Time to Rethink

The indifference shown by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in organising Indian Premier League (IPL) during a pandemic is baffling to say the least. While hundreds are dying everyday, medical facilities in the country are overwhelmed, people are standing in queues for days to cremate near and dear ones, the cash-rich franchise-based Cricket league is continuing unabated. BCCI has made it clear that the question of stalling the tournament does not arise. Rather it is now moving with its cricket circus to Ahmedabad and Delhi, the two worst-hit cities by the pandemic. Beyond a doubt, BCCI has failed to show any kind of respect towards those who have lost their lives due to the lethal virus. BCCI has no time to stand beside the bereaved families and this is why as the entire country is battling a war, BCCI is counting its profits from the tournament.

It is quite strange that BCCI has always found a way to organise IPL despite the odds. Once citing security concerns, the Central Government refused permission to hold the tournament. In response BCCI shifted the tournament to South Africa. Even last year, when sporting activities all over the world came to a virtual standstill including the Olympic Games which were postponed by a year, IPL was held in UAE. This year too from various quarters requests were made not to organise the tournament. But BCCI was adamant in going forward with its annual cricket tournament. This clearly shows that BCCI is not at all concerned about the plight of the Indian people. Even after a few newspapers decided to stop the coverage of IPL, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly announced that the tournament would go on as per the schedule.

Thus, while the entire nation is covered with darkness, light is seen only in the cricket stadiums. While lockdown has been enforced in some affected states, IPL remains out of its purview as witnessed in Mumbai. The Maharashtra Government passed an order to keep IPL out of the night curfew. It shows that IPL receives special treatment even from the government. A timid Maharashtra Government reminds us about the court order a few years ago which barred IPL matches in Mumbai due to drought-like situation in the city. If the state government could draw similar courage, life could have been a little easier for the Mumbaikars.

Only a few days ago, we saw that popular protests derailed the plan of holding a super football league in Europe comprising a handful of top clubs on the continent. There is a need to hold similar protests in India too against the continuance of IPL in this hour of crisis to highlight to BCCI that sport is not meant solely to make money. Whatever revenue BCCI will generate from IPL will not be able to ease the pains that the nation is going through. So, BCCI and its affiliated units should contribute their might to ward off the crisis instead of filling its coffer with the profits from IPL as the act is completely against the spirit of the game.