Is Pakistan right in crying foul over IPL snub?
First things first…Indian Premier League is a PRIVATE ‘domestic’ tournament that unfortunately (Yes! It has grown in gargantuan proportions since its inception in 2008) is no more just restricted to the Indian shores anymore. So the hue and cry of Pakistan blaming the Indian government and everything even remotely related to India is something which is understandable. Also, the Indian and the Pakistani government had issues visas to their ‘World Champions T20 players’ and once the green signal at the government level had arrived, the snub for their stars looked a tad out of place.
Opinion No. 1 : IPL has every reason to no select a player and that has been the case with players such as Brad Haddin, Graeme Swann and many more. The issue gains more importance only because there is a Pakistan contingent that is involved here. Not one team member gets picked by any of the franchisees in the auction, prompting a furore and a verbal war between the Indian and Pakistan governments in the last four days. As a cricket aficionado, I want the best player playing in the ground, his country, creed just does not matter. As a cricket lover, I have reasons to feel cheated because Shahid Afridi who is THE best player in the shortest format of the game is not picked. Sohail Tanvir is one of the upcoming left-armer medium pacer in the world today.
However, having said that cricket is not just a game now, it’s a business and franchisees are correct in taking a watchful stance in not going for a Pakistan player because the auction No.1 is valid for a year, No. 2 the relations between the two countries are not entering into arms length any time soon and if the money spent goes down the drain, the bank balance surely will take a hit.
So, who is the loser? Yours truly and the lovers of the game.
Opinion no. 2: When the relations between the two countries are strained, it made little sense for the two governments to have issues visas to the players. It would have best to have taken a wait and watch approach instead of going all hammer and tongs about the issue of go-ahead letters to Pakistani players considering the political scenarios prevailing in the two nations.
Is Pakistan’s reaction justified? I do not think so. Why doesn’t common sense prevail in the most adverse conditions? There is no point crying over spilled milk. PCB’s (Pakistan Cricket Board) decision to complain about the IPL auction snub to the International Cricket Council (ICC) looks like a school boy complaining to the teacher about a classmate or a senior who has bullied him. Nothing much is going to come out of this blame-game. And Shilpa Shetty, co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals is right to ascertain that the IPL owes no explanation.
A spark was enough for the media to blow the entire situation out of proportion, seamlessly ensuring that the fire was set up in both ends and joined in the firefighting too.
Yet another case of cricket being clean bowled!
