direction with more and more young people taking interest in the game.

I dont know if you'll approve my earlier post but just wanted to add that its wrong on your part to blame any one particular country in this case India for getting money into the game!! In most other games people would be thanking us...

So Man Utd, Real Madrid, LA Lakers, New York Yankees must be the devils with the kind of money they've generated!!

The reasons of Woolmer's death are not known and blaming India for it is really some sort of a joke...

Sambit, i dont agree with you on the performance of Indian team. It is not overachievement that India reached finals. I thought Indian team played well. SA didnt know how to finish the match, they werent qualified on their home ground. Since India holds 6th place it doesnt mean, it isnt playing well. Ind just lost one game to Bangladesh and NZ have equally done that. NZ has not won a match outside NZ. They beat Aussies in NZ. How are they better than Ind? NZ even didnt qualify into finals in Aus. Just a loss to Bang doesnt put this team to its lowest position.

I think as an Indian fan, I want India to win no doubt and feel passionate about it. Now we won in 83 if anyone tells me that we had a better side than WI, ENG or AUS go examine your head. But we still won and thats what cricket is - a game of glorious uncertainties. Just think of Eng beating Aus in the 2 finals. Was that luck? Or Pak winning in 1992 when it qualified on rain drawn match agaist ENG. Pak was some ~100/9 when the match rained out.

Sambit brings up good points -- I think cricket is a game where everyone can win -- players, media, spectators etc.

I think the world cup was ill-planned -- any team can have one or two bad days -- and shouldn't be knocked out -- point in case Pakistan -- I like the format where team plays 7 or 8 matches and top 4 teams go to the SF. The current situation has put the sponsors in a huge predicament.

If India played 8 matches and didn't qualify the sponsors would have got their eye balls -- India would be itself to blame, the best teams would have qualified and everyone would have won.

So to say that the game is bad or overtly influenced by money is wrong. Cricket is no longer a zero sum game -- all parties can win.

To say that India has not won any competition outside subcontinent since 1985 would mean only competitions in Australia make sense. Do you think Hero cup was not a big enough competition? Or if Champions trophy does not count? by your definition only world cup is the only one worth it? Most other competitions are tri-nation ones and should not be worth it, right?

Dear Sambit Bal,

I would first of like to congratulate you on this article. This is one of the best articles I have read on Cricket in recent times, and should have a mention on other news channels and other sport networks. I completely agree with everything you said in this article. A lot of people are treating Cricket like a business instead of a game. We are supposed to go out there, play our best, entertain the fans, and most of all, ENJOY the game.

Cricket is one of the most watched games in this world, and one of the reason is because how much a certain person can enjoy the game. But with recent involvements of money, and suspected murder, the enjoyment is being taken out of the game. Cricket is silently being killed.

Now I'm only 16, and didn't have a chance to watch Cricket during the days of Viv Richards and Kapil Dev and all the other greats. However my dad, who has been watching Cricket his whole life told me "If you compare Cricket of the 80's to Cricket of 2000's, it's like you're playing a whole different game." I love the game a lot my self, and I'm just hoping that the addition of useless drama caused by money doesn't kill the game we all love.

-Nikhil

Hello guys. It's very interesting to see different views on how things are in Indian and International cricket and most of the views hit spot on. I guess some of the comments took into consideration only the economy part of the overall picture but missed the point on cricket losing it's originality. I think that's what Sambit Bal was trying to say. I agree that the game needs money but too much money/stakes can deform the game and also take a toll on everyone involved. Forget about 25 years back but look at how cricket was just 10 years back and see the difference. We now have three power plays in the game because of which the batsmen are able to crack centuries in 50 to 60 balls. This skyrockets their averages and erases the previous players' averages which were hard earned in tougher environments. The reason for the introduction of power plays among other new rules, was to make the game more interesting. In the effort, the game was made more easier to score runs. How can a game become interesting by making it easier? Look at 20/20. I don't think that makes any sense. Cricket as a game is losing it's originality like Sambit was implying and the money is killing it. All these billionaire sponsors are only interested in providing a glittering touch to the cricket sport and make it a star as long as they can make money on it. Once they find another sport, they'll leave cricket in it's shambles and who is the loser? Cricket is and we are. That's the point to remember and that's what is going to happen. Unlike American Football, rugby, basketball or baseball Cricket is a sport where an artistic player is remembered the most not someone who throws the bat and gets runs. I for a cricket fan, enjoy Tendulkar,Lara,Dravid hitting 4s and 6s not any other player because the real touch is missing in others. These are the people among other artistic players we are going miss apart from the game itself.

Great article & thought process, but doesn't address the solution aspect. IMHO, the format cricket tournaments are much like other sport, while every cricket knowing person knows any team can have a bad outing and lose to any other team on a given day. The administrators are screwing up repeatedly by not having a format - not just for the World Cup, but overall - that drives the teams to World Cup "Finals" (like Fifa does).

Cricket should evolve into a season where every team plays every other team at home and away, every two years, 3 tests and 3 one-dayers per series, and that should lead to a elite group that will play best-of-3 knockout type quarters, semis and finals.

It will even interest out, countries like India will find their true place, other teams will get interested, and things will become more equitable overall. We can't fix basic capitalistic tendencies of cricket - that's here to stay and for a good reason, but we can even it out.

True, the passion for the game in India and Pakistan is at an extreme and dangerous level. But, as you mention, the ICC feeds off of this and probably does not want it to change. Sport is money nowadays, that's the bottom line for all sport, like it or not. No major sport can function without a high level of passion and commercialization. Field hockey is a perfect example - the sport is thrilling, requires skill, and lasts just 70 minutes. And it was bigger than cricket in both Pakistan and India. But the lack of commercialization led to dwindling passion and, eventually, its downfall in South Asia. Once the South Asian teams lost their dominance, the sport has basically petered out, save the Olympics (where synchronized swimming is also considered a competitive sport). Without the involvement of the South Asian nations, cricket could face the same fate.

Hats off Bob Woolmer!
First and foremost, the most important thing to realize now is that cricket administrators have been the most unimaginative of all. Common business sense of managing demand against supply has been conspicuous of its absense.
Affluence, setting in the asian continent has given rise to a large audience which needs quality contests. In turn it has been given a bunch of only 11 number of players for shouldering a mass of population to the tune of a billion. What is really needed is that this population be given more space. Its high time that large number of games involving local clubs need to be formatted in attractive and palatable contests.
However the hind fact is that this game has been moulded into an archaic fashion by calling it a "gentleman's game". To break this stereotype the situation calls for breaking stereotypes and provide succour to the exasperated throats by creating and innovative solutions which has enough capacity to hold on to such large expectations.
Without going further into technicalities one thing needs to be reminded again and that despite the fact that cricket is a game, it is the game which clearly reflects the state of the general world order!!

the only problem here is that the money being made is Indian.. No complants re football (scocer)or any other sport, because India are not involed. Once India gets in any other sport and the money shift towards that sport worldwide, that sport will also loose its soul.Come on guys wake up, the west can't take it.. Any Indian cricket so called fan who wishes India not to make it to the super 8's is a jealous so an so.. If they where in the shoes of the Indian Cricket team they would be lapping it up.. Money talks, as you not making enough you crying.. Just like the old footbal players who now see players earning more money in a week than they would have through out thier carrer.. If the ECB ACB and want ever board had the same clout as the BCCI no one would be crying.. this artical is just to please the people who like to live under conlonial rule, can't take it when a brother does well, but loves it when a enemy. be proud JAI HIND

Great article Sambit. A few of our friends were discussing and thinking of the same thing - that if India loses (though it would be upsetting) it would probably bring the wheels of superstardom etc to a grinding halt. But, and I know this is a sensitive subject and hence this probably wont even make the post, but given that all this money is on the line (I read somewhere its 5000 crores down the drain if India doesnt make the super 8)dont you think a fixed match is a possibility - through threats or other means not publicized? Just my two cents.
Once congrats, thanks for bringing what most of us feel privately into the public eye.

Commercialism is important for any sport, but instead of the fruits ending up in the pockets of individuals rather than being used for the betterment of the sport is simply unacceptable. Being in the US for the last 3 yrs or so, its so easy to understand the way different leagues are run. They are all commercial and at the same time the sport is played at the top level in all respects:talent, organisation, competition, etc. On the other hand, even though the Indian Board is the richest board, we have problems in the basic infrastructure of the sport in India. We have horrible pitches, the lower league players are paid peanuts compared to the national team players. There is hardly an effort to market the state teams or improve them locally. ALL the money gained from selling Indian cricket is probably going to the board execs and thats it.

Nice article, and well said. The Fans in India some time behave like a Mob, where no reason or rhyme works. if the mob wants to set somebody's house on fire, then so be it. No body cares in the heat of the moment if somebody is seriously hurt or even dies; the mob just want to give vent to their anger. My fear is that Bob Woolmer's death may be a murder, however I seriously hope it is not. If media looses money with India's exit in the first round, then so be it, we should not make a big deal out of it.
it is true that cricketers are like demi-Gods in India, but then the media makes them like that, and now if Media is loosing, money, why cry Wolf. Sehwag should have never been selected, had he been shown the door after teh South African tour, he would have trained hard and come back with a vengence, like Ganguly. Indians are themselves to blame for thier state. we will know by this time tomorrow, what lies ahead, If they are able to beat SL tomorrow, then they deserve to be there, and will hopefully stay, even if bangladesh manages to beat Bermuda. However if they are beaten, then most of the team should just retire and Yuvraj be named captain.

Thank you for that insightful article by Sambit Bal. I completely agree with his analysis. The cricket economy has indeed moved ahead of the game albeit in an immature Indian subcontinental market, where emotion supersedes objectivity, much to the detriment of the game. Unfortunately, it is this emotion that drives the media coverage of the game for short term gains. I think commercialization of cricket was only a matter of time given the size of the Indian sub-continental market, but it needed to be introduced in a much more organized manner. I hope there is not a dear price to be paid for the growing pains in this commercialization saga.

Cricket is a game steeped in tradition and sportsmanship, yes there are comments made on the field, and there they should stay, most cricketing nations have been embroiled in controversy because of money, not least my country, australia, however the time has come to clean the game up, remove the secondary influences and ensure that each game is played fully within the spirit and rules of the game. I don't wish to comment too much but it seems very odd to me that a major cricketing nation can be made to return home before the second round of the world cup in these days of seeded draws, yes there will, and should be upsets, hence kenya made the semi finals of the last world cup, and who would have predicted that, althought given the forfeiture of games during that series, so zimbabwe should have, however given a level (?) playing field not one serious cricket follower would have entertained the thought of pakistan not reaching the super 8's in this tournament....something is definitely wrong with international cricket and it is time all parties were held to account and the sport was cleaned up

Good article. As many have comments about other sports and other nations for comparison, lets look at why we? I think, India is getting a higher middle class in no time. In this short period, all of a sudden we have 300million plus to market a new products. If you look at all other cricket playing nation Vs this new emerging market, the equation of revenue will be simpler, which you have mention too but lack of game improvement. Now looking back not few years ago, we cry about a condition of pitches, stadium, coaching and local tournaments were in shambles. Now very recently, money is coming in and with it a new structure and most importantly new way of thinking. In general, layman are getting exposed to more technicality of the game such as weather, pitches, air direction, dew factor and so on besides the regular terms of cricket. In another words, we are caught in a change of time say from a fixed mind set to flexibility. From a fanatic level to a freedom of expression and dignity or to a level where sensitivity of the situation will be judged by an understanding and knowledge. Recent interviews from Indian coach and captain confirms that the change of process for the team is working. I think most now understands a century and a dot ball in it. In a short period, teams will have a new way of playing, a real and fun game of cricket. I think new infrastructure for other sports are happening and in a short period, people – new generation will show their passion for other sports along with cricket as new changes are taking place in everyone’s back yard. Not all media is garbage and it will make a change as people now have more information and different views to look at. In a summary, time of change is always painful but sure the outcome will be fantastic (not fanatic).

Thank you for this insight into a world I was confused about, but knew that something untoward was brewing. I am a South African fan, and was shocked by Hansie Cronje's involvement all those years ago. I think in a way Bob's death, will shed a light on the whole debacle. I never believed that Hansie was the only person targeted by these greedy criminals. He was like a son to Bob and if he was a victim, Bob would've known about it. He was the fall man, and an escape route for all the others, in my opinion. Seems that they have caught up with Bob after all these years. I dont believe that a class outfit like Pakistan can loose against Ireland. In a way, I am also not buying the constant contraversy surounding their bowlers. I won't be at all suprised if Shaoib and Asif decided to stay home rather than be pressured by the criminals. And Inzi? How can a batsman that took the world apart only a few seasons ago, suddenly dry up, almost waiting to get run out or caught lbw.. Sorry if this is contravercial, but I really hope that someone has the balls to get to the bottom of this. Whatever story they tell us, Bob was a great man! I will surely miss him. If he's death can expose this evil, it will be the biggest contribution to cricket ever.

Great article Sambit. Very well written. I wish you could have written something like this before the damage( woolmer's death) had happened. I hope cricket fanatics from India and Pakistan realise that "its only a game" and try to be sporting.
I want to thank you for articulating it so well.

Thanks

this article is a rather cynical and pessimitic view of cricket. Sambit Bal probably needs a reality check.

I do appreciate this article Sambit, yes its true cricket is only a game, I understand the passion Indian fans have for cricket, and sub continental fans in general. But it’s taken to far when you ask for your players to be arrested, and death threats sent to them and attempts to damage both their properties and family when they are overseas, and this has a negative influence on the team with regards to performance in the process. When you are beaten, and soundly beaten as well, you have no choice but to appreciate the quality of your opponent. I am a west Indian, and I have seen my team been beaten time and time again over the past decade despite winning matches against the top teams now and again, but we had our time in the sun before this period, but poor administration and an improper domestic cricket structure in the Caribbean is to blame for the problems of today facing West indies cricket, but still we don’t threaten or attempt to harm our players when they lose cause at the end of the day its just a game and life goes on. I will however say I would be disappointed if India go out in the first rounds because I am a big fan of their team and cricket in general and will like to see the best teams in the super eights as would any one else.
Shiva Rajack

I do appreciate this article Sambit, yes its true cricket is only a game, I understand the passion Indian fans have for cricket, and sub continental fans in general. But it’s taken to far when you ask for your players to be arrested, and death threats sent to them and attempts to damage both their properties and family when they are overseas, and this has a negative influence on the team with regards to performance in the process. When you are beaten, and soundly beaten as well, you have no choice but to appreciate the quality of your opponent. I am a west Indian, and I have seen my team been beaten time and time again over the past decade despite winning matches against the top teams now and again, but we had our time in the sun before this period, but poor administration and an improper domestic cricket structure in the Caribbean is to blame for the problems of today facing West indies cricket, but still we don’t threaten or attempt to harm our players when they lose cause at the end of the day its just a game and life goes on. I will however say I would be disappointed if India go out in the first rounds because I am a big fan of their team and cricket in general and will like to see the best teams in the super eights as would any one else.
Shiva Rajack

I think this is one of the most beautifully written and thought-provoking articles in recent memory. All the points are made succintly and coherently.

I especially agree with the bit about the Indian media's populist stance in recent times. Programmes such as "Match ka Mujrim" are in bad taste at best, and disgusting at worst. It seems like the media is willing to stoop to the lowest standards of journalism to mae some cheap bucks. I can even understand large companies doing that, for their primary (read sole) purpose is to make money, but the same should not be the case with the media. Sadly though, it is.

The protests following India's defeat are an accurate reflection of the Indian cricket fan's psyche. We are too closely attached to the game, and as rightly pointed out by Sambit, it is potentially very dangerous.

Match-fixing, pathetic performances, disappointing selections, a possible murder - nothing... absolutely nothing seems to affect the fans.

India has disappointed.. the team has given many of us sleepless nights.. yet we will stay up and watch them play Sri Lanka play tomorrow.. the game has gotten a grip on our lives, we need to snatch it back before it is too late.

I do appreciate this article Sambit, yes its true cricket is only a game, I understand the passion Indian fans have for cricket, and sub continental fans in general. But it’s taken to far when you ask for your players to be arrested, and death threats sent to them and attempts to damage both their properties and family when they are overseas, and this has a negative influence on the team with regards to performance in the process. When you are beaten, and soundly beaten as well, you have no choice but to appreciate the quality of your opponent. I am a west Indian, and I have seen my team been beaten time and time again over the past decade despite winning matches against the top teams now and again, but we had our time in the sun before this period, but poor administration and an improper domestic cricket structure in the Caribbean is to blame for the problems of today facing West indies cricket, but still we don’t threaten or attempt to harm our players when they lose cause at the end of the day its just a game and life goes on. I will however say I would be disappointed if India go out in the first rounds because I am a big fan of their team and cricket in general and will like to see the best teams in the super eights as would any one else.
Shiva Rajack

Its a very well written article although - cricket as a sport cannot be responsible for getting commercial. So what if millions or dollars are being pumped into the sport how is that a bad thing? There are millions of dollars and fans following American sports such as baseball, basketball and football. American sports too are terribly commercial.
The difference is in developing countries people live their lives and dreams through their role models such as crickets and actors and when they fail they take that as a personal failure. Leading them to do acts of violence and frustration.
The problem lies in the fact that cricket has been made out to be larger than life and people are getting extremely emotional over a sport - which is shameful thing to happen. Its the fanatic fan that is actually ruining the sport and its innocence.
We all blame Indian crickets for not performing under pressure and being spoilt with all the money they are making. But guess who is putting that pressure on them? We the fans!
When Shane Warne was asked who was the best he bowled to the answer was Lara and Sachin. Lara for pure genius and Sachin for living everyday under the burden of expectation of millions of fans.
Also guess what? These crickets are making millions of dollars through commercials thanks to the crazy fans who idolize them.
Cricket in India is getting more importance than it should and that is where the problem lies.

I agreee with the article but the next article should give some solutions to solve this mess in india. Everyone in India is out there to earn as much money as possible through this media coverage of cricket and cricketers. The amount of attention given to cricketers and the politics inside it is not helping India in anyway at all; we still on 6th place below SL. Spending so much money on the team ( and in term the players earning millions through ads etc) has done no good for the game in India. Gotta change something and bring the game and the players on ground so that people and players both will be happy!!

Although, I do agree that cricket is being spoiled by too much money, I am not sure that an early exit of India will address any of those problems. I am also not sure that Sri Lanka, South Africa and New Zealand are necessarily better teams. Till now these teams have really played weak teams only. South Africa will be tested on Saturday and Sri Lanka tomorrow. Sri Lanka's win over Bangladesh was a resuklt of some as poor cricket by Bangladesh combined with good cricket by Sri Lanka. Just two games into a tournament is no way to figure out who is good or not (anybody Remember France in the first two games in FIFA world cup, 2006).

I also think that the World Cup will loose a lot of spectators if the likes of Sachin and Dravid do not make it to the next round. If the sport has to survive, it has to keep its spectators, however, ill-informed they maybe.

Author predicted too much. There is always some sort of disappointment when a team fails badly in worldcup. violence by Indian cricket fans is far less when compared to european soccerfans , domestic football/baseball fans in US. This article doesn't answer any questions.

Good article. Thank god we have writers like Sambit Bal still at Cricinfo. However, may I point out that in the aftermath of Woolmer's death, the website itself has shown shades of populist and sensationalist journalism (though, perhaps not so much as their indian media counterparts)

I guess the writer of this article needs a sanity check. Blaming India for being a huge media market and a powerful player in the world of cricket and making inflammatory comments about India and ICC's market driven strategies at the moment of death of a respected coach is an abuse of journalistic power.

It is individuals to be blamed if at all. Please refrain from taking a dig at the game or a nations obsession simply because you are a member of the media.

cricket is no more a game we knew its a new way of making money.People in sub-coninenet using cricket to make money and exploit people just like our politicians they are using cricket to make money from our poor people its not cricket that lost its souls our people guided there soul on a dirty path on the name of cricket.

Cheers Sambit...Excellent commentary!

My goodness. I'm observing this saga unfold and thinking that it would be the most embarassing thing to be recorded that for the first occurrence of World Cup Cricket in the West Indies, such bold criminal offense is committed with such brazen disregard.

Although some may dispute, I do remember that the Bible quotes not money, but the "love of it" as the root of all evil. So while the current environment is highly commercialized and true passion for excellence in the sport is sometimes undermined, I belive that players deserve none less in their compensation. Like any other althlete...be it in the Olympics or otherwise, their charge is to skillfully represent their country in every aspect.

Some of us tend to forget simple facts. I think the most important of these is that these national icons, be it Inzamam, Tendulkar, Lara or anyone else are mere men; skilled, but human nonetheless. So I couldn't agree with Uday any more because he's right..we need more time to become human.

I was among those who was almost to tears when the West Indies lost the Sir Frank Worrell trophy to Australia in 1995. We've never won it back since, but one day we will. That's just life..at least the civilized life I'm accustomed to. The world needs to stop allowing the media to sensationalise and control us. It happens with Cricket, the Iraq war and will continue with everything else if we easily relinquish our mental facilities to the clowns in charge of network ratings.

I never knew so much of Bob Woolmer until this last week. But I hope his death causes us to arrest the personal fanatical tendencies which have permeated our beloved game. Then only maybe, this great icon wouldn't have fallen in vain.

I long for the resurgence of the gentlemanly, classic sport which is disappearing...the one which allows the West Indies to go to Pakistan/India and receive tremendous support despite the outcome of a series. It's the same spirit which we will no doubt see in Port-of-Spain tommorow when India play Sri-Lanka; not the colloseum and gladiator idealogy of the Romans which some are obviously attempting to reincarnate.

There were reasons why televised cricket consistently stalled many personal plans. I'm afraid that if these trends continue that audience will begin losing its devotion..starting with me.

Sambit talks about the media that feeds this imbalance.
Has he or anyone other than I, noticed that the number of cricinfo articles or headlines tips just a little bit in the favour of sub-continental teams? Or am I just imagining things?

Hats off Bob Woolmer!
First and foremost, the most important thing to realize now is that cricket administrators have been the most unimaginative of all. Common business sense of managing demand against supply has been conspicuous of its absense.
Affluence, setting in the asian continent has given rise to a large audience which needs quality contests. In turn it has been given a bunch of only 11 number of players for shouldering a mass of population to the tune of a billion. What is really needed is that this population be given more space. Its high time that large number of games involving local clubs need to be formatted in attractive and palatable contests.
However the hind fact is that this game has been moulded into an archaic fashion by calling it a "gentleman's game". To break this stereotype the situation calls for breaking stereotypes and provide succour to the exasperated throats by creating and innovative solutions which has enough capacity to hold on to such large expectations.
Without going further into technicalities one thing needs to be reminded again and that despite the fact that cricket is a game, it is the game which clearly reflects the state of the general world order!!

Great article by Sambit Bal that not only points out what plagues Cricket today but what plagues the world as a whole, the all devouring beast of commercialization in a chokingly Capitalistic world.
The Indian media is largely to blame for making deities out of cricketers and describing even mediocre Indian winning performances in superlatives and hyperboles and fuelling passions, good or bad, to fever pitch. Men like Sidhu who have made careers out of sensationalizing cricket.

Other commentators who are talking about sports like soccer or (UGH) American sports have no idea what the spirit of cricket is all about. It cannot even be begun to be compared to those sports that have none of the understated charm, chivalry and grace of Cricket. But I am afraid cricket has lost its charm ever since it has been dragged across Sub-Continental grounds with crowds pelting stones at players, right wing religious groups threatening to dig up pitches if players from a neighbouring country set foot on their sacred soil and commercializing players and in turn making them greedy.

One person who says that players should be held accountable for their off season time surely knows nothing about the gruelling schedule of Indian cricket, what recognizable off season is left now in the world of International cricket. Its all just out of control. There needs to be less cricket around the world, better schedules and far far more perspective from fans. Its only then that greedy capitalists will be forced to tone down their act.

cricket is no more a game we knew its a new way of making money.People in sub-coninenet using cricket to make money and exploit people just like our politicians they are using cricket to make money from our poor and uneducated people. Its not cricket that lost its souls its our people guided there soul on a dirty path on the name of cricket.

Quite agree with Joe. Emotional attachment for the game is the same in all parts of world. Ive seen many many club supporters in UK, pouring lavish abuse on each other just becaz they belong to different clubs, which often surprise me. And its nothing different in Sub-continent. The problem with sub-continent is that both BCCI and PCB earn huge amounts of money but they dont bother to get the basics right of upcoming players. Can someone tell me the statistics of Australia and South Africa losing to new teams in comparison to India and Pakistan. There is little wrong with the passion but much wrong with the boards. Ultimately its their policies which badly hurt fans........ most recent examples Ireland and Bangladesh losses. I can only request, plz invest in domestic cricket otherwise you would keep hurting us.

Things wont be bad after all. If India doesnt make in to the super8s, it will, for sure, put the great-indian-cricket-pride to a test. This will eventually lead to public resentment towards cricket and cricketers, which is totally understandable given India being represented in international sports arena, creates an identity for millions of obsessed fans. It is time to give our attention and money to develop other sports which are quick and fast providing the entertainment worth of your money and time - like football, hockey, etc., If you do not watch cricket you will save 8 hrs for yourself and 4 billion hrs (50% indian populace) for India. May be we should invest that meaningless-cricket-watching-time to create some meaningful sport environment.

"" SAMBIT IS RIGHT WITH EVERY WORD """""

All these article posted by most of us clearly shows that why india is limping towards development and still it is not developed. Most of them speaks as though cricket was founded by our forefathers and it has been in the blood for centuries. That is not true, it is a national game of another country " England for your info" and for no reason no game will become so popular overnight. Cricket has no special intresting features when compared to soccer and hokey, it is just a game. Our politics and advertising has shamefully convinced all who replied to this article to be passionate about this game for their own monetry benifits. Even though most of us are so educated we still can't understand the essence of what sambit is saying.

He has cleary mentioned about the issues in the cricket world and he want things to be better in the future. He don't say to stop watching this game, he just say's give it a pause. Don't be passionate about it unless you really can't see any reflection of your passion amoung the people who really play this game.If England is really passionate about their soccer, they are also good in it. They are not average they are above average if you all know about football.

It is so shamefull to see that all of you react so foolishly to this article with out realizing that it is the fact of the day. Hockey is our national game, Cricket has backstabbed hokey from all its glory. It is our national game because it is in our blood. What reason you all can give. Then it is same as saying if you have more oppertunites outside the country we all should pursue it, we all should leave india for new oppertunities, we should forget our home for new oppertunities.
We have already done this to Hokey. So with what fundamental factors you all have to defend that cricket is a passion and it is in our blood.

That is total a non-sense it is has been made like this for political and materialistic gains.
Please understand this and post some valuable article like the one SAMBIT is doing.

I have no problems with amount of money involved with cricket. It's less than many other sports globally. I have no issues with passion attached to it either. Cricket as a game has evolved a lot from the time it started and truly it has becoming much more beautiful as the time progresses. This is true on all accounts: qaulity of game (either ODI or test), quality of players, financially, international grounds, thrill etc.
There will always be some controversies but this game is strong enough!!

Cricket is not just a game. It once was not anymore. Capitalism took over and human greed has ruined it. Many of us dream of becoming a cricketer not out of passion but for the money it brings. People leave their loved ones to take up a job in an alien land amidst alien culture and people (Bob Woolmer, Greg Chappel, Dave Whatmore, Tom Moody). Children in India spend less time on their studies and more on Cricket. Media exploits the "passion" people have. Admit it, your livelyhood is dependent on writing about Cricket. So, it ain't just a game. It is much more than that.

Well i admit that cricket is more than game in india and pakistan. It is also very shameful on how the country reacts to the defeats of these teams. But i will not blame the amount of money being influxed into the game. You must remember that cricket is competing with other sports and cricket needs the money to popularise the sport.Money will always be involved when the game gets popular and you will have to learn to deal with it. Also it is only because of the money made in the one day cricket that the test cricket is surviving. I believe the media should be blamed for the frenzy being developed amongst the public. If you look at any so called news channel in India, if you calculate the average amount of airtime being dedicated to cricket and the rest of the news , I am sure it will make for an interesting fact. At times you get fed up. There will be a build up a day before the match and you get the analysis of so many so called experts.Then on the day of the match you get another analysis and then you get constant coverage and comments during the match . In the end you get a detailed post mortem of the match , playing the blame game,saying he did this but could have done that. It gets so ridiculous. Everyone is an expert , but if they were so good at it why didn't it reflect in their performances. You really have to think as to if there is any other news goin on in the world. And you have 5 to 7 news channel competing against each other.It leads to mass brain washing. I think it is high time that the media takes responsibility and tries to build an image that these cricket players are only human beings and cricket is just a game which should be enjoyed.

Slightly offtopic, but I hate it when people envy/are jealous of the amount of money the Cricketers make. Why should that be held against them? They've worked extremely hard in improving their skills (and gambled on a risky career). To get to this level, you've to be totally dedicated to cricket from the young age of 13-ish and spend long hours DAILY without any guarantee of success. Their dedication to & love of cricket cannot be questioned. The money is well-earned. I think Indian fans just make for bad losers .. they can't accept the fact that on game day, the team was outplayed by better application of cricketing skills by the opposition & nothing else. This leads to fault-finding in wrong directions & Indian media's coverage of games makes matters worse.

HI,
i can only partially agree with the author.Cricket is a wonderful sport & there are a huge proportion of people in the subcontinent( i would say mostof them) who just enjoy the game & have realistic expectations.bad things always makes news & overshadows the good things.recent happenings have been commited by just a small bunch of people which makes to the news & give the impression that we are fanatics with unreal expectations.I am from chennai & as far i know most in my circle have a very healthy attitude towards the indian team.Cricket for some wonderful reason suits the attitude of people in the subcontinent & gives joy to us when team india does well.Most of them feel depressed when we lose but a few go to the extreme.isnt it the truth that if you have a community with 100 people atleast 10 are eccentric & unlawful.they always make the news which might give the impression that things are getting worse with the community.Cricket is evolving & getting more popular. Cricket is more popular only because its a good game.Its unfortunate that money has become an issue & plyers were involved in match fixing.but its important to remember that not all the players are like that.its natural to become paranoid about the others as well.I think that we should accept that with cricket getting more popular more bad things will make news but it is the responsibilty of the admionistrators to do the needfull & ensure they are well prepared for it.as fans we should also not get overawed with the happening & enjoy the game.I felt bad when the author mentioned that its good for the game if India doesnt qualify for the final-I dont think its a fair comment.Keep the sponsorship/TV rights apart-cricket in the subcontinent is importantfor the wellbeingof the game for another reason-WE LOVE IT VERY MUCH.I hop the India makes it

finally someone's hitting the right notes. I completely agree with Sambit on this over crazed cricket nation issue. This game seems to lose its meaning or probably already has lost it, looking back at the events from past couple of years, starting with the whole Ganguly issue. A general rule of thumb, too much of something does no good in long term. commercialization seems to have led to the death of this game. It is just obvious now that cricket is simply about making money, rather than the game itself, and the crazed out fans have done nothing but added fuel to that. It is embarrassing when you see just one or two athlete competing in Olympics games, considering the population of this country. In short, the Indian fans and the Indian media just seem to disgust me with their crazy obsession with cricket. I was surprised one day, on one of my visits back to India, what I saw on Aaj Tak news channel. I saw a whole half hour report on how MS Dhoni. And at that time, he had played in a couple of good games for Indian team. for that he was glorified as if he had been a hero and literally saved a nation. Hell I blame everything on media for giving such unnecessary attention to cricket and retarded Indian cricket fans.

bob was a great man i really liked him still i am a indian but i feel sad for pak i have read some where that there people in pakistan saying that ireland players have taken steriod and drugs before the match so it autiomatically disqlify the irish team

Sambit, you made your point clear. It's a wake up call for all the money mongers who want to control the game in different names. They are now all over the place even in regulatory authorities.

Passion is the heart of the game but blind passion can destroy the spirit. The death of Bob Woolmer might open the pandora box and the great man might do another good for the game even after sacrificing his life for cricket. It's time for soul searching and put respect to the game before destroying it for good.

Well. Being a Pakistani I am disappointed by the performance of the Pakistan team but i agree with the author of this article.I believe that the cricket in this part of the world, have it be India or Pakistan needs a reality check. Atleast Pakistan for sure has been susceptible to alot of politics within the cricketing world them being knocked out in the first round has cleared the lot. This not only shows the motives of the cricket board being one for money but it shows that everyone leaving might just be scared for their lives. If not a fear of their lives then its just a fact of not caring to improve cricket in Pakistan after this world cup. It is always easier to run.I dont live in India but i can imagine its more or less the same when it comes to cricket. Maybe it is time for the same to happen to India and for the people to find out who the real Heroes of India are. I think this knock out did serve as a reality check in the true sense of the word for Pakistan and it might just be helpful for them in the long run.

I think that cricket is taken way too seriously by many of us in the sub-continent. First of all, I don't see it doing any good for the country other than it being a great icebreaker for almost 99% of all conversations. Secondly, I bet that if we remove all the politics and corruption from the team selection, we can get an amazing team filled with new young shining athletes who are fit to perform. But us Indians dont like change and we tend to keep the same "second-hand" players when there are plenty in the billion who can achieve world-record feats. Thirdly, we need to get a coach of our own...not some FIRANGI to teach us how to play cricket! I mean what the hell are Gavaskar and Kapil doing? And thirdly, even if we do become the worst team in the history of cricket, I bet it won't even affect a single soul compared to how many more problems there are which need effective solutions! GUYS ITS JUST A SPORT! USE IT LIKE FOOD...EAT IT WITH TASTE AND DEFACATE AT THE END OF THE DAY!

Good Line of thought, Poor focus. India and Pakistan being singled out - sort of implying - a tribal frame for the south Asian continient is far fetched. It is like the morale saviour's call to first implicate to vindicate guilt.
As somebody has already pointed out, Sports invoke nationalism and emotions in areas where players excel. Cricket being the only sports in the subcontinent where currently acheiement is high, passionsa re bound to flow. Let us not forget the incidences in Europe during soccer or basketballs and 'footballs' in USA.
The point I like about Sambit's article is to recognize the potential disaster and premeptively apply control, before we lose a lot on revenue and sports in our area. We do not want the world to be scared of being invovled with cricket int eh subcontinent. And from that standpoint , it is is a good call to legal authorities and administration to take cognizance and prepare methodically to better equip for the protection and development of this sport.

While the jist and the raison d'etre of the article are compelling the arguments that the writer depends on are flawed.

Some of the non sequiturs:

1. Wooler's death - whether intentional or an accident - seems to have little to do with the commercialization of cricket.

2. Commercialization of a sport in a country does not directly correlate with the ability or proficiency of the national team. I am unsure what Mr. Bal is propounding here. Does he really believe that it is possible / favorable for cricket to be de commerialized?

3. "The reason for this is not hard to comprehend. Cricket has acquired a dangerous obsession with money"...God thats a ridiculous statement. More and more Mr. Bal comes across as a man who fervently believes in the "Money is the root of all evil" axiom.

4. "As an Indian, I would like India to win the World Cup."...redundant. The fact that he is an Indian neither qualifies nor disqualifies his views. An effort to be objective is of course commendable, but proclaiming standards of appreciation ("you can't call yourself a true fan if the sight of 17-year old Tamim Iqbal charging down pitch to belt Indian quick bowlers brought you no thrill.") is pretentious. What qualifies Mr.Bal to tell me how I should enjoy the game? Cricket is a professional sport and I might have an emotional stake in it or not. To tell an ardent fan of Indian cricket that he would applaud another teams performance if he were a real fan, one would have to be self righteous prick.

5. "But it might not be such a bad thing for cricket if they were to be knocked out in the first round". Again, Mr.Bal presumes to possess an oracle's insight into what seems to be 'wrong' with international cricket. What about the players who play their hearts out to get to the national side? How about the proposition that all competitive popular sport have their dark side? Does Mr. Bal have the common sense to realise that no popular international sport is devoid of these so called 'commericial interests'?

6. If Mr. Bal's criteria were imposed on every other sport then its apparently a 'good thing' for Americans to not play Basketball, for Romanians to stop promoting the sport of gymnastics, for the Japanese to embargo Sumo Wrestling and practically all of Europe would have to forego the godless hedonism that goes by the name of soccer.

My advice to Mr. Bal is if he intends to persist in being a judgemental, holier than thou asshole, he should consider propounding ways in which a more thorough system of checks to avoid foul play. Leading a clarion call for the Indian team's defeat is not just morally wrong. It is tantamount to throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

-Aditya

God bless you Sambit. My sentiments exactly.

If the cost of the passion of a mere game is potentially life, than the game is not worth playing in its current form.

Aside from the ICC and BCCI's financial issues, the more pressing matter is the unrealistic expectations of the fans of the subcontinent. Whether Bob Woolmer was murdered or not is irrelevant in this matter. His death showed the level of fanaticism of the game in that part of the world is largely detrimental, for it exposes extreme emotions- for good or bad. England's euphoric celebrations after winning back the Ashes in 2005 would be no match if India or Pakistan came home with the World Cup. Yet there were no reports of English players' houses being attacked or effigies being burnt in Trafalgar Square after England got thrashed 5-0. Coz that's what the Indian and Pakistani players would have endured if they encountered such a fate.

The fact is that perspective has been lost in terms of the priorities of life. People pay good money to see their team play, and should expect a reasonable performance so as to justify their investment. However, to go to lengths such as death threats and parliamentary enquiries, then its clear that priorities have been misplaced and that cricket is no longer the issue. It's life...

Yes.. I agree.. As an Indian cricket fan, I don't think we have to go far to learn some lessons about sportsmanship. We can learn a lot from the neighboring Sri Lanka. As an Indian who has traveled to SL, I have seen their fans warmly welcoming their team after any tour in spite of the outcome. Their players have the full freedom to play their own game without fear of failure. I am sure that this is helping the morale of their players – since they know that they will be accepted among their fans no matter what!
Another thing I have seen among our fans is that the desire to see our neighboring teams' failure (especially Pak) is even more than our desire to see our own team winning. This is also exactly opposite with the Lankans – they don't give a damn at how other teams win/loose as long as they don't play with 'em.
However, I hope that India wins next game with Sri Lanka as India's need to win this game is far more than the Lankan

Well said, no game is bigger than anyone person's life. Fans need to shrug off a loss and appreciate the winner, alse we should not carry the discussion beyond its due course.

Who is to be blamed is not a clear answer? Fans, Players, Administration, Politics and Media need to play a collective role, but who is going to suppress ones GREED (MONEY IS EVIL)

Thanks for writing a well articulated message and hope everyone who reads this will atleast spend some time contemplating and learn to walk away from the game or watching TV and spend more time with their own family, wife/husband, kids, parents. Thats more critical than whether we loose or win a game.

Every game needs money and passionate fans. Look at football. But as the article mentions, the money has gone ahead of the game. The Indian media and Indians themselves are to blame. The Indian media is extremely sensationalist ( they have all turned into tabloids) and creates hype for no reason. But Indians themselves are also to blame because we act like idiots, don't think for our selves, and accept whatever the media feeds us.

Nice to read this article which highlights where the cricket at present is seen as - a money making sport. I can point out few reasons as why cricket is being considered more than a religion in subcontinent. First, the media has to have its share of blame too. I can remember a popular Indian News Channel was so crazy that they emphasised more on showing AishwariyaRai, BipashaBasu and other Bollywood stars carrying the Olympic torch though we had sporting icons like Milkha Singh, Jaspal Rana, Baichung Butia, Vijay Amirtraj etc participating in that memorable event. So the media should try to understand their roles and responsibilties clearly, act accordingly. Instead of projecting/hyping too much on cricket, there are other things that India as a country, as a sporting nation, as a peaceful nation needs.
Secondly, though people in the subcontinent have the required knowledge to follow a majority of sport(like football, Formula-1, Tennis, Chess etc) but the real fact is that the subcontinent don't have any big sporting icons in those sports as the cricket has.
Thirdly, the Indian public - Only a few in this billion population has a good knowledge of cricket i.e who can understand cricket just like a game of sport. The others show their frustration, anger towards our players by damaging their house, threatening their families etc. Here is where the media has a chance to play their role to perfection. Instead of highlighting/pointing out the best or the worst perfomances of a player in a particular tournament, they can educate the public about the various reasons(other than player's perfomances) for the team to lose, try to make the public understand the realise after all it is just a game of entertainment that lasts for 7 hrs(just like we watch a movie for 3 hrs and after watching the movie we just forget it when we reach home)
Last but not the least one - the players. The players should also understand the emotions flowing all over the country. Instead they are lured by the companies, there-by forcing the players to endorse their products. By this, one can easily justify the mind-set of the people who try to imitate like their heroes and once they don't perform, obiviously he/she has all reasons to be angry over the team.
So shortly, I can say that its not the Indian cricket or its players to be balmed for, but its the media who most of the times has forgot to understand its resposibilities?

hey. im a kiwi. luv the all blacks. havnt won the world cup for awhile'. but i get over it takes a few days, but i do. i just love the game. love the black caps, but thats the only problem been a kiwi have to support the cricket team. its only a game, but a dam good one

I fully agree with the article.I too am a fan of cricket and played at university level. One cannot blame the media or the advertisers for the level of fanaticism with the Indian fans. If more and more people in India are involved in or get to play any sport this trend of treating cricketers like Super heroes gets diminished. Participation in any sport or a game gives one the perspective of a win and a loss, it lets them understand and assimilate defeat. I wish India invests more in sports and athletics infra-structure and let people get more opportunities to play and experience what it is to play and enjoy rather than watch only a few play and suffer in their losses.

the death of Bob Woolmer is by far the most tragic thing that has ever happened in cricket. If it was a murder then who ever was behind it should be given the harshest treatment whether its one of the team or board officials of Pakistni cricket. Pakistani cricket has always suffered because of corruption and politics from top level to the bottom. Even if the slightest evidence reveals that Pakistani cricket team or officials had something to do with the murder then they should be banned from international cricket for ever and get a lesson of their life time.

Yes. I agree in-toto with the views expressed. More than enjoying it as a game, we are forced to witness the matches with hearts pounding. Perhaps, the remedy may lye in banning the international games, especially the one-dayers in the sub continent at least for five years.

This article has been one of the best thoughtful article in cricinfo as I have seen. I have watching the subcontinent cricket almost all the game for the last 2 decades beside the games held in other part of the world. I cannot but agree fully with the author. Being a Bangladeshi I should not comment on India-Pakistan cricket..but to watch the Indian TVs covering cricket seems too poor by any standard. Reality check is needed..in every sphere ..so that nationalism does not turn into Nazism....I guess we're all clear

While I agree with the comments, the commercial aspect can not be avoided! It's only going to get worse! If you can't beat em, join em!

Sure does need a reality check, as much as it would sadden me to see India lose. India loses regularly in Hockey, nowhere near anyone in Football/ Basketball/ Volleyball/ motor sports.. any sport, besides individual brilliances from Vish Anand, Paes, Bhupathi, Jeev Milka Singh, Gopichand, Padukone, PT Usha, Rathore, Ms.George etc. For a country of 1.1 billion, this shows the lack of political & moral will and the people are equally to be blamed as the politicians. KPS Gill, J Dalmiya, S Kalmadi & many more - do these names ring a bell? Morons of Indian sport, besides the many sportsmen themselves that have contributed effectively to the downfall of their respective sports. Wondered why the fight for the BCCI elections.. would make you think if its for the Indian presidency. Dont we all smell a rat there? Have wondered what Aishwarya does in a cricket awards ceremony? Or why she carries an Olympic torch? India Shining is demented in its approach to sport. IT majors, economic tiger, infrastructural nightmare, population bursting at its seams - thank the people that litter like rabbits, Mulayam Singh Yadav and his 15 children..dont know if anything has reached the grass roots besides corruption. 60% or more, of our politicians are on the wrong side of the law, but as a country we are more concerned about India losing to Bangladesh, than when our politicians / bureaucrats are depriving us and our children of a future. That in a country of 1+ billion, we can only be stuck to 1 ruling family - dynastic rule?. We have no concern about all of this - but we will sweat over India losing to Bangladesh. Are we finding the easier way out? We stone sportsmens' houses for losing a game, but will glorify Laloo for looting well over 3000 crore. The same hands that stoned houses gave bouquets when India reached the finals in 2003. Ganguly the most mauled man until round 3, came home to a hero's welcome. Then the most successful captain in Indian cricketing history was treated with no respect and dumped, until he showed the cricketing fraternity, what he is made of. We will glorify Sachin on his exploits and doubt his capacity in the next 50 matches, immaterial of what his scores are, we will also say that he plays for personal gains!

Disgusted being an Indian, for the reasons above and obviously many more.

I agree with the article when it says that World cricket today and in particular Indian Cricket needs a reality check, particularly the expectations from team India vis-a-vis the performance delivered. Notwithstanding this, it cannot be denied that cricket the world-over runs on how India fares on the field and as watched by the millions of fans from their homes. If you still believe whatever is sought after more than it worth and will still remain uncorrupted - that is not to be. So it is pure Utopia when you say let cricket be only a game. It is more than a game and what has it become is definitely more than an obsession.

This is a very good article where the whole Media in India could have translated and issued in Regional Lanugages. Everyone understands India cannot reach the standard of Australia. Is it due to Lack of players India.Certianly Not, Indian Public should praise the players purely based on talent not on Commercial Stunt. On top of this Media should promote Cricket rather than Commenting on favourites. I am from Srilnaka despite several problems in Cricket Board we do have a good team (irrespective of today's result). India should study this and may put this into practicse.

Bob Woolmer's murder is big tragedy. I think world cup should have not been played in West Indies. Everybody know security situation there. World Cup should be cancelled straight away and in future no cricket should be played inside West Indies. It is their responsibility to provide security but they failed. What has happened it is not a small thing and can happen again. I am sure, if it was happened in Pakistan, India or Sri Lanka then the all the English and Australian could have said so many things about these countries and could have been returned without playing any more match as they have been doing before. Why are they not doing the same now? If not now then why did they refuse to play in Karachi before?

I don't understand what is the point you are trying to make. All the sports which has massive crowd following are commercialised. American Football is the most commercialised sport even though as far as I know it is just one country's domestic sport. Football (Soccer) is played by most number of countries and in some of the domestic leagues, the players receive massive paychecks. All the famous players in popular sports become brand ambassadors. The fans in Soccer and American Football are even more fanatic than Indian cricket fans. We Indians have extreme fickle mindedness. One hand, we praise ourselves and on the other, we think ourselves as the source of all evil in the world. The problem lies neither with the Cricket as a sport itself, the players playing it or the fans who are fanatic about it. Yes, we could improve the administrative machinery that runs this sport.But you need to understand ICC is hosh posh of cultures don't match. (South Asian Nations and English speaking erstwhile British Imperialist nations don't have anything in common except that British ruled us in the past and Cricket) which Unless, you propose any magical solution to solve this, I don't think much can be done about it. If you have this magical solution, you will be solving all the problems in the world not just in Cricket.

Sambit , i think you are over--reacting. Fans are disappoined not because Indian team gets defeated. It is because of the manner in which they get defeated by Bangladesh. Cricket is the only sport where we have a glimmer of hope in India.. And if that too gets spoiled by teams like Bangladesh, people are greatly disappointed. But that is not an excuse for violence..And whatever u say, Indian fans will never change including me..You can shout 10000 times but we wont hear abt it

If the average Indian fan is anything like Aditya (who has commented here) then it isn’t surprising that cricket has been taken over by people (I refrain from using the term "fans") who know little about the nuances of the game but bring in a certain element of bullying and shouting. It has stopped being seen by true fans but taken over by belligerent, jingoistic characters who believe that by virtue of being followers of the game they possess the right to do anything they want (control cricketers destinies as they please, or so said Aditya). Bookies & betting have a major role to play in this which have brought in people who only want to see 4's & 6's and not the beautiful game - Sehwag is sought after & not VVS Laxman; one day format is cricket & not test match being real cricket. We are headed the way football has gone and if we allow TV to rule the game we are headed towards a major disaster. Bob Woolmer will just be the first of the casualties and we must endeavour to stop any further deaths. Pause for a moment and let's think - what did Dhoni do to attain the cult status in the first place - score a few sixers? These very same fans who vandalised his house made him a demi-god in the first place- he's just a young cricketer and we should allow him to be one and not make him such a big commodity. As a pure cricketer he is nowhere near VVS or Dravid but he is made the star and not the other two accomplished cricketers. If more such articles are written by people like yourselves who have the forum, maybe, maybe, the game can become a game once again not a TV commercial that is aired in between adverts.

The article has some merit but seeing it tuned into India bashing tool is disheartening. May be it is fashinable these days to be anti India in cricketing circles.

As I know majority of Indians would have watched the match and forget about it in a few days. It is the glory seekers who like to use any excuses to bash India and stereotype every Indian.

Could it be an attempt to divert attention from Bob Woolmers mysterious death?

Sambit Bal has hit the nail on the head. Cricket has become too much of an obsession in India and the sub continent and people have lost all perspective that it is just a game and there are winners and losers. It is also correct that India is a one sport country which in itself is amazing in a country of more than a billion people. When I grew up in India in the sixties I played every kind of sport in my school and hockey had a certain profile. Nowadays no other sport seems to attract any kind of sponsorship. Big money is going to be the nemesis of Indian cricket unless something is done soon. I also agree that in some ways the likely early exit of India from the world cup might- in a perverse way- be the best thing that can happen for the long term good of Indian cricket.

One of the best articles I have read in recent times.
For the sake of the game,I pray that India loose today and get knocked out in the First round,thereby helping every cricket enthusiast in India unlearn and enjoy the sport.

Braaavo Sambit. A great article. But I would agree with the gentleman that it is cast too wide.It's South Asian region that needs the reality check.No cricketer is a God in anyother part of thr world and neither are they mobbed on the streets. It's a great emotion as an Indian to be a part of all this...but as everyone else, we all wish it hadn't grown this big because it is one sided! The doemstic and college, school crciket are all still in pit holes! If only the administrators had the heart to spend atleast a quarter of the money they make into it with heart, we would have been twice stronger than Australian cricket! It's the system that survives..not the easily earned money! Our deepest condolences to the family of Mr.Woolmer. Well,optimistic as I am, I think even this incident will be forgotten soon because the bottom line is..Today's Indian cricket is neck deep in Money and it can only get worse hand in hand with our corrupt politics. There is no going back...Just lets enjoy what is left of what was once a wonderful game and hope for the best for our youngsters!

I loved Tamim stepping out and hitting the pacers over the top and I didn't quite care about India losing out but I belong to the community , the news of which is one of the main points of Sambit's article.

" Broadcasters to lose 150 Crore if India lose out."
" Advertisers pulling out in the face of India's loss"

If there's money on the table to be made if India does well, I'd rather see them in the Super 8's than see them lose out and eventually screw our industry revenues.

Once in college , when I was a student, I'd stopped short of thinking in a discussion about money and Indian Cricket. Those days my views were rather simple.
"India should do well in any competition. It makes us feel great and proud about ourselves."

Today, sitting on the other side of the fence I'm thinking:
" India should do fantastic at cricket. It makes us feel rich about ourselves."

Pride?
Well...Umm...Errr...That we can manage at other sports...

very right...but one of the main reasons for such behaviour of Paksitani and Indian fans, is none of the nation has any outstanding record in any other sport...fans have nothing else to celebrate or anticipate any major win in any other sport...the whole sports system in both countries stink...

Most people I speak to think India will win against Sri Lanka because the advertisers and administrators cannot afford to let India go out of tournament. It's scary. It's sad. It's madness. For this one reason, may the better team win. And i have no doubts which of the 2 is better. Sri Lanka, by a mile

I understand your "money" point but what it has to do with India winning the world cup. every cricket team in the world relies on money every sport team I should say, soccer the most. India departing after the first round will be good for cricket?? man, you are frustrated! yes, we do not play like australia or south africa as a team but we try hard. every team has thei ups and downs. our achievements are better than most of them. haven't all of us played cricket since we were small. it is THE game for indians, whose fault? no ones. its like soccer for italy. yes too many expectations, why? because they know the potential, they all know we are excellent. other teams knows the same. media and bollywood take advantage of the scene to get some ransome, true, what has team got to do with it? each player in the team goes thru so many sacrifices; injuries, families, pressure, fatigue just to make the country proud. excellent article ? yeah it is good and it has good points but it is like looking at the negative points under an electron microscope and just ignoring the good points.

If 'cricket is just a game' we wouldn't see so many fans/people responding to this article, would we? More over the so called blog writes and journalists have become 'cat on a wall' taking whatever side and stand they want to adding fuel to fire. It takes a couple of columns and a fair bit of written skills to write and justify what ever crap we want to. But it takes 15yrs of practice and a bat to walk onto the pitch where you have thousands of people cheering for you.I wonder how many of these writers/journalists and fans can do that!
And to all those who blame Indian's for the things happening in the cricketing world now...'Brazil has football/Yankees have NBA/Australia has AFL and India has cricket'.

Sambit Bal is one of the more articulate and thoughful writers on cricket. Nonetheless, in this instance, I believe he is over-playing the current situation.

The greatest threat to cricket at this tournament is not the early exit of India (or Pakistan), or the over-reliance of the ICC on the fortunes of said teams. No, the main threat to the continued growth of cricket at this tournament would be a minor one - the victory and continued dominance of this wonderful Australian team.

Fortunately, and very excitingly, this threat looks like being avoided - we do appear to have a contest. In Sri Lanka, we have the most well balanced and exciting Asian team since the hey-days of Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and young Wasim Akram. In South Africa, we have a team with nearly as much talent as Australia, and perhaps as much fight. In New Zealand we have a wily group of professionals, who know how to back each other up.

The worst thing that could happen to cricket was another predicatble one-sided tournament - I believe this has been avoided already.

I'd like to call for the World Cup to be held every second year on a 1.5 years-2.5 years cycle (i.e. alternating between the southern and northen hemispheres). In compensation, existing one-day tournaments could be abandoned or shortened. The World Cup is the key tournament to showcase the game and to grow its supporter base and talent pool - teams like Bangladesh and the minnows shouldn't have to wait for 4 years (or more) for their place in the sun.

The organizers have the duration, format, logistics and marketing right for this tournament - bravo - let's have more.

... and please, let's have less India-centric converage of the game. This is a good-average Indian team, with one sublime batsman, and 2 or 3 others who would get a game in most teams - only those who over-rate this team can be dissapointed with their performance.

The question becomes now whether those responsible for the current plight have the insight to realize what is going on and whether they have the desire and determination to do something about it. The process will not be an overnight one either, I feel. It will take cricket a while to get back to "for the love of the game".

Hi Sambit,
I'm sure you've taken into account the possibility that once cricket becomes 'only a game', cricinfo.com will be that much closer to shutting down? Or are you one of those hypocrites who publicly wish for something to happen while privately hoping it won't?

I agree ompletely with what you wrote - I would urge you to be very careful if India were to lose. You may be seen as someone who predicted that - moronic and passionate fans are quite capable of causing you injury - anything is possible in these completely crazy days when cricket and its stars have become more important that life itself

Good article. Most of all, the Indian team needs a holiday. They need to spend some valuable time with their families. After all they are also humans like us. They stress themselves physically by playing for the nation and mentally by staying away from their homes most of the times. I have never seen a country playing so much cricket.

I feel cricket administrators for thier own reasons are obssessed with money, media too is obssessed - esp. electronic media which make cricket more than a game for thier TRPS and for money.

I feel all of us need a break from the madness that cricketing administrators, media, sponsors.

Its disgusting. I cant express my feelings. i feel sick.

I quit watching. Would you? That'll bring down money by $200/yr.

I dont understand why journalists are keen on talking down to the fan base in general. There are all kinds of fans in this country and to suggest that most of them are out of their minds is not based on hard data, it is based on an observation of 4 events -a. The breaking of the wall at Dhoni's under construction house, b. Effigies being burnt in a couple of locations, c. The 'murder' of Bob woolmer and d. The reaction of some fans on blogs

When you actually run through the data, here is what you will find

a. Nobody knows why people broken the wall at Dhonis house. The rumour in Ranchi is that it is to do with past rivalry of some sort (financial related)

c. Effigies being burnt- In 100+ urban cities, 2 locations had incidents of effigy burning, compare that with the population as a whole and you will understand the context.

In both the above cases the media covers these people and provides them a presence. Dont cover effigy burning and see how many burn effigies from tom.

c. Woolmer's 'murder'
The fact that is a murder does not imply anything. Let the investigation be completed and we will know who was responsible or what was the trigger. Bookies are involved in all kinds of sport- They are involved because punters wish to punt on sports. You cannot change that. The best you can do is to regulate and monitor bookies.

d. Reaction of fans on online blogs

A review of 100 posts indicates that about 10% are clearly crazy and out of these 10 cases 2 are dangerous...These ratios are very small, considering the fact that most people dont post in these blogs and get on with their lives.

I think for starters cricinfo should start distingushing between miscreants and fans. There is a huge difference.

The present sorry state of this great sport has been aptly summarized in this article. What is most disturbing is that the game has been virtually taken over by the media and advertisement world for their own commercial interests. Why would you have a disinterested West Indies come all the way to India and play 4 one dayers? Of course, to lose and help the sponsors and the board make some money in the process. In doing so the WI board also got richer. This also gave the Indian media an opportunity to rope in more sponsors (as a result of Indian victory) for their cricket related shows which were trying to find out the chances of an Indian victory in the world cup. All this jumboree has to stop for the survival of the game in the long run. We should not let commercial interests dictate the course of the game. I wonder what ICC's Anti Corruption Bureau has been doing all this while. They better act, it is now or never.

Sambit Bal couldnt have said it better. Clearly the money-mongers and criminals have taken over cricket. No worse a blunder could have been made than pushing the whole match-fixing scandal under the carpet - not once... twice, and as recently as just before this cup. Not once in recent times have the TV rights not been an issue. The sports offices are politicised. Elections to cricket office-bearer postions are contested with the seriousness of an election to the position of head of state! Yes Sambit, India is a bad example. Pakistan is as bad or worse. Countries like West Indies are close, and more will follow. The jury is still out whether Woolmer's murder will be paint-brushed or whether it will be a wake-up call to the powers that be to clean things up : Would the ICC be able to organise confidential exposures without the danger of honest cricketers and their families lives being at stake ? Will the maddening race by the boards,the authorities, and players to enrich themselves by playing round the year cricket stop ? Will the boards ban cricketers from spending time advertising except during the off season ? Will there be reasonable curbs on advertising during the matches ? Or will there be more bloodshed before we awaken ? Only time will tell.

Krish

Guys......Guys.....Lets face the facts here. This game is no longer viewed properly in western world. The only people who watch from that part of world are the ones who have had their bets on it. England has lost the charm of fun in it... The people who crave for this game are from Sub continent because they don't have football, Rugby, soccer and many more. The people ( ICC ) who run it are still managing it like they own it. I think the governing body ICC is weak and not in position of handling it anymore. This all is becoming an issue of keeping the powers within themselves. Sometimes it is wrong umpires placed, sometimes pitches made their own way, sometimes it becomes a racial playing field, sometimes gambling zone and lately murder scene. Where it is heading no one knows. The whole show is being run by few individuals who think they are the owners of the game. Let me tell you something if Pakistan and India was not in it this game would have been dead. All these super ICC members are not willing to accept the fact and live with it. Unfortunately I blame for what ever is happening to cricket is simply because of ICC. Someone should tell them to re organise the whole management and the current ones should be hold responsible for the lost of such an amazing sport.

Mr.Bal u r correct. indian team is not able to justfy their 8th rank becoz it lost to 10th or 11th rank bangladesh team.people in india should start loving cricket but not cricketers. who ever plays better we must enjoy their play. becoz after all it is only a game nothng to loose for the people of india. only loosers are tv and advertisement industry. any way as an inidan i wish indian team to win match by match from here on words and win the cup. good luck indian team

Just to add to my previous comments. Thsi world cup is heading for big commercial event. The matches where the ICC can make a big money out of it. That can be only within the following teams...
Australia
South Africa
New Zealand
West Indies

and I will not be surprised If they can push Ireland little bit more so they can get more crowd from Ireland.
If the above nations will compete they will get the best revenue as they will sell lot of tickets and lot of fans will travel from this part of the world.
We will see what happens with India in the above regard after todays match. Enjoy

Very well said Bal. Its all because of the hype by the emedia. This is time for the sponsorers in india to consider the other sports and have to maintain the balance. This will help people to have mindset to focus on other if one is frustrating. This is quite common across all the countries seeing the sports so emotionally. All these due to the hype by the sponsorers and the media.

This article is one of the best I have ever seen. Particularly in India and Pakistan too many extremes are seen depending upon the result. that has to do with too much money also in the game as the writer clearly states. It's afterall just a game. It is sick to think such a marvellous and wonderful game might take lives. I hope this never repeats again.

I think its unfair blaming a single country for this. Cricket is next to religion in the subcontinent. We, the followers of the game, are major contributor for treating it more than game. We should realize it and take the game as the game. Being a pakistani, I still would love to see India playing in next round & I hope the indians dont react much if their team dont make it to the next round.

The ICC should take the blame for the current state of the game...

Interesting comments from another passionate cricket writer. However you miss the most important issue. The ICC is the weakest governing body next to US Baseball. In which other sport would you be able to bet against your team openly with bookmakers, lose & walk awayy with a slap on the wrist? Which other sport would allow a player to openly admit they took money from a bookmaker to throw a game & still be playing today because they had a change of mind. If the the ICC won't stop a player who trangresses in such away, why should the country they play for. Because of this attitude by the ICC, whenever a upset result happens, the game was rigged is bandied about. If the ICC won't apply life bans to these criminals then the noble game of cricket is no more!

dear samit,
I feel you are critizicing India too much....
its not our fault that cricket is so popular in India and as you said most of Indians dont care about other matches if India is out of the tournament, thats not a problem for cricket as a game, but its problem for sponsors, and we dont care the sponsors...., It seems ur intension is to support the sponsors, may be all poeple are appreciating you for writing a one sided article, write a better one next time......
all the best

Cricket is a sorry victim of capitalism. Its unfortunate that we rubbish the administrators when they are simply trying to maximise the profit motive that belies the very principles of present human tendencies. It was a gentleman's game when we also would not have quit jobs so frequently to "maximise" our income, stuck on to marriages with the human capacity to compromise or even gone through the apparent pains of making filter coffee. One Day Cricket was the outcome of changing human patterns where entertainment had to be realised instantaneously and manic commercialisation was only a formality. More than where the game is going, we should ask ourselves the question - How and where does it all end? The Jungle where it all started or a new beginning where money is just the means to achieve some more meaningful end. Look within than without. Thats all there is to it.

This is regarding the hype around the Indian team's performance.I condemn the mass hysteria, the violence (in whatever form) against the cricketers and their properties. Having said this much, it is a fact that our players are representing their nation in a World Cup tournament. Without being jingiostic about nationalism, it is every bit part of their professional ethics, commitment to the game and love for the country to shed every drop of sweat to achieve the very best. Let's not kid ourselves that all our players are naturally inclined to do so in every game.They have too many distractions and compulsions, quite a few of which they themselves have created. And as regards dismissing the ire of fans as not worthy of attention, M/s Rahul & Co should realise that all the obscene amounts of money that they earn through adverisements/other promotional campaigns are there because of these very fans.

BCCI should be the biggest culprit of all this. First, it hasn't done much to improve the standard of cricket in India, look at the stadiums (how come countries like newzealand have better stadiums than India), state players are not well rewarded (where's the money sirs?), and add to that the type of hype Indian media has created, it looks like an elephant riding a camel. To top it all up the big mafia of illegal betting. God save the good ol' game.

I would have to agree with the article but it has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Any major game today is heavily commercialized. otherwise it will not survive. Also one has mentioned that Indians (and for that matter sub continent players) are not fit enough to excel at other sports so their only hope is cricket.
I would like to see a footballer or a base bowler stand in the hot sun for five days of play...he wouldnt survive two days.
The game has to be commercialized otherwise there will be no revenue.
Its the fanatic passion shown by the Indians and Pakistanis that should be kept in check, without loosing it entirely, they need to realize it is only a game and the players are not gods.

I wouldn't associate money with evil and poverty with good. NFL is the richest sport, yet the contest is great and no one gets murdered. I think it is great that money is finally flowing in sports in India - remember the times when we use to lament that one cannot make a career out of sports. Now a Ranji trophy player can make a good living. If sports in India is developed the way it is developed in the US, with leagues etc, it can easily employ a few hundred thousand people.

What is shocking is the murder of Bob Woolmer. Is it because of money? Maybe. Is it because of fanaticism? More likely. So the question is - how do you cure cricket of these fanatics for whom life is cricket and one defeat is like the end of the world?

And I for one would like to see India to be out of the World Cup. It is a bad bad team.

Expected much from article...but not so good.... Cricket is RELIGION in India, does someone talk "low" about religion ??? never right...if people think its only a game...then they need to post/comment to these kind of articles...and whats more...the "writer" himself will be gone if it is treated as just a GAME....I am ardent Cricket fan (not indian cricket fan).

Great article, cricket fans should take the game as a source of fun. There should be the moderation and have the sense of appreciation for other teams whom you don't suppor per se. As per the money matter, once again there should be the middle ground to treat the game as a source of millions of dollars vis-a-vis treating it as a source of pure entertainment. ICC should come with some sort of policies to address this issue as a gurdian of this game.

A courageous piece indeed, especially since Sambit is an Indian cricket fan. We need more people to speak out as he does and let's hope that those people that are selling our cricket souls to commerce would wake up and realize their vices. Scary stuff, really. Makes you wonder: will Sri Lanka be able to do what they are expecting to do and beat India today? Or will the team be threatened and forced to underperform by the very people Sambit pointed out as the great destroyers of this great game? Cricket fans all over the world unite and keep your fingers crossed for the wake-up call Sambit was calling for. Go, Sri Lanka, go!!
Robert de Neef

Very true,

My solution for the problem is change the backbone of the team. Take out Sachin, Dravid, Sehwag, Ganguly, Dhoni.
We will play much better without these players, we depend too much on 1 or 2 individuals. I think India will play much better without Sachin, he is a liability for the team. He might score a 100, but India wants him to score a 100 every match, thats not gonna happen,

I'm sure the writer is aware of other issues in sport, however he is looking at the issue within cricket. The Indian team is a good team, but realistically they don't have a team in the position to win the world cup (based on rankings). Like any team they can both overachieve or underachieve, but it shouldn't be one where fans are feeling too harshly done by.
I feel that what the writer in this article is pointing out are the expectations put on players and the power that fans feel they have which is unrealistic.
For India being ranked 6th it is easier for them to under perform and slip two places therefore missing out on the super 8 rather than having a string of wins and finding themselves in the final.
The presentation of both the game and unrealistic expectations placed on the team helps support some fans views that they are owed performances. In all teams there are ups and downs and sometimes it takes a wake up call to help the team to reassess the direction they are going. I feel that the shock loss to ireland and loss to the west indies could have helped the pakistan team to reassess and look at what they did wrong (maybe even address their inconsistency once and for all). But, now with the beleived murder of their coach and related inquiries it will be very hard for pakistan to recover. With this happening I hope that there is a greater level of maturity when looking at team performances. I also hope that the killer (if it was murder) is found and justice is served and his family be well supported during this time.

Just to serve as a perspective on the game - must be perceived as only a game - the World Cup should be permanently named as `World Championship for Bob Woolmer Cup'. This will be an appropriate way to honour an all-time great coach and a personality who gave more to the game than he took from it. It will also be etched in memory that the game must be enjoyed, plain and simple; this will be a fine way to to also perpetuate the memory of Woolmer and snub the match fixers and others out to harm the game. Doing so when the cup is presented this time to the winner will show cricket and its administrators are sensitive to the larger perspective. S Vaidya Nathan

Its unfortunate that the game is being influenced by off-the field activities rather than on the field activities.

I cannot digest the thing that a person can be murdered for the sake of a cricket match.

Its no more 'gentleman's game'.

I completely agree with the author of this article. A sport and the outcome of it has to be taken in its stride. A fan of a sport has no right to vandalize the property of a sportsman, because the sportsman did not perform to the Fan's expectation. Also I feel the point mentioned here that MEDIA is the main reason for such reactions by the fans. The hype that is created by the media has resulted in such a erratic behaviour from the fans. I would agree that there should be passion for the game, but the passion should not result in violence due to one failure. Media has to learn to tame its power over the public.
Finally its the responsibilty of the Media as well as the fans that they should learn to accept the reality and show proper reaction instead of the violent and erratic behaviour.

Absolutely right!!! It is so disheartening to see the mass acting crazy when the Indians and Pakistanis dont perform. Give them a break guys. Everyone cannot perform that well and expecting a lot from this team is near to impossible. Dont get too much emotionally involved too. Its just a game one wins and one looses. Just take it with that spirit. Watch the match and enjoy the game!!!!

Codswallop!
Sambit has taken leave of all his senses! Cricket has always been commecially poor compared to other sports. Its about time it got more commercially savvy. It requires more exposure and the more money involved the more people will become interested. Imagine if USA ever became interested. The money will definitely make it happen especially if money is involved in the game. The issue we have is that we need greed to stop and have the money pumped back into the game and players. I hope India loses (being pakistani this is a pre-requisite!) I hope ireland win and hence provide a platform for minnow nations to take part. Cricket should be far more popular, its getting bigger and long may that continue.

Sambit...name a sport which isnt commercially driven. Boxing, Football, Baseball, Basketball, Rugby, Athletics etc all have mass commercialization. so long as we dont lose decency in the game (some say its a gentlemans game, tho' seeing Flintoffs antics, some would dispute that!)

i agree... Woolmer's death scared me, as the seriousness of the game in terms of television, and especially gambling has gone to incredible lengths that the ICC (a similar body to the UN, in terms of its inability to act or be taken seriously)can handle... the beauty of being a true "fan" is to love the team, and be critical of them, but the overbearing nature of cricket fans in the subcontinent, fuelled by the media, will ultimately destroy it, unless action is done

Great article. I wonder if the horrific news of Bob Woolmer's murder had come out after India were eliminated from the tournament, whether ICC would be so keen that the "show must go on"? Or is their stoicism all about money too?

I think the money earned during the world cup should be given off to charity....

"World Cup 2007 will be forever remembered for this."
- Alan Donald

"The two most important people in my cricketing career were Hansie (Cronje) and Bob and they're both gone."
- Jonty Rhodes

Any one remember Andre Escobar? The Columbian footballer that scored an own goal? Possibly not... as own goals are a common occurence in the game. Fortunate for the attacking side, and unfortunate for the defending side - devestating for the player.

This man was gunned down shortly after the world cup. Reported that the gunman uttered the words, "thanks for the own goal!"

When will people return to the idea that sports are games. That one team wins, the other loses. With the recent developments in the game... and as for Bob, and the whole Woolmer family (our thoughts are with you). What does one say?

Right now I would suggest tossing the sides like Pakistan and India right out of the world cup... sanction games against them.

Right now, who will take the position of Pakistan coach? Surely anyone that does is a madman?!

I think that money, greed and obsession have gone way too far and are now beyond control.

Someone needs to act now. Or surely we will regress to the days where the losing side was sacrificed. Wait... sad to say, that has already happened!

The cricket today is becoming all about money, betting and gambling which is terribly shocking. Today cricket is a religeon in India. Indians fans are fanatic. If a player playing good he is the GOD if not then they can even kill him. Imagin if they found dhoni in his home when destroying his home what would they do?... This craze has a huge impact in business.. Somebody wanted to sell his kidney to watch the game. ...

If today India is out from the worldcup then cricket business will hamper.. ... So I can almost bet that today India will win against Sri-Lanka. In Bangladeshi newspaper they are writing that there is a great chance of match fixing. And it will be most probably the case....

We are the victim as cricket fan..Is that what we expect from ICC ?

Read the user comments in this section and on the whole of cricinfo site, see the names, what do you figure? Yes, Cricket and Cricinfo exist because of Indians so it is not too much for the fans to expect their team to win. Couple of days back it was mentioned that Cricinfo got all time high traffic from USA, what do you think? Suddenly americans have gained interest in cricket?

Ofcourse it is another matter that the BCCI grossly mismanages the game in India. Millions of dollars and not a single world class stadium or decent selection/grooming process. No wonder India is not number one in terms of wins.

Is commercialization of sport not a compulsory phenomenon for the sport to progress (and survive)?? Look at other sports in India - Hockey, Football, Athletics etc...All are languishing in wilderness due to lack of money (especially from TV channels and Sponsors)and mass support..its a vicious cycle..Reality check has to be in terms of maintainig exclusivity and minimizing risk of over exposure..With so much cricket being played all year round (which really is detrimental to all players in terms of longevity of their carreers), it has come to represent the collective 'patriotic' psyche of the average Indian..and patriotism has a big ego..less exposure and greater effort to develop other sports will help in delienating the 'Indian team' from 'India' and 'Cricket' from 'War'

Mr. Bal has penned an incisively accurate and impartial account of World cricket today.

Astoundingly wonderful!

I have always been concerned about the "Indianization" of world cricket and I am pleased that an Indian could have detached himself and analyzed the facts.

Mr. Bal, your prophetic intimation over Woolmer's death has also vindicated the accuracy of your writing.

Great work!

I thought that was an incisive article and provided a good, realistic read. I've been a die-hard cricket fan since Irfan Pathan's debut (!!!) but I must say, this World cup - at least, so far - has really devalued cricket for me. First Pakistan gets knocked out by Ireland; then, India gets thrashed by Bangladesh - and in their very next match, they whack 400 odd runs! I'm beginning to wonder whether cricket makes sense anymore. It's a fantastic sport. I'm not saying that countries like Ireland and Bangladesh shouldn't win, because, sure, it shows that no game is ever at all predictable. But India isn't SUPPOSED to get thrashed by Bangladesh! Ever. Pakistan is DEFINITELY not supposed to get knocked out of the World Cup - especially by Ireland! Then, Bob Woolmer gets strangled. This last point, especially, just irritates me. This is the reason i really liked your article - people must know to what extent to care about a SPORT. A GAME. You don't just go around killing the coach when you feel like it. Sure, you've been let down - but for crying out loud, YOU try playing cricket under all that pressure, you know?!! Disgraceful. Sure, India can play well below their standards sometimes, but you don't just go around burning posters or breaking under-constuction houses (or any infrastructure, for that matter), you know? Sure, follow the sport. With great passion. But don't disrespect it. Thanks for a great read, keep it up mate!

The article gets to the centre of the malaise and refers to Cricket as only a game.Yes, but ODI in India is definitely not a game. it is an industry. A classic example which brings into focus the divide between conventional form of game played at the highest level as tests is the hullabuloo made about Sehwag. Sehwag is an excellent test player and first class cricketer who has a modest performance in ODIs.But to Sehwag and his promoters it is obvious where money is. even india's all time best bowler is not really astar as he is an average ODI performer.So he has to continue playing ODIs.So what if Kaif and Laxman would be needed in the matches against Australia.And the media has mixed Sehwag's form in two form of the game to an extent that few people realise he hardly has been out of form in Tests.But his continued failure in ODIs, his century against Bermuda notwithstanding,will lead to his being replaced in Tests where he has a lot to do.So have a nice time tonight and irrespective of the result continue supporting the World Cup because if India's ouster means low TRP, this may be the last big world Cup.

Could not agree with you more.
It's high time the Governments stepped in and tackled the 'underworld' and 'match fixing' Mafia, who are destroying Cricket and People.
The next war is WAR AGAINST CRICKETING MAFIA.
Apparently, these mafia could may well be threatening the players to underperform or else..

The comments addresses the frenzy which Media creates about cricket. But I believe Media frenzy is a much larger issue. The electronic media has become ver irresponsible and corrupt. They are a joke today. The hype they can create for smallest of news is a laughing stock. The questions they ask to suffering individuals shows the lack of humanity and ethics. Its time when government should regualate the malpractices within the media.

Robert,

Kick pakistan and india out? Pakistan is already out. numpty!

And why sanction the Indian team? what have they done? (did i say that out loud? im pakistani!).
And why sanction the pakistani team? as yet there is no evidence of the teams involvement?

Here's what i suggest, get rid of teams that always think they have right to be better than other teams...that would mean banning:

England...and errr...errr...mmm. yep just them!

Bravo. The unbridled arrogance and hypocrisy of certain high-ranking cricket administrators have been cancers at the core of our beloved game for years now.

I completely agree with the article. I am currently the president of Kingston University (London) Cricket club. We have a wide variety of players of different nationalities: Indians, Pakistanis, English, Sri Lankan, West Indian and myself half Australian. Some people take a very laid back opinion to the cricket (Consider it a game) but it is on the rise that fanatical supporters that are already joking about the terrible tragedy that has just taken place. I Love cricket it is a passion but I still live in the reality that it is a game we win some we loose some. One of the best nights of my life was last year at the Britt Oval watching Surrey vs. Gloucestershire. Surrey lost this day/night game (I’m a big Surrey Fan) but I had so much fun sledging the opposition and on accessions my own team. It is just a game and it sickens me to see the game I love so much going down the road to a yob culture like football.

I think it was a good article; of course it now seems that Woolmer was murdered by someone. Presumably someone who wanted Pakistan to win. Shame. One of your writers said that the Irish team was taking drugs and should therefore be eliminated from the competition. What a load of choss. The Irish team, which I am so very proud of, are amateurs who train, practise and learn about the game in a country which is often hostile to the "anglo" overtones of cricket. They were expected to lose but they got some good wickets, played well and won. Remember that the Irish very nearly lost to Zimbabwe but tied due to some good, old fashioned tight play and dedication. I am sure the Pakistani players are regretting that instead of superstardom they had pursued cricketing improvement.
The joy of the world cup is to see what happens when teams of the world come together and play. Now the whole world cup is tainted by some individuals who have exacted revenge on the coach of the losing team.

Not sure we can blame the ICC for Woolmer's death, but we can blame them for pretty much everything else. There is a horrible commercialism alienating the real fans and ruining the beloved game. Why are the stadiums empty in the West Indies? Why are the ICC so soft on drug takers and rule breakers? Why are they so soft on bowlers who chuck? Why are there so many rules about what food and drink you can take into stadiums these days? Why don't they back up umpires and give them proper authority? Its all about maximising revenue and to hell with anything else. But this short sighted view will alienate many supporters Im afraid.

Rightly said, every game has to have a winner and a loser...does not mean the fans of the losing team will go out on a rampage. Perfect article!

I am a South African, Muslim and I do support Pakistan when ever they play. What I find most embarrassig is that the Indian and Pakistanies take the sport too serious. Its not the end of the world if the cricket team loses.Its just a game. Secondly, pakistanis are mainly muslims who are forbidden from gambling should not be gambling let alone killing people. If Bob was killed its a shame. He was a great man who did wonders for the SA cricket team.

Hi.

I am in a hurry but I still wanted to pay my regards to BOB WOOLMER and tell everybody, that I am really hurt. I am feeling ashamed to be a cricket player and fan.

This is not a game anymore - when it takes lives. This should be banned in Pakistan and India. Killing / slapping / throwing stones - that is not game. Dont let the game become war. STOP IT.

I am very embarrassed to tell my friends in Italy.. that this is a game that I love.

I can see that this can lead to war between India and Pakistan. It should be banned - anyone found playing cricket even in streets should be put behind bars.

This is nonsense. The players are proffessionals, and as proffessionals they ought to do their job properly, by giving it their 110% EVERY time!
Imagine a medical doctor screwing up like our cricketers do!
I totally agree with Aditya's comments. Don't give excuses, get out of it if you can't do the job properly, and let someone else who's capable handle it. We the fans pay their salary ultimately, so they should not be reminded again and again of how to do their jobs properly.
Now, can anyone stand up straight and say that the Indians did their very best against Bangladesh? Do you see the Aussies failing so bad? Ppl tell all kinds of things against Ponting & his men, but at the end of the day, they get their job done, which is winning games for Australia.
Of course there's gonna be some losses here & there, but it CANT be against teams like Bangladesh!

Folks one thing we are all forgetting is the number of matches being played off late. Although it turns me (an old timer in cricket) off, the younger generation is fed too much of cricket. Especially India and Australia if you are following these times you can watch them year around. This leads to an overdose of cricket. In support of my argument soon after India won the world cup in 1983, Lloyd's team visited India and humiliated us winning the test series 3-0 and one days 6-0. Gavaskar batted the entire 60 overs and scored 36 not out. I don't think any Indian cricket player's house was attacked and their property vandalized etc due to their poor performance. I attribute this to an overdose of cricket and people for lack of better things to do watch their teams year around and think that the cricket players owe something in return. Don't you agree?

well done sambit.thought provoking article for the true lovers of the game and cricket administrators and not to mention those players whom we have made into demi-gods. unfortunately the death of bob woolmer, i hope and believe will lead to a reality check about the game and money involved interms of endorsements, television rights and not to mention match fixing.
it is wake up call for the media and we cricket fans. honestly our team would be better off being knocked at this stage rather than go to the super eight and face an ignominious exit as a result of the bashing they will have at the hands of australia, southafrica, newzealand and not to mentiond srilanka.

Every day I read the papers & read jingoistic crap, which is either hailing our team as the best team ever OR degrading them as hopeless losers. I hope that newspapers would carry articles like the one written by Samit, but I am afraid it is too intelligent & middle-ground to find any space in our Indian newspapers.

Parliment has a lot of time to discuss cricket, but not 1 second for all the other sports combined.

Every time I see the face of Lalit Modi, I think here goes a baniya who understands commerce too well , but nothing of the game.

Samit, the article is good, but what are the solutions ? We probably need to make 4 or 5 corrections to remedy the situation ..... Can anyone put forth any suggestions ?

It is high time cricket corruption so prevalent in the subcontinent is cleaned. Ban Asian teams for one year to get their act together. It is such an enjoyable and gentlemanly game now reduced to such shambles by greedy corrupt people Now is the time to act and corruption is removed from grass roots. Let the people and fans be involved in cricket rather than politicians. A great game had a disastrous few years and it is to get the act together and cleanse it. There are lot of cricketers who probably know whats happening and are not talking> it is time they come out for the sake of the great game and wonderful sport and the great following of gentleman and ladies who are fans of this game.

It is high time cricket corruption so prevalent in the subcontinent is cleaned. Ban Asian teams for one year to get their act together. It is such an enjoyable and gentlemanly game now reduced to such shambles by greedy corrupt people Now is the time to act and corruption is removed from grass roots. Let the people and fans be involved in cricket rather than politicians. A great game had a disastrous few years and it is to get the act together and cleanse it. There are lot of cricketers who probably know whats happening and are not talking> it is time they come out for the sake of the great game and wonderful sport and the great following of gentleman and ladies who are fans of this game.

It is high time cricket corruption so prevalent in the subcontinent is cleaned. Ban Asian teams for one year to get their act together. It is such an enjoyable and gentlemanly game now reduced to such shambles by greedy corrupt people Now is the time to act and corruption is removed from grass roots. Let the people and fans be involved in cricket rather than politicians. A great game had a disastrous few years and it is to get the act together and cleanse it. There are lot of cricketers who probably know whats happening and are not talking> it is time they come out for the sake of the great game and wonderful sport and the great following of gentleman and ladies who are fans of this game.

Thank you Sambit fpr some common sense. Commercialism is ruining all sports and the symbiotic relationship between the media and the various sports is there for all to see.

Last night's news that Bob Woolmer was murdered is very very shocking. What disturbs me even more is that there were no signs of forced entry, that Bob Woolmer was apparently intending to write something in his book about match fixing, that Pakistan had just lost a match they clearly should have won, and that India also lost a match they perhaps should have won. I'm not suggesting anything but what I have seen distrubs me greatly. I am a big big cricket fan and love to see a good game played between any two teams in the world. I was present at the 5th day of the last Ashes test in 2005 cheering England to a series win over Australia - surely one of the highlights of my life. But, at the Oval I also witnessed some of the seedier signs of cricket nowadays - I saw drunken people in the crowd whipping themselves up into an absolute frenzy that could so easily have spilled over into trouble. I also witnessed a number of arresst. I shudder to think what would have happened had Australia beaten England that day. Now to the article, this is an amazingly honest and well written piece that clearly sets out so much of what is wrong with cricket. I love the game so much and yet I am considering not watching any more coverage of this World Cup because my conscience is deeply deeply troubled by the content of this article and the events of the last few days. From a very disillusioned cricket fan....

Sambit Bal, that is one of the greatest I have read, and I stand beside you on every point you make. Love and Passion belongs in every sport, but supporters have to understand it is only a SPORT. Its not war, its a game in which almost every time one team wins and one team loses, but spectators fail to realize this. I believe one of main reasons behind this, is the uneducated population in countries. If people were more educated then none of this would happen, there would be no breaking of houses, no burning of efigies, and worst of all there would be no killing.
There has to be something done, or in the future there will be no cricket in the sub-continent, because would fear for their lives, and i say this literally.

India is the biggest culprit of this type of hysteria every time there is a defeat closley followed by pakistan. And in addition illegal gambling market in india is huge.........theres your culprit

Agree wholeheartedly. It is so unfortunate that certain countries have blackmailed the game in such a way that people are now bigger than the game.

It's no secret that Indian Cricket today gets the money that the ICC needs, and without the Indian sponsors, the ICC would probably go bust. However it is also sickening to note that money or people's feelings lead to the death of some one.

Sure as hell, there will be a lot of people who will be wishing the truth never comes out, & I hope it seriously does, even if it means a few biggies being banned from Cricket...

You got my vote on India being knocked off in the first round.. This entire crappy shit of the "best team in the world on paper" falls apart.. And will have one reality back:

"The Game is bigger than any thing else"

I am amused and annoyed at how some readers are saying that this kind of commercialisation is justified becuase it happens in the US. Not necessarily everything that happens in US is good. And knowing that majority of people who read these internet postings are NRIs this kind of views is expected. They should probably come back to India and find for themselves the kind of demi-god status that these 11 fools have been accorded. Day and night, pages upon pages, every single second of television is flooded by these cricketers. Parliament may pass important bills, Elections may take place in states, Ghastly crimes may happen affecting the conscience of the nation but you will still find these cricketers appearing in the front-pages of the so-called leading national dailies.
To that, this article was refreshing, and coming from an Indian, it should be doubly appreciated. At risk of 'blasphemy' from all the blind devotees, the writer has boldly put forth what should be correct. I take the same risk in adding one more thought to this. BCCI should be nationalized like our Hockey board. This will make it answerable to the Govt and funds and by-laws would be regulated by the government. This will certainly put a check to the hungry pack of wolves comprising sponsors, middlemen and certainly would clean the dirty underbelly made by the bookmakers and betting mafia.
We as a nation can survive without cricket and you will thank the day when cricket is knocked out from the pedestal that it stands today. Let us come out of this delusion.

Well, here in Australia the news have confirmed that Woolmer was murdered. This proves to the average cricket fan that Cronje was also murdered.

I guess whose got the time and money to waste time to a run a CSI on these cases. I am hoping and praying that this time around they catch the scam bag who did this.

Back when Cronje did what he did and Aussies slipped up (Warne and M.Waugh) I lost some interest and love for the game.

Now I feel that even India, Sri Lanka and even Australia, England and others have a scam bag betting crook in there ranks.

Trust No One

Sambit, Fair comment. But what is the role of the media in this? Each and every stroke, ball, fielding and the lapse is magnified and the passions of the reading and the viewing public is pent up to create a frenzy. Why blame the public who are only the end receivers in a stream of information tools? Have you ever written "It is only a game of cricket" when India has lost a cricket match, let alone a world cup or a crucial match? What hypocrisy!! It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Just like so many kids want to be a cricketer, how many of them want to embrace a sport other than cricket. Has any IIM graduate - akin to Harsha bhogle - embraced any sport other than cricket instead of whacking his brains on solving management problems? Why cricket for Harsha and millions others? Money & fame, I suppose. I guess there are dedicated cricket reporters in every media,be it print or electronic. How many of such mediums have other sporting reporters? Look into the mirror before coming out with such blame game trash!!

Excellent article. Suggest that decent role models in sport be developed. Young people enjoy sport because it is supposed to be a healthy outlet . As cultural trends have changed all over the world perhaps it may be a good idea to promote other sports like basketball, Football and athletics. Countries like Australia and South Africa have done this so there is a healthier balance of sports for the sport loving public.To do this corporate and private finance is needed in schools where there is an abundance of talent,this is a healthier way of developing good role models. I value the contribution made by our cricketers and respect them for getting India on the world map, but it is time now for other sports to be encouraged and given their day in the sun. So come on Reliance and Tata and Mittals -give other sports a chance in India.
Cheerio Rajiv

Sanity has to be restored in cricket as far as the situation in India & Pakistan, is concerned. Mostly the former one, which boasts of the richest cricket board in the world and constantly runs into problems. The continuing row of telecast issue is just a prime example. How can they look into the matters more deeply then? Their sole aim is to make more money and the advertisers, are falling prey to that fact or are willing to play the role of Jack in these circumstances. The hype & hike of the advertisement industry, when cricket is being played, has reached the saturation point and now there's only one way to go. Down! It will get kick started with this World Cup, with India's exit, probably. It will not be a bad idea. Even the advertisers need to get some flak, for making a cricketer pay for unheard of sums. True, some of them are gems on & off the field. But, this is too much. Even the goverment of India gives tax exemption for the costly vehicles these members import, when the large chunk of sportspersons are ignored in every possible way. And shame on the media too, they too only talk about these stuffs, when the Indian contingent returns from an Olympics,(you know what they bring) has to shoulder most of the responsibility too. Only a glamorous Sania, the upcoming Rebecca gets a mention in their pages. Come on, there are lots of sports and sportsperson in India, who do improve day by day. Give them a chance. Let's put cricket out for sometime and enjoy the other teams battle out in the Super 8. And finally, one more thing. The highly passionate, but equally highly illeterate cricket fan of India, needs a good sleep in the coming month.

ok,i agree that we should countrol our emotions ,but why u all are blamming asian cricket,look at europe,what's happening here for football,ask to my favaorite backhame,when he failed in worldcup,then what happened?

/

I absolutely agree with Sambit's views.

Because of the fact that Bob Woolmer had been murdered, the game of cricket is now at an all-time low.

Also, if India were to lose against Sri Lanka, I wouldn't usually first ask myself, "How and why did India lose?" but instead I would ask, "How safe would the Indian players, coaches and back-room staff be after the match?" Not all, but some Indian cricket fans worship the game as a religion. It's very easy to forget that the Indian cricketers are normal human beings, who must now be even more worried (or possibly scared) about the possible and extreme worldwide reactions from the crazy Indian cricket media. In the case that these reactions do happen, these religious fans should pray for the players' safety and well-being, instead of cursing them for every small mistake that they had made.

Of course, as an Indian cricket fan, I would want the Indian team to win today. However, at the end of the day, cricket is a game that should not adversely affect people's states of mind. If India win, then that's obviously good. If India lose, it's not the end of the world. There are more important things to worry about than 11 players losing a cricket match.

All I can really now say is, MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN!!!!!

Sambit, what is wrong with being crazy about cricket?? Should we not be passionate about anything? You have the pen. Dont use it against cricket lovers. Use it against the match fixers. These cricketers make so much money and yet they betray an entire nation for a few dollars??? If people think being passionate about cricket is wrong, the stop calling the team "INDIAN" cricket team.

“The reality is that India reaching the World Cup final would be an overachievement. Australia and South Africa possess superior teams, New Zealand have more balance and depth and Sri Lanka are the most improved team in world cricket. India have proven, but ageing, batsmen, a bowling attack that's susceptible to pressure and poor fielders. To be a fan is to dream. “
(I don’t want to comment on the hard core of this article. It delivers the needed. But I want to cement my thoughts on above excerpt )
Public unrest has reached a vertical limit already - the media is up in arms (one fine example: This article), the mood of the nation is dipping. The last hope, according to Indian fans, will be if India loses to Srilanka- the circle will be complete.
Sure, the team is struggling, but who isn’t? Except for Australia (Even the Mighty Aussies couldn’t be up to their best potential since the DLF cup!), every other team has gone through these dips in form in the last 1-2 years. The wave touches everyone at one or the other turn.

Sri Lanka - have always, always struggled when away. Just in the last 3 months, they have performed creditably. However, just before this period, they lost most of what they played, and are inconsistent at best. However, they are a team going upwards.

South Africa - are plummeting to losses unknown to them - especially in the ODI. 10 consecutive losses is not something to shrug off, and this from a team that was for a long time regarded the best ODI team ever! Of course, they are back in display but through thrashing wins at home. They succumbed to 197 against a minnow Ireland and wasn’t an impressive win. Real test for them hasn’t come yet. Too early to tag them as “superior”

New Zealand - a more stable ODI side - they are less immune to the ups and downs that afflict other teams. Maybe they are the closest to Australia and South Africa at the moment. However, the loss to Bangladesh pulls them down many notches - and will have eroded their confidence.

West Indies - less said the better.

Given the above scenario, India is not doing too badly. In fact, they have emerged as a very good team and thereby a serious contender for throne. Sure, there is a lot of work to be done still, but my point is that India is really not any worse off than the other pretenders to the throne.

If anything, India has a more stable team, with experience and talent - and therefore looks more likely to shrug this indifferent form off than some of the other teams.

Performance is a journey. Not just the past records. It all counts on the day’s play.

In the case of Team India, it's not so bad guys!

Every good spectator of Indian Cricket could personally feel how good the constituent of the current ‘Men in Blues’ is. We must all back Team India as we know we are building a team for the future. The period of bad results is just a phase. Rome is not built in a day. Remember, we have just started building Rome.

It is so easy to take your fingers to the keyboard to print what is in your head. To write off, “As an Indian, I would like India to win the World Cup. But it might not be such a bad thing for cricket if they were to be knocked out in the first round”, isn’t hard.

Remember, it is not the money or the media that holds the nerves in the field today. It is the value of talent, spirit and passion of my 11 men. Don’t write off values of my men. It is not ethical.

Above all, it is our Team. Our lads!
Whatever maybe the destiny they reach. Cheer for our Men in Blue!
If you couldn’t, thanks for keeping quiet. 

I agree, it is only a game, a game which has led to deceit, conspiracies and ultimately murder. What i don’t understand is why yet again the PCB has decided to go in self pity, tender resignations and run faster then the wind at the first sight of trouble? Questions need to be asked not from the Pakistan team, but from the management board of the West Indies World Cup & ICC. I have been let down not by the Pakistan Team (cause as you said it is just a game) but by the organizers of the World Cup who have not been able to provide security to the teams resulting in the death of a national asset for Pakistan. It is Pakistan that has been robbed of much more then the World Cup, the PCB needs to stand up and instead of sending our team for finger printing and questioning, question the entire West Indies management along with Malcom Speed who has once again not been able to handle a crisis.
We are not to be questioned, but deserve to be given some answers!

I agree, it is only a game, a game which has led to deceit, conspiracies and ultimately murder. What i don’t understand is why yet again the PCB has decided to go in self pity, tender resignations and run faster then the wind at the first sight of trouble? Questions need to be asked not from the Pakistan team, but from the management board of the West Indies World Cup & ICC. I have been let down not by the Pakistan Team (cause as you said it is just a game) but by the organizers of the World Cup who have not been able to provide security to the teams resulting in the death of a national asset for Pakistan. It is Pakistan that has been robbed of much more then the World Cup, the PCB needs to stand up and instead of sending our team for finger printing and questioning, question the entire West Indies management along with Malcom Speed who has once again not been able to handle a crisis.
We are not to be questioned, but deserve to be given some answers!

What exactly is the author's point i really fail to get. There are currently two kinds of money in cricket. Legal (Ad/sponsorship money) and illegal(betting/match fixing money). Now for the author to take a piss at legal money and blame it for Bob's death is totally absurd. If at all any foul play is involved then it can be attributed to the betting/match fixing syndicate. The author doesnt mention anything about betting/match fixing and purely concentrates on bashing the fan's passion and the ad revenue it brings. The fans and the ad money are as innocent as cricket itself and mindlessly blaming/bashing any of these and also the Indian team doesnt server any purpose to anyone apart from the author getting paid for the article. If at all the author wants to write about the causes or remedy for the current crisis , he can do some investigation on betting/match fixing syndicate and expose them instead of shooting like a loose canon just for the heck of it. Atleast then the author would be considered worth every penny his employer is paying.

To all the morons commenting and agreeing with the author, Just shut your tele and go back to sleep!!

People seem to be surprised that Pakistani supporters/bookies or whatever have taken a life for something they feel strongly about (in this case a very long game, with a bat and a ball). This is not a new thing in the sub-continent, where almost weekly we hear reports of people blowing themselves and others up because "my god is better than your god" or "We own Kashmir, not you". Clearly there are a number of people in both Pakistan and India who are not wired right in the head and choose to take this insanity out on others. What they need to realise is that they are in fact insane and should be treated as such. Strip them of test status and let them only play Zimbabwe, (another nation who should not be at this World Cup). The world stood up to South Africa in the 80's by hitting them where it hurt. Economic sanctions and no test matches for the Springboks. Sport can make a difference if used wisely but the ICC just needs the balls to do it like the IRB did.
p.s. NZ to win TWO World Cups this year!

Nice article. People are getting way too upset over losses.. RIP Bob
And to others please dont diss Bangladesh.. they are slowly getting stronger
Why should they always be known as the "weak" or "loser" team?
Its not fair at all.

It was regretful that Bob Woolmer had to leave this world in turmoil. The pressure from back home was unrealistic and to a certain extent. With only Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammed Yousuf to rely upon, how many matches could they have won? Problems follow Pakistan wherever they go. Shoaib Akhtar's chucking debate, Younis Khan's captaincy drama before the Champions Trophy and the recent injuries together with Mohammed Asif and Shoaib Akhtar being tested positive for drug consumption. Keeping this in mind, Bob Woolmer has done a job not many could have done. Frankly speaking, the pressure from back home must have gotten to the players as well. With each shot they play having the potential to be a major negative butterfly effect and then that same shot being scrutinised back home as the main reason why Pakistan lost the World Cup is ludicrulous. Secondly, if you notice, the top three temas in the world, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand or even Sri Lanka do not receive much pressure from back home. Whereas countries like India, Pakistan, England and West Indies receive pressure in the form of their families receiving death threats or getting their houses torn apart as in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's case. Admitted that he got out to a shot way below the level of his talent but still, do you think he did that on purpose? It was his first World Cup match and he has to bat with the tail. I have failed to understand one thing on India's part. Why not put Dhoni one down or two down when the ball is relatively new. He has an exceptionally high strike rate and average at the No.3 position. At No. 6 or No. 7, he often has to go through the process of rebuilding India's innings before he explodes. This is where Suresh Raina suffered as well. We should follow Australia's example where they have big-hitters for openers. People have also said that Justin Kemp is being wasted down the order in the South-African team. Both these exceptional hitters take time to settle down before they implode themselves on the bowlers. It is time Idia takes the aggresive approach to one-dayers if they are to beat top teams consistently. To much focus is given to India-Pakistan games.

It was regretful that Bob Woolmer had to leave this world in turmoil. The pressure from back home was unrealistic and to a certain extent. With only Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammed Yousuf to rely upon, how many matches could they have won? Problems follow Pakistan wherever they go. Shoaib Akhtar's chucking debate, Younis Khan's captaincy drama before the Champions Trophy and the recent injuries together with Mohammed Asif and Shoaib Akhtar being tested positive for drug consumption. Keeping this in mind, Bob Woolmer has done a job not many could have done. Frankly speaking, the pressure from back home must have gotten to the players as well. With each shot they play having the potential to be a major negative butterfly effect and then that same shot being scrutinised back home as the main reason why Pakistan lost the World Cup is ludicrulous. Secondly, if you notice, the top three temas in the world, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand or even Sri Lanka do not receive much pressure from back home. Whereas countries like India, Pakistan, England and West Indies receive pressure in the form of their families receiving death threats or getting their houses torn apart as in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's case. Admitted that he got out to a shot way below the level of his talent but still, do you think he did that on purpose? It was his first World Cup match and he has to bat with the tail. I have failed to understand one thing on India's part. Why not put Dhoni one down or two down when the ball is relatively new. He has an exceptionally high strike rate and average at the No.3 position. At No. 6 or No. 7, he often has to go through the process of rebuilding India's innings before he explodes. This is where Suresh Raina suffered as well. We should follow Australia's example where they have big-hitters for openers. People have also said that Justin Kemp is being wasted down the order in the South-African team. Both these exceptional hitters take time to settle down before they implode themselves on the bowlers. It is time Idia takes the aggresive approach to one-dayers if they are to beat top teams consistently. To much focus is given to India-Pakistan games.

This is just a damn game. In any game, there will always be a winner and a loser. Why can't people understand this??

The murderer of Bob should be given the death penalty.

This must be one of the darket days in cricket history. After several days of media speculation as to how mr. Bob Woolmer passed away, the worst scenario has become a reality.

The fair sport of cricket cracks at its seams. As everywhere in the world around us, the mammon takes over and leaves blood in its wake. What's happening to the spirit of the game.

This just isn't cricket!

You write "Players have been ground to dust..." .
Surely, if Indiian players felt that way, they would have presumably said so and if not they were not listened, they could have formed a union to challenged BCCI. But of course they are fully complicit and as much part of the money-spinning racket as are the politician-adminstrators who run the game. If India loses, perhaps there might be some meaningful introspection,but I doubt it.

Nice one Sambit. Universally money is a consequence of the game existence but unfortunately I feel for Cricket, money is the reason for the games existence! For me, the ICC constitutes a bunch of jokers. The ICC has sold the games so much that even if there was a natural calamity in WestIndies, the games would have continued. I find this "Make hay while the sun shines" attitude disgusting!

I think that this article hits the nail on the head so to speak. Yes, we're allfans but the thing is that in this game there must be a winner and a loser unless there is a draw and fans must realise this and not get carried away. The effigy burning and stoning of houses are separate issues and whilst they must be treated with seriousness, murder brings this mania in a whole other light - a very disturbing one. I only hope that for the love of the greatest sport ever that these 'fans' take stock of what's real and important against the things that are not.

I agree to Sambat to an extend, but the problem is "Its only a game" phrase doesn't work in reality. The sub continent loves cricket a lot but is restricted to Internal cricket ONLY. This menatlity has to be changed. The domestic games has to be marketed to the public. I dont think Ranji Trophy and Inter State cricket will have any audience. Instead club level matches should get a new life in India. Players from outside should contracted to play for this clubs and slowly make this club cricket equally enjoyable as international cricket. This would reduce the pressure for the players when they play International cricket and also will give opportunities to lot of cricketers who is just unlucky to be missed out from the final 15 member "Indian" team. My 2 cents.

Cricket has surpassed all possible limitations in the subcontinent. Every person wants his/her national team to win, which is perfectly alright. But then again, not always can a team that plays badly on a particular can get away with it as Pakistan and India showcased last week. The best team ON THAT DAY wins the match -- that is the beauty of a SPORT, in general. Unfortunately, there always will be a few dastardly people who just cannot absorb any distasteful result; they cry out loud and cause mayhem.

I wonder what would have happened if a subcontinent team had lost a game after having amassed 430-odd runs like Australia did against South Africa last year.

Unless every 'real' cricket fan realises the folly of bringing passion and pandemonium together we are in grave danger of killing the sport.

A gem of an article, Sambit. But the question is who will swallow such a bitter pill even though it is only for the well being of the game?

great read... and very timely. a passionate cricket fan like sambit has been able to view with objectivity what is clearly a social commentary and not just a sports piece. well done, and may your tribe grow.

I am an Indian cricket fan, but above that I am a cricket fan. I fully agree with this article. Look what these people have done...just turned a GENTLEMAN's GAME into a MONEY MAKING BUSINESS.

Its just disgusting...Not just cricketing body but media and fans are also partly responsible for this state of game. If a game is not played and watched in true spirit then there is no point continuing that sport. Now, it has started taking life of human being.

Having said that, this game has not completely lost it aura. If appropriate steps are taken at right time, which i think is "now", this sport can be saved !!!

Cricket, for better or worse, reflects life and reality very well.

If the fans are honest about their expectations from the team, they wouldn't feel let down. More importantly, if they are honest with themselves, they will see the game for what it is: a lot of chance and luck or event verily out of the control of the players, leave alone the fans. Which is what makes the game (it is called a "game" meaning there is a lot of chance involved) charming, fascinating and brings us in every time. Cant we just sit back and enjoy the skills at display while also being passionate about India (or any other respective teams) fighting it out.

And, all the talk about missing in effort, like we all are privy to what the cricketer's daily routine is. Add all the travel, away from family, it's got to hurt.

And then there is envy in the $ that the players make. I cant understand that part. If it were that easy to become an Indian cricketer, why dont they become one or bring up their kids to become one?

Pro-sports in other sports is worse, except, there is better PR directed at the fan. Show a lot of charities the Indian cricketers support, show how hard they train, make it a bit more hands on. May be that'll help.

Or, just get used to it. May be there will some kidnappings next.

Cheers!

The reality is all sports have become more of BUSINESS now than anything else. Every sport may it be NBA, NFL, MLB, Cricket, Soccer, Tennis you name it....has had controversies of either Drugs (eg in MLB & Cricket), Fixings (eg in Cricket & US College Basketball), Fanatic Fans injuring players/coaches(eg in Tennis & Cricket) etc. If there is anyone to blame its us the common people who take sports so seriously and not enjoy it as what it's really supposed to be....a competitive game.

The article is well meaning but suffers from irrationality. It appears to have been written in the emotional aftermath of Woolmer's murder and seeks to find a convenient scapegoat - the more amorphous and generally despised the better - and the ICC fits the bill perfectly. Sambit tries to draw a causal link to the killing where none has been established. Let the police investigate the crime before indulging in breast beating about how it is all the fault of the evil moneymen. Unless you have particular insight into Woolmer's personal life, his circumstances and dealings it is irresponsible to link his death to the problem of too much money in the wider game. At best, it is lazy and irresponsible journalism.
Blaming the ICC for just about everything that goes wrong in the game is one thing - to extend it to criminal acts which happen to involve a cricket person without any proof is stretching things a bit.
Also, what in god's name has it got to do with India ? This was an SA resident British citizen who coached pakistan and was murdered in Jamaica after losing a game to Ireland. Yet your entire article uses his death as a subtext to launch into self flagellation about Indian cricket which is not even tangentially involved here.
Incidentally, isn't this site also a symptom of the evil commercialisation of the game ?

It's a shame some people in the world can think to take a human life so easily.People whether they be in power or just a member of the public should always look at human life as sacred.Bob Woolmer was a hero of mine in the 70's when i was at school and he played for Kent and England.Every killing these days the world over just fills me with sorrow dont enough people die naturally ?

I do agree with this article to the extent cricket is nly a game and we Indians should learn to accept defeat in true spirit of the game.Sometimes with lots of talent a sportsman or a professional fails to realise his potential in life so we should not find scapegoats in the team if they fail to qualify as world cup id played every 4 years,who thought India would win the 1983 world cup with a team not even half talented as the present team,they were lucky as everything clicked for them.So If India qualifies it s good if they dont just take it as a game and encourge them.We ant Sahin,Ganguly to play in the 2011 world cup.

Right on. Cricket indeed has become obsessed with money, or at least, driven by monetary obsessions. What else will explain the insensitivity of the cricket world to death of an important cricketer such as Woolmer? Speed says that thay will show how resolute they are by continuing on with the tournament. Absolute nonsense in my opinion. "Move on" is what they call it. Ridiculously and unreasonably insensitive. It's analogous to a someone remarrying the very next day after his/her spouse's death. In this case, it should be the same day.

They just don't want to lose that eenie bit of money (after all, any amount of money is eenie bit when you compare it to a life). Perhaps, stopping the world cup would have been quite extreme, however, they could have suspended the world cup for 10 days at least. I think that will be fitting respect for a man who gave his all to cricket. But will they do that? Hell, no.

Now the whole world will "move on" to speculate the next biggest problem in the world. Ind Vs SL. Insensitive, fanatic world.

Throughout time I have defended cricket and its players as being role models in the sporting world. They have acted (for the most part) in a very professional manner befitting the sport. No recorded fights have broken out since I can remember and when compared to other sports, all the players and fans tend to be well behaved.

But over the last few years, the amount of money being pumped into the sport, be it in the form of sponsorship or accolades, cricket as a sport and its players have acheived cult status, the kind you would find in soccer.

Something needs to be done here to quell this issue.

I do agree mostly with the writer of this article, but want to add something which I think is very important for future mega events like world cup. the way/formation this years` world cup is being palyed is something makes no sense to me and to many others. A good team can not be judged by one or two defeats by the minnows or associate teams and its eventual elimination from this presitigious event. In fact each team should play each one at least once, then the first eight teams will advance for the nesxt stage. For example, Pakistan has been elimintaed by a low-rated Ireland, there is every likely hood that India or some other teams could be elimintaed during this preocess which is rediculous and outrageous. One or two matches must not be the deciding factors for elimintaions at least at the beginning of the competition. It is true that Pakistan and India have lost one match each to Ireland and Bangladesh, but that does not mean that Ireland and Bangladesh are better teams than India and Pakistan. A world cup is the biggest and most presigious event in the game of cricket. There are so many underlying issues are involved, especially the fans, crowd and supporters all over the world. Many people have bought a new TV set, many have taken leave from their works, many have taken new TV Channel to watch their favourite teams to compete at least up to a reasonable period of time. In brief, there are huge stakes in this event with so many people and mechanism involved. Everything is washed away by a single knock of a weak team in a matter of day`s time. As a great fan of cricket,for the greater interest and spirit of this sport, this can not be acceptated. I hope and request the sport`s governing body to consider this aspect very seriously and develop the system in such a way that, all the good teams can compete and give the millions of cricket-lovers and fans a reasonable chance to watch and enjoy the mega events like world cup with all test playing nations are competing at the top level. Thanks, Nasir.

A game of cricket is not worth a man's life. Nor is any sports game. The burning of effiges and stoning of houses cannot be an excuse for losing a game of cricket. i think its about time that supporters from Pakistan and India and wherever realise that being passionate is okay but being excessive to that is not being civilised.

First of all I want to commend Sambit Bal on a truly outstanding, insightful and objective analysis - easily the best I've yet read on Cricinfo. I'm truly glad that there are other people out there who share the same views as me on the cancers that are eating at this game that we all love and enjoy so much.

Bob Woolmer's death is an absolute tragedy. As a South African, I can (and will) never forget what he has done for the game in our country. If indeed he had been murdered, as the reports suggest, then the ICC has a lot to account for. I am not suggesting that the ICC is responsible for Bob's death - not at all - but the underlying circumstances that had lead to his untimely death is a result of a number of policies set forth over the last decade. Instead of doing what is best for the game, like interfering with the Zimbabwe-issue (which is a tragedy in itself), the ICC was intent on milking the corporate cash cow of subcontinental sponsorship (fair enough, the market in India alone constitutes more than those of all the other nations participating in the world cup put together, but that's besides the point).

At the last two world cups and at least the last three ICC Champions Trophy (a fine example of a revenue-driven event that causes fixture congestion, player burn-out and even devalues the world cup to an extent, if ever there was one), the overwhelming fan base has been priced out of the market, whilst introducing ridiculous policies like fans not being able to bring their own cooler boxes into the stadium in case it clashes with "the" official soft-drink sponsor. Capitalist greed plumbs new depths! These fat cats then sit back enjoying their caviar-buffets, having completely lost touch with the fans and neglecting the grassroots of the game.

It is this aforementioned neglect of tackling the most important issues facing the game head-on that has created an environment for the most evil of vices plaguing the game - match fixing and illegal betting syndicates - to flourish. If any serious attempts at weeding out the problem of illegal sports betting from the roots up was undertaken, tragedy would most probably not have struck last Sunday. And who knows, perhaps Hansie Cronjé could still have been here with us today? (I won't delve further into that topic, may his soul rest in peace).

I think it's time that the powers of administering the game is given back to the fans. If, for example, cricketers (including supporting staff) in any particular country starts getting victimized and/or intimidated by unsavory elements, all teams should refuse to tour that particular country, until it is able to prevent incidences of the same nature (i.e., rooted out the problem completely). If the ICC then steps in with threats of fines and suspensions, countries should start breaking away from the ICC and organize their own tours. Their sponsors will start to desert them, and perhaps then will they start showing the backbone required to do what is right for the game.

Meanwhile the furnace of hatred keeps getting fired, yet the ICC keeps on looking the other way, while cricket burns. Just ask the poor old Zimbabweans.

Sambit is bang on target.I was dying for a member of the authority/cognescenti to explain this to ppl esp Indians.The glory of this game can never return (esp for Indians) unless we are disenchanted with the reality.
However i cant see why and how this will happen.
No sooner than the disillusionment starts another series will come up with India winning a couple of matches and again the fans will put them on a high pedestal

Bang on target!!I was dying for a member of the authority/cognescenti to explain this to ppl esp Indians.The glory of this game can never return (esp for Indians) unless we are disenchanted by the reality.
However i cant see why and how this will happen.
No sooner than the disillusionment starts another series comes up with India winning a couple of matches and again the fans put them on a high pedestal.We need some strong solutions

I think it's ironic that the author is commenting about the role of media hype in creating cricket frenziness among fans. Isn't cricinfo a primary source of that too? I think it's just a more polished one, that's all. On one day, the Indian team is one of the most balanced teams. And now after the loss to Bangladesh, the Indian team is again "paper tigers", "lamb" and every other metaphor that's been used before. Just count the number of articles that talk about an Indian win and compare to that about an Indian loss. On Cricinfo. You'll get the picture. Commercialization plays a large role in most places!

On a different note, I think the fact that India and Pakistan may even crash out of the world cup at such an early stage itself indicates somewhat of a flaw in the system. One upset loss and it's all uphill. I know there's no good solution to this. I'm not even sure if it's any problem beyond a team's performance. But the earlier world cups (96 and earlier, I think) never would have such a predicament. India and Pakistan are known to be inconsistent teams, but then I think the world loves a bit of unpredictability (doesn't that drive the betting world?)

Anyways, time to wake up.

Great piece, Sambit! Cricket does need a few shake-ups, and for people te realise the beauty of the game can be shown by other countries than their own. Ireland's defeat of Pakistan was fabulous. There's no question about that, is there? Sure, if you're Pakistani, it's got to be a bit of a sting, but I can't understand that anyone would take the game so seriously as to inflict harm on anyone involved.
Sport, by it's very definition, allows players to have good and bad performances.
One of the people commenting on this article brings up examples of the NBA, MLB and football. Yes, there is a lot of hostility, doping and even crime, related to the sport. But I don't believe Sambit is singling out cricket fans in this piece. I believe Sambit is warning cricket players, administrators and fans not to get as carried away with their sport, as others have. And I agree with that wholeheartefly.
The fact that other sports have messed up their priorities, does not mean that cricket has to.
And as for the behaviour in other sports: well... It's just not cricket. And I hope cricket will be again, soon!

It's not "only a game"!!

If it was "only a game" why are you creating this blog, and Cricinfo staff spending hours on end updating the site... no one does that for "only a game". You are understating the importance of "only a game" in Asia, and you are hypocritical.

I totally agree with the article. The game has been taken over by those outside cricket, e.g. the press. How many players have had their careers ruined by the press? Now, as much as i would like to think Woolmer died of natural causes, i think we need to look at what has happened as a result of one of the big teams being knocked out. I think we should also feel for the Irish, what an achievment on their behalf, but what message that it send out if this is the reaction? Will "minnows" want to beat bigger sides?

One of the reasons why Asian teams, specifically India and Pakistan, tend to be cricket crazy is the fact that for both the countries, cricket is what they are naturally good at and hence it is the sport which has the highest funding allocation. Another reason is the fact that they tend to bring the players to the level of god because they feel that they are the ones who would be promoting the country outside. The third reason is complacency. Look at Australia, their desire to win is insatiable to the extent that the win itself must be perfect. India and Pakistan tend to get complacent very easily. The reason behind this is that they are hardly fancied against quality opposition like South Africa and Australia. However, one win against them would satiate their desire for long periods of times. For example, in the World Cup 2003, a Pakistani farmer remarked after the loss to India that he doesn't care if Pakistan win the World Cup now because in his heart he knows that they lost to India. Similarly, an Indian fan remarked that he doesn't mind if India qualifies for the Super Sixes, but they must first beat Pakistan. The way India played in the final showed that they did not expect to reach the finals at all and having done so, have exceeded all expectations and do not need to put in their best effort. Pakistan and India also tend to be scared to put in a fight against Australia due to fear of failure. They have often wilted under pressure. They should take a leaf out of South Africa's book. They always give Austrlia a fight even if the disappointment is greater as a result.

Hi Sambit:
The good thing about you and your team at Cricinfo is that you are neutral and objective while making some allowances for patriotism. Please keep it this way. Continue to be the torch bearer for intelligent, non-partisan reporting and views.

Here's a very small extract from a piece I wrote 18 months ago that summarises today's Indian spectator:

"While the number of spectators in India for the game of cricket has no doubt increased exponentially, their quality has dropped alarmingly. But they are not to blame. The idea of getting actresses and models into the commentary box for example, plus a sensationalist media have only added to the ignorance of the spectators and sent the wrong signals. There are a lot of Indians (and housewives form a big chunk of this group) who have no idea about the intricacies of the game. Their contribution as a spectator is restricted to praying diligently and cheering wildly for an Indian win at any cost. In other words, they are cricket fanatics who are not willing to accept an Indian defeat graciously."

Whatever the outcome of the investigation, I would like to see the ICC name the World Cup after Bob Woolmer. Something like the Jules Rimet Cup in soccer.
That perhaps will be the only consolation in this awful mess and a constant reminder to fans that this is only just a game!

I totally disagree with this article and agree with Aditya's views that this sort of 'passion' is very well seen in every other sport. take soccer, nfl, nhl, mlb, nba, tennis, all have their doping issues, brawls, physical attacks on players by discerning fans, there will always be extremists...and that is the way world sport is built. it's the way the economy works...if you're gonna make 1 billion people switch on their tv sets to watch you, surely you command a high price as you make millions for the media etc. it's a simple law of economics. and where money is involved there is always greed jealousy crime...be it sport, arts, music, business, u call it...

Sambit's article is awesome. It is giving us the gruesome reality what happens when money infiltrates day to day functioning in any sport and there is not better example than Indian cricket control board.

Playing for country, pride, honor etc and those feelings have been tossed out of the window by money oriented players and administrators. If India does not reach second round results is parliamentary discussions and millions of dollars of loss, is clear indication that cricket games in India has lost it’s pride honor and money is the sole controller. When politics and sports come together in a big way it is a great recipe for disaster. India has not won a major championship since 1985 and yet they have one of the richest control board and highest paid players. What is this?

Anyway I am an Indian but honestly it is hard for me justify to myself why I should support Indian players (don’t misunderstand me or doubt my Indian feelings) for all the money/accolades they get back home and have delivered nothing for last many years. It is like chasing a MIRAGE with false hopes.

No game is free of politics and what differs is degree of politics that is applied. Look at Australia they get rid of player/s who are performing average or under performing by Australian standards (but better than any current Indian cricketer standards). Examples they got rid of Michael Bevan king of one day cricket when he was still playing well. They got rid of Brett lee (although he made a great comeback) because of performance. They got rid of Steve Waugh from One day when he had doing very well in test. Look at Indian team. Shewag will score 100 in one match against team like Bermuda and make sure he is safe for next 20 one day matches and 20 tests and score again on 21st occasion to secure next 20 matches and this cycle is being going on. Tendulkar was a great player but his record of last 2.5 yrs is pathetic by all standards. One year lost in injury and string of failures and poor scores and still makes the highest money. Any way that is India.

I completely agree that current Indian team does not deserve the compensation they are paid for results they deliver. Whether they make it to second round or not depends If they deliver or not...

Hi,

First, this article is all over the place; there's scarcely any logic to it. Bob Woolmer died; the death caused Sambit Bal some emotional turmoil; and he started bashing India.

Accept it: cricket is big business. In other words, it's driven by a demand supply equation. There's nothing wrong with business in itself, is there?

I'm thoroughly disappointed in the authorship of Cricinfo writers! After I read this particular article, I thought enough is enough---no more of Cricinfo except for scores maybe. As for cricket, I no longer watch ODIs live as a rule; it's my way of protesting its unmitigated boredom. Youtube is enough to satisfy my curiousities about the Malingas and the Davisons of the world.

Amit.

Mr. Bal's points struck a chord. Even though I'm thousands of miles away from the subcontinent, I am still within reach of the passion and zeal inherent within South Asian cricket fans. Old rivalries and grouses arise at the World Cup viewing sessions between neighbors who can agree on pretty much anything else at another time.
While Bal puts his figure on an unhealthy obsession with cricket, and its commodification and exploitation by marketing companies, sports authorities and to some extent the players themselves, he neglects on important fact. Remember: we do not know who killed Woolmer, it could have been a fan, god forbid a player, or perhaps someone from the dark shadow that lurks on the periphery of South Asian cricket--the mobsters and match fixers. What Bal does not talk about is the need for a reall clean up in cricket WORLDWIDE, and an immediate move towards implementing greater transparency and honesty.

Thanks to Sambit Bal for this wonderful article. I really think this article is the best commentary on the current situation. I request all the newspapers in the subcontinent to publish this article (including translations) so that people can learn to calm themselves and take Cricket as a sport rather than something larger than life.

Very good articile Samit, I think this brings to light what another writer on cricinfo was also saying, the different attitudes amongst people in the subcontinent and in the Caribbean, it certianly makes a difference and highlights the fact that yes it is only a game. I wish more people could understand that sport is just an occupation, a livelihood,a few hours of relief for the viewer not an obsession.

I totally agree with Sambit. I think this whole episode has been an eye-opener for the whole cricket fraternity and especially for those people for whom this game has become larger than life. The name of this game was already maligned by match-fixing allegations. But now, with a gruesome murder and that too of a coach has crossed all boundaries. On the one hand, we talk about this game becoming listless that has helped in the advent of the twenty20 format. However, at the same time the kind and proportions of money that is now being associated with cricket has become enormous. This has reached to such an extent that one cant be sure whether the last match that he saw was fair or fixed. I was totally goaded to see certain sections of the media reporting that India will beat the Lankans because they are the ones who keep the cash flowing for the ICC. Really, the credibility of the game is falling to pieces.

I am startled rather dismayed to read "Indians (I think he is also including Pakistanis) do not have the physical ability, for genetic reasons", feedback sent by Sudip. Just for FYI Pakistanis have ruled squash world for decades, a sport considered to be the most challenging after professional boxing. Field hockey - a challening sport, is another example. There are also several other physically demanding sports where Pakistanis have done pretty well. As far as cricket is concerned Pakistan cricket does demand genetically fit players especially when you look at the history of consistently producing bowlers who delivers a bowl over 90mph.

Samit, i agree with you, i am sure every indian fan loves cricket deep down just purely the game. Yes there is a thrill in watching tamim iqbal belt our bowlers, but watching sachin tendulkar decimate the oppositions attack is not just a thrill but can induce an orgasm! lol that might put it in perspective maybe?

Brilliant piece by Bal . The intellectual leanings in the piece are hard to miss . The world of cricket is a disaster waiting to happen because of the overdependence on India . Too much money in the game is the reason for this . I think the corporates are responsible , they bid unreasonable amounts for cricketing rights without taking into account external factors like bad performance from subcontinent teams , rain or uunreasonable advertising rates . The only way out is to use this excess money to spread the game and reduce the dependence on the subcontinenet .

Isn't it amazing that cricketers (aka Sportspeople) in certain countries get SO much celebrity status,recognition & money. WHY?????
Compare their worth in society to professions such as science, education and health which actually do some good for others and do not just entertain. It can also be argued that many sportspeople play the game for selfish reasons. As a kid you just love to play the game!! I wonder what happens along the way?
Yes I LOVE cricket but with education also comes a better understanding of where and how it fits into society.
Poor Bob. Coach of a sport team which happens to lose. In essence - that's sport. That's the magic of the cricket - THE game. Sometimes the better team does not win and that is why we love it so much.
I do not understand the lack of humanity in some people.

I am glad that some one pointed the craziness over a game. Do people have to die before we come to our senses. I, for one, removed my TV for the reason that I find the present media unrealistic. Even if we are the best team (which we certainly are not), we should not be so obsessed with winning at all costs. I would wish that Indians have as much obsession about other things like doing outstanding work, academic success, innovation (which I feel is lacking in India and is far more important). I am disappointed with the media which is so obsessed with money that they overlook some important aspects of life.

Fantastic article, and I couldnt agree more with Sambit Bal. The game has become so commercialized that it really require a reboot to revive it. I urge readers to partake in protests of many forms as identified in the WHAT CAN WE DO? portion of this blog: http://sridharn.blogspot.com/

We, as constituents of a cricketing fraternity have a responsibility to voice our view for a fair and better administered sport. Please use this opportunity to stage protests, the easiest of which is to bring down television and internet viewership of the world cup. It will be a great step to teach the sponsors and the ICC administrators a lesson.

Some proposed actions:
1. Drastic reduction in viewership of the games. Say each of us boycott seeing the next few games at least, this will go a long way in making the sponsors understand the disproportionate sums they've paid, and market economics will take care of the rest.
2. People in WI - boycott weekend matches, the stadia should only be half-full.
3. If people can develop pamphlets explaining this stand, essentially against the ACU (Anti corruption unit of ICC)'s effectiveness, against the HUGE $$ in telecasting rights, against TV and print media for the disproportionate furore and against fans without balance. As an action of protest, we should protest and try to stop places that screen the 2007 World Cup live.

Hi Sambit. I think you are absolutely spot on. Indian cricket as a whole needs a wake up call and this includes fans and players alike. I think celebration and disappointment should be private to whatever extent possible. Like when a batsman fails and is distraught its fine if behind the closed dressing room door, he throws his bat and tears his hair out. But its not ok if he expresses himself in public view. You feel this misplaced intesity when you watch a match in an Indian stadium. Hardly anyone comes there to have a good time and enjoy the cricket, unlike in other parts of the world.

Time for the Indian fan, the administrators, the media, the marketing executives to realise that it is indeed a game. Promote it, enjoy it but don't live and die for it. Please.

Fantastic article, and I couldnt agree more with Sambit Bal. The game has become so commercialized that it really require a reboot to revive it. I urge readers to partake in protests of many forms as identified in the WHAT CAN WE DO? portion of this blog: http://sridharn.blogspot.com/

We, as constituents of a cricketing fraternity have a responsibility to voice our view for a fair and better administered sport. Please use this opportunity to stage protests, the easiest of which is to bring down television and internet viewership of the world cup. It will be a great step to teach the sponsors and the ICC administrators a lesson.

Some proposed actions:
1. Drastic reduction in viewership of the games. Say each of us boycott seeing the next few games at least, this will go a long way in making the sponsors understand the disproportionate sums they've paid, and market economics will take care of the rest.
2. People in WI - boycott weekend matches, the stadia should only be half-full.
3. If people can develop pamphlets explaining this stand, essentially against the ACU (Anti corruption unit of ICC)'s effectiveness, against the HUGE $$ in telecasting rights, against TV and print media for the disproportionate furore and against fans without balance. As an action of protest, we should protest and try to stop places that screen the 2007 World Cup live.

Interesting. Who will come visit your web site if India is out of the tournament? Do a demographic analysis of your readership. You could be out of a job my friend. Money is very good. Challenge is to apply it in a good way. Coach died, security issue, not a game issue.

look am a pakistani supporter and pakistan are a good team on their day lol wich iz once in a life time and bob r.i.p i bet all of u shahid afridi killed him shahid yh a indiot

I am not the biggest fan of cricket, but someone being murdered or houses being desecrated for losing a game is a unhealthy obsession and frentic madness for the Gentleman's game. I am sure the creators of the game would rise from the grave had they known what's happenin to the game. You don't see such kind of maniac reaction to other sports. You know somethin is wrong with a sport ... when people build temples of their cricketing 'heroes' in their honor. Sports person are not God's. They are human.. Allow them to be human ... the article talks the truth about todays cricket ... the game needs a break.. and put a stop at all the wrong things .. and all the wrong persons being involved.
I hope one day we support the game for our intense love of it and not for the people who play ...

"Whih television audience they are banking on" absolute nonsense. Television rights are a bidding process, if you do not have a strategy to recover your funds then don't bid!!
My friend please clarify your phrase "cricket economy"??
"India reaching the final an overachievement" What!!!!!! Who are you, an Australian, West Indies defeated South Africa in the DLF cup. You can't be indian, you my friend sound like a bandwagonist.
I am from the West Indies and the world is seeing this article, I know you are probably trying to get across that the India and Indian fans in India who get involved in your so called "Frenzy" need to stop and take a different view on things.
Cricket doesn't need a reality check my friend, just a few fanatics

"Whih television audience they are banking on" absolute nonsense. Television rights are a bidding process, if you do not have a strategy to recover your funds then don't bid!!
My friend please clarify your phrase "cricket economy"??
"India reaching the final an overachievement" What!!!!!! Who are you, an Australian, West Indies defeated South Africa in the DLF cup. You can't be indian, you my friend sound like a bandwagonist.
I am from the West Indies and the world is seeing this article, I know you are probably trying to get across that the India and Indian fans in India who get involved in your so called "Frenzy" need to stop and take a different view on things.
Cricket doesn't need a reality check my friend, just a few fanatics

i totally agree with donald. i feel that the world cup should be called off. it was not a death, it was a murder for god sake. this is another example of the outcome of stakes being high. people have become obssesed with this game so much that it seem they lost their humanity side. i am a bit surprise that not much people have asked for a call off. malcom speed may say that they wont back away for someone cowardly deed but mr deed it is not backing away. it is showing respect to late woolmer and also a stand agianst criminals. just think that how importanat the world cup can be to some people that they re willing to murder a national coah? doesnt this show the lack of security? doesnt this show how desparate this people are? doesnt this show that one death may not be the end, there might other life be in danger if this thing goes on? or is it that malcom speed is fearing that if he calls this off he might be the target?

Money in cricket per se would not be an issue, if the moral standards were there, if the public and players could keep their heads. But the money at stake is heady, and the cricket mad public have made it so - and if you are not a big star making big bucks (though honestly) through advertising, match fixing seems a quick way to keep pace with the Joneses. It was widely believed last time around when the betting expose happened that it very likely also involved umpires and administrators, though unproven. Realistically a match cannot be fixed without the collusion of at least 2-3 critical bowlers and batsmen , preferably including a captain or the umpires. Clearly it runs deeper than revealed. Coupled with the lack of controls on cricket governance, and corrupt officials, cricket is in a mess and it would take a clean up of the ICC and the boards and a consensus amongst the member countries to the cleanup of the mess we are in. It is reported one of the suggestions apparently Woolmer had made to the Pak board prior to the cup was to outlaw the use of mobiles by players during a tournament and to come down hard on players in any kind of contact with the bookies. Marlon Samuels was let off on the eve of the Cup. Clearly this kind of softie approach cannot do any longer. The wind will have to blow north.
And quickly.

Krish

Cricket has acquired a dangerous obsession with money, to the extent where it is not a question of a game needing the money to survive or grow but making as much as possible at any cost.

The ICC has blood on their hands. Not only do they collude with despotism by allowing Zimbabwe to play and penalise countries that forfiet games on moral/safety grounds. They condone murder by allowing the World Cup to continue. Justifying the continuing of the matches "because Bob Woolmer would have wanted it" is heinous and furthermore lacking in any morality. Until the ICC become transparent in their judgement and not evidently swayed by money they can never have any credibility. The implication of the ICC being sold by the highest bidder is that money rules. Not humanity. Not sport. Not Cricket. They are being ruled by the same demons that infiltrate cricket and corrupt it - the same demons that rule betting scams. Money!

being too idealistic is probably as bad for the game as being too materialistic.

Whilst I agree that there ought to be better schedule management for players, i dont understand what is so wrong with cashing in from the sport so it could be supported better.

The reason why indian market is important is clear to everyone. There is no short run solution to it. In the long run, perhaps, other countries may take on the sport - and even for that to happen ICC will probably have to milk the indian market for revenues.

And this idea that the obsession of an average indian/pak fan with this sport is odd is just fantasy land. Cricket has its quirks but in end the emotional bond between the sport and its people is the same as in major sports like football, basketball etc. ICC cant do anything about it (the fans dont come out on the street because of the way the game is run) and they probably shouldnt. A lot of sports would give a leg for the kind of following this sport has. We just need to learn that as it grows, it would have a few dark sides and deal with those issues adequately as and when they come.

Cricket today is on better ground then it was twenty years ago. Its watched more, it pays its players better, its more inclusive and innovative, and is run in a better manner. We need to tweak things a bit: understand the security needs, have support for players to help them deal with media and fan pressure, reduce player workload, strengthen ACU etc. But there is no need for mass hysteria.

Its funny how the jingoistic tone changes to "its only a game" for me once India digs itself into a hole. This sport gets the morale of the country high when the team is winning and does the opposite when it doesn't. What we are lacking are feel good factors in our country.. Its not just about cricket, its about ambitions of a billion people to shine at the world stage. Why do we celebrate a bronze medal in the Olmpics? We need stars to make us proud, we have too may dreams and the trouble is most of us are still not awake.

Why on earth is the world cup continuing? A man has ben murdered.

gr8 article Editor.... and i am writing this as india is losing out from SL and will pack their bags... i feel sad for india and the cricketers coz now their families will again come under attack and their houses will be damamged..... but i feel good for Indian cricket as now i think people will start taking Cricket as a game.... they will accept the reality that indian team in its present form is definitely not world beaters.... as for solutions cant suggest.... thatz for the board to decide.. but definitely they can be penalized for their match fee if they fail to perform...

Truly awakening. The author is bang on target.Well i myself am a huge enthusiastic of the game and a huge fan of the indian team but the kind of insanity shown by the most of the fans baffles me.We are just not ready to accept our cricketers as a normal human being who also are prone to the errors and can make mistakes.

I disagree with the author in a way. We all appreciate good cricket. And no Indian fan is expecting indian team to play wonders all the time. Losing a well fought game is acceptable. But if your country's score board shows numbers in 1 Digit for most of the players, yes, the fans are going to be not appreciative of your lethargic effort. These cricketers are Icons in our country. How about they try and become just players now?

The cricket world has lost a great man but whould the man himself have wanted the cup to stop beacause of him??? I dont think so

Well said. The obsession to commercialise cricket is reaching biblical proportions. My frustration with the game is that we see too much of it. We are losing the aesthetic qualities of the game purely for profit. You have to live by the simple philosophy that too much is too much. Minimising the schedule for teams is necessary for a raft of reasons. player burn out, the tumbling of records because players these days play 4 times as much as the players of yesterday. The game has been around alot longer than the people running it and we need someone within the ranks to acknowledge this and have the guts to bring about some changes that will make cricket exciting again. cheers

Well, it would seem that the industry of world cricket is purely driven by India according to Sambit. Hey, if the Indian team can't make it past the first round, then at least there's something to puff up an Indian chest. Without India, no media would be genuinely interested. No one buys soft drink, televisions, cars, clothing or pay-TV in Australia, England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand or South Africa, or if they do it's such a small market that why would a corporation bother advertising at an international sporting event involving these nations? I assure you Sambit, that we cricket fans outside India (who are apparently less die-hard than those inside) do buy such goods (at a premium), do subscribe to pay-TV (at a premium) and most certainly contribute (and this point is key) in a more sustainable way to the corporate side of cricket.

I fully recognise that this little discussion is as an adjunct to the main point of Sambit’s article. In addressing this however, I’d note that maybe greed motivated the truly tragic loss of Bob Woolmer but it was a psychopath that actually did it. If greed inevitably ended in death, Wall Street would run with blood, and it doesn’t. Many livelihoods (including Sambit’s) are supported now by the machine that is international cricket. As in most industries, some do better out of it than others. It is not just a game anymore and hasn’t been for a long time, but the game is still played and still is beautiful. Take away the money and so few would be able to enjoy it as we do today. We all read a lot of cricket articles and enjoy the inevitable rose-coloured glasses look to the past but we all face reality as well.

And Sambit, the way the Indian economy is perched right now, on the precipice of a big fall (overvalued markets, high and poorly structured public debt, inflation inflation inflation etc) there may not be many of those “billion” cricket lovers able to attract the big players to their purses.

I realise India and Pakistan's combined population dwarfs the rest of the cricket world but this article (and it's attendant posts) symbolise what is wrong with cricket: The behaviour of the teams, administrators and fans of those countries and the ICC's pandering to that behaviour. Judging by the names of your posters it seems that cricinfo is doing its bit of pandering too. Perhaps you'd like more than a token view from outside of Asia? I don't know why you didn't include my last short post. Is it because I criticised India's most underserving idol Gavaskar? Australia has been to long the target of his hypocrisy. Many of your posts reveal an antipathy towards the antipodes. Are you big enough to allow a reply? But I get the trend; Australia bashing is free speech but telling the ugly truth about India and Pak trangresses a (double) standard.
Generally India and Pakistan's behaviour has been far worse than Australia's. Take 2 reresentative examples: India v Sth Afr where a number of their players were reported by the match official and Pakistan's walk off v Eng. No Aussie team would do that and would've been condemned if they did. India and Pak not only act that way but get the officials reprimanded or sacked as a consequence. No wonder they believe they think they can act so imperiously. No Aussie team would yellow off like Pak did against Eng. Aust would come out blazing and fight the accusation afterwards. This is the difference that makes Australia better than Asian teams. We don't "lose it" like India nor do we sulk in the grandstand (the pun is intended) like Pakis. If our success is envied don't imagine it's all down to sledging. It's because we fight like champions. Cricket is in a sad way because of the corrupting financial power of India and Pak and the inability of those places to get over an inferiority perhaps stemming from their colonial experience. Their arrogance exponetially exceeds their success and expresses itself as bullying in the boardroom, egotism in the field, fire lighting in the grandstands and effigy burning in the streets. And now these 2 countries have been the vector that has infected the game with gambling and match fixing. Plenty to reflect on here without tut-tutting Australian sledging. In future lets hear less of high moral tones coming from Asia but a desire to clean up it's behaviour. Otherwise cricket is fine.

Superb article by Sambit Bal. One cannot avoid drawing parallels to the religious fervour afforded association football (soccer) in much of the Western World. England goalkeeping great Gordon Banks expressed doubts about excessive financial incentives. Regrettably, the proof is in the pudding with various high profile contemporary players blatantly under-performing due to various distractions, many related to the game's marketing or publicity. Furthermore they are resorting to performance enhancing substances, as the physical rigours relating to their profession prove excessive. Whatever the truth behind the tragic demise of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, the fact is that players and those responsible for their development constitute the beating heart of cricket, hence irrespective of what direction or form the game may take it is paramount to its future that these key actors are not compromised.

Well, RIGHT SAID FRED.....I was shocked to know that Bob was strangled. It did struck me even before everything was said about it infact, immediately after his death news. The police just confirmed my suspicion. Gear up ICC.....

Well, firstly,Indians are so very passionate about cricket because it is the only game/sport where India has hovered around the top in world rankings in the past 2 decades. It must be something to do with aspirations of the Indian people. Second, the experimentation within the Indian cricket team during the last 2 years actually came to a naught, since we relied on very much the same players as we did 4 years ago in South Africa and mostly none delivered. The older players were too tired (and wishful - our last chance to win the cup) and the younger ones were not up to it. Btw, the one near-genuine all rounder in the team never got a chance in 3 matches re Pathan. What the hell was Uthappa doing there!

Well said ,sir. Cricket died in 1977 when Kerry Packer entered the arena. It is the right time to resurrect the game.

Dear Sambit, This is one of the best articles that I have come across in recent times. Excellent perspective. It's not just a good thing that we are knocked out of WC 2007 but an exccellent thing. We are not a good fielding side, not a good bowling side, we dont run well between wickets. So whats left? Hitting 4s and 6s? Crap! We very well deserved to lose and better now than in the later stages after building false hopes. Its not a Chappell's fault nor an individual's. As a team we just dont have the spunk to fight and win the big games - and all the big 4-5 players in the team must take responsibility. Well, not much use actually, since they have been doing that consistently and will do so again the future. I believe each player must ibntrospect and so must the BCCI. We bring a lot of money into the game. But do we win any games? Any sport? Sad situation. Let's treat this as a sport again and stop the marketing blitz and money spinning.

Sambit has written a very insightful article. I agree with Sambit wholeheartedly & share his views. It is honestly time for cricket in India to take a reality check.
It is also time cricket stopped being a money making machine & become a sport more.
I could not believe that so much frenzy was created about the team's participation & victioory. The amount of ads in paper, TV, everywhere. imaagine even Bollywood was lining up releases to catch on to the cricket fever, something is seriously wrong. Wonder is soccer in Brazil this crazy too.
I remember when we won the 1985 world series cup, I was in class X, we were glued to TV and it was cricket was such a lovly sport to enjoy. It is not anymore.

Let's just hope that atleasst now tHe glory of the game of cricket can be restored.Aadminidstrators in India, Wake up!

I am not in a good position to comment on the money side of cricket, but I think that the game can survive most of the ill-effects, even if it takes some sort of crash to do it. But - speaking as an Australian who has worked recently in both India and Bangladesh, I cannot see how the sub-continent countries will not end up dominating the game before too long. Cricket is still a major sport in Australia but I don't see too many kids in the streets and parks playing in the afternoons any more. When I was growing up, we played every day at school and most afternoons in the street. Now they are all playing video games and a hundred other sports for which only the best gear is required. We were happy with a tennis ball and an old bat or even a home-made one.

In India and Bangla I see street cricket everywhere and the sheer number of players must produce a strong source of talent. is it culture and politics that prevents this pool of talent from out-performing the rest of the world already? With a clear, unprejudiced path to the top, I don't see anyone coming near the subcontinent's players.

Good article. And good to see such an over-rated team get rightly routed. Been watching cricket for a couple of decades now and this team has never won anything outside the Sub-Continent since 1986. So, why expect them to do well this time around. Like Sambit says, this just Media's hype for their own cynical reasons that is raising the expectations bar.

ya this is to great extant right!!

Excellent Observation by Grant. I certainly hope that we will succeed one day. In fact, the Indian Cricket Team between 1983-87 was almost unbeatable on every soil except the West Indies. But those were the old days when the power of Money, Media and the lure of advertisement contracts was almost absent.

And add to this the dirty politics that stops sports from flourishing in sub-continent countries especially India/Pak and Bangladesh. (Sri Lanka is slightly better in this regard). Various Sports in India have been dominated by Individuals be it Hockey, Olympic Association or the Cricket Board. The elections held for these posts are a farce and the elected officials have played the game nor are interested in the game. They come in to fill thier coffers and will not leave till they die. A case in point is Mr. Gill who heads our Hockey Federation and Mr. Kalmadi who heads our Olympic Federation. Unless we get these leeches out of the system, sports fans will continue to suffer. Let us hope some day this will also change. And that's all of us in India are left with. Hope and nothing else.

Bal's is the most insightful analysis of the dangerous commercialisation of the game of cricket. As a cricket fan of 70s vintage, I can genuinely empatthise with his concern. And rue the death of the age of innocence when the beautiful game used to be a source of pure joy - not a repository of misplaced national chauvinism.

I think its time for the old guns to call a quit.we should train allrounders,a bad world cup memory for us and here after we should move on to the right path.

its just like football not us ft ball the thing is cricket was played to gain freedom and show off a country unfortunately people take it too far but again we don't know if he was killed or not so don't assume stuff and who wouldn't be mad it only comes 1 6yrs this is the only game where most countries are respected for mos ppl in many countries don't know about Pakistan or Sri Lanka those are small countries and cricket been their main sports they want others to respect them so again its just like football its more than a game but losing is part of it they have to respect the countries who one and btw killing ppl would make others respect a countries so they r making them self look back if he was actually "killed"

Sambit, a brilliant piece of writing.You are spot on with your assesment of the game in India. I would only like to add that we must also agree that some of our top batsmen are not mentally strong in pressure situations. Dravid always rescues India and is under the same pressure that sehwag and tendulkar are but without a doubt has the mental acumen that differentiates him from the rest.

It's high time to re=look the future of Indian Cricket.BCCI is the richest,and India is the biggest of all cricketing nations, yet the team is unable to perform. Is it the selection process? Is it the invisible hands protecting the players? Why cricket becomes second source of income,once the player smells the advertising Rupees? Why aged players needs to don the Indian jersey..even if they fail to perform perpetually..is there any unwritten law to allow Individuals to swell their individual records at the cost of the Nation's dignity and money? Unless the whole cricket scene is put into soak-wash-rinse-spin mode...the stain would always be there..

I would prefer shifting my focus to american sports. I dont see any reason to support a team with such a low morale, a team which cannot show a spirit to fight, a team which cannot measure upto the expectation and belief of its religious followers and lastly, a team which shivers at the prospect of showing accountability. I do not think the Indian team has ever shown any commitment to winning important games.

I did not want to get involved, but the number of comments pursueded me to pose a question -
Do we beleive what we say?
If cricket were only a game, why India could not find any opportunity to host Bangladesh in the last 6YrFTP and have no slot(yet) for the current 6yr FTP.
If it were bussiness only,India should not have hosted the Champions trophy where we witnessed empty stands in most of the games.
I think the India as a nation and BCCI as n institution has made cricket a vehicle of self aggrandizement. This world cup should bring all related to Indian cricket down to earth and realise that they are human being and not demigods.

My appologies if I sounded a bit too harsh.

Shihab

i was in India in January and the hype which went with Team India was incredibile.They were supposed to win at all costs and THE HOPES OF A NATION rested on their shoulders.What a lot of utter crap.This is after all a GAME.but when you treat the cricketers like Gods and prevent them from living a normal life like many cricketers (elite ones i might add)out of India then only will TEAM INDIA improve.get the monkeys off their bacs,let them relax and enjoy the game and MAYBE then Team India could possible win the World Cup in 2011.I am so glad theat they lost.This will shake up everyone who is involved in this beautiful game of cricket.Cricketers are people who do a job albeit a very pleasant job.So wake up India.dont put too much expectations on a party of 15 and then blame all in sundry if they do not produce the goods

Sambit, An excellent article with true facts commendable in the current state of affairs. I am a Sri Lankan and cannot come to grips as to why a loss to better team on a given day can be taken so negatively. Cricket in India is undoubtedly and industry than a sport today. Given, the level of enthusiasm amongst public and the external bodies that influence a game there has to be some balance to protect the players. Indeed i agree with some of the comments posted that this should not go beyond its limits. True as many have pointed, they have nurtured and developed a team to deliver the goods.However its all about winning and losing in a game that everyone has to take in the right spirit. Just as you would nurture and educate your child from birth, you have expectations when he's grown up. Yet, should he fail in his exams you don't physically harm him or burn his books. I would suspect if any die hard Sri Lankan fan would ever go to such extremes as we are taught in school to take up defeat. I still feel that the Indian Side was a formidable one to have gone far, but since they have been subject to media and external influence they too have not been able to play to potential and live up to the expectations of their great nation
Mohamed