Cricket going hockey way?
Posted by ssjha on March 19, 2007
Here after a long period of time. Now the worldcup fever was slowly going to build but the balloon has been punctured by the loss to
Bangladesh. The timing of the matches isn’t suitable to the Indian masses but still many people were awake to watch their stars thrash the opposition. Me too was not expecting anything less than that. But alas they lost and in what fashion. Kudos to them for winning.
One more thing that has come to my mind watching the first round matches is that the minnows are much stronger now. Already it has been demonstrated by the Ireland and by
Bangladesh, others have also shown great character display against the best teams in the business (if only 10 teams play and all are top 10). Seems that less teams were there that’s why
India was in top 5 and we were proud of theirs achievement. But now other countries coming of age we will slip further. And then ours interest will be as now in hockey. So the masses interest in cricket has limited days. Further it increases my suspicion that Indians aren’t meant for the sports theirs body isn’t meant for the extreme rigours required, neither the body is flexible enough for the gymnastics like sports.
Now, coming back, to the game and the related economic ramifications. Pakistan and
India are the major cricketing nations (in terms of revenues). Pakistan is already out and
India is not in very good position and may be out soon (good for the masses that they won’t have to be awake in the night and spoil the whole next day like I did). If such thing happens then advertisers are not going to put their money and those like set max who have pumped a lot of money by fighting the combined might of Espn-star would not try burning theirs finger again. I think that max has already lost money in the earlier tournaments also the neo sports of nimbus wasn’t having much respite by outbidding all for the BCCI rights.
I have a tendency to go left and right and left and deviating from the main topic but then that’s the flexibility one can avail in blogs. So in economic terms it might be a big disaster for all, after all money does matter. And the ramifications back home will be big, and a scene to watch. Already the MS Dhoni’s house under construction has been attacked and that’s just the beginning.
Pakistan has at the moment much bigger issue at hand. And the news that Bob woolmer is dead now must have complicated the matter. Also I can see this as a major hurdle in Parvez Musharraf’s path complicated by the removal of chief justice and attack on media with the hint of US backing not being that strong. I foresee many ramifications out of this loss of
Pakistan’s. But on the other side one furious matter noise can drown the other vital issue and can be blessing in disguise for the General.
