News from the world of cricket in India is pretty dismal. Here's what I wrote to the Editor of The Hindu a few days back. Unfortunately, they have not cared to publish it. So I thought to myself that at least I should publish it on my own blog! I am sure there are many like-minded people who have similar feelings about the auctioning of cricketers.
Date: 21st February 2008
Dear Sir,
Your headlines today made depressing reading, with top cricketers being ‘auctioned off’, ‘bought’, and ‘purchased’for astronomical sums. Are they animals that they can be bought and sold like this? Have they lost all sense of self-respect? How can they degenerate into mere goods and chattels of the rich and mighty? It’s just not cricket.
One has heard that in ancient Rome, patricians owned slaves, eunuchs, and gladiators. The Mallyas, Khans, Zintas and the Wadias of today seem to be doing pretty much the same thing. If this is not crass commercialisation of sport, what is?
Never again will I watch a cricket match. Nor see Khan/Zinta movies, drink Mallya booze or buy Wadia clothes! God help sports and God help our country from such hypocrites. What will they sell or buy next?
Yours faithfully,
T.M.Vallikappen
