IPL

Two teams that brought in glamour in IPL viz., Rajasthan Royals and the Kings XI Punjab have been shown the door by the present administrative dispension of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The ostensible reason is that the ownership pattern of the teams was dubious and it changed from the time the bidders bid and subsequently. The moot point is that if that was the case what was the BCCI for three seasons, why action was not taken earlier? Does it not smack of a vendetta, an anti-Modi campaign?

One does not have any support for Lalit Modi but the manner in which the whole affair is being conducted presently indeed is a pointer to the fact. Both these teams are the teams where it was reported that Lalit Modi was having proxy-holding. Till the time, Modi was the boss, nobody tried to probe into the matter. By taking action at this stage BCCI has not held itself in good light as the detailed reasons for the action have not yet been made public.

The moot point is that these are the two teams that provided quotient of glamour in abundance to the IPL and were instrumental in bringing the crowd to the stadium as also brought in the crowd through the idiot box as well. Had it not been for these teams, even Shilpa Shetty would not have got a new lease of life in her public life, her marriage is also a by-product of the IPL. BCCI may deny that the decisions arrived at by it at this stage have not been influenced by Modi factor, but if the pieces of puzzle are put together, it would become abundantly clear that indeed it is the Modi factor that has the overriding consideration.

In its zeal to clean the muck, BCCI seems to have forgotten that it is both these teams that gave top class players to the world of cricket. Had it not been for RR, Indian team would not have got a Yusuf Pathan, or a Ravinder Jadeja, and Aussies may not have been able to cap talented and mercurial player Shaun Marsh who was  otherwise finding it difficult to find a place for himself in the Aussie squad.

The abrupt decision of terminating the contract would have international repercussions as well and the hounds who hate IPL would pounce upon the opportunity and could claim the IPL itself be banned as the affairs are not above board. What would BCCI do then?

Tags: BCCI, Board of Control for Cricket in India, Cricket, Indian Sports, IPL, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, Sports, Sports India