Will Lifting ICC Champions Trophy Pardon Dhoni & Co?

By Carl Jaison

It is remarkable and more so intriguing of how cricket fans can almost do a U-turn when their national team does exceedingly well in a tournament after the game had encountered its most torrid phase, just weeks before, and the reputation of players took a beating owing to shocking exposes by the police and media. The 6th edition of the IPL will always be remembered for ‘how it was managed’ rather than the usual question of ‘is there a need for it even’. Perhaps for the first time, a non-playing equipment, a towel, attracted more nationwide attention than the cricket ball.

Rumours of spot-fixing alarmed the populace which otherwise had to bear with political scams unfolding one after the other. Cricketers were MCOCA’d. Team owners placed bets worth crores of rupees on their own team’s fortunes. The so-called legends appeared to be extinct and chose to be museum specimens, incapable of free speech. Administrators were determined not to let go of their reins of power. The police went on an arresting spree; incriminating almost anyone involved with betting as though betting was not commonplace in India. A cricket captain was found to have clearly violated his position after news broke that he enjoyed a stake in a sports management firm which also sponsors his playing colleagues. And this captain has a strong say in the selection meetings.

All this while, the television viewers and newspaper readers watched with stunned silence, incapable of effecting any change except for the power to switch over from channels and shun news pages featuring the cricket scam to engage in productive hours doing else. The fans could have boycotted the prevailing cricket scene by going out into the streets by way of demonstrations and protests against either the accused or accusers or even the soon-to-be accused.

Disabling the cricket channels could have resulted in TV ratings plummeting to an all-time low. There were a couple of PILs which challenged the authenticity of the IPL matches, both of which were squashed due to negligible evidence. But all that was required to force a reverse gear on the public sentiments was a spirited performance by the national team in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.

The Indian cricket team has indeed reignited the confidence and trust of the fans with a dominating display of cricket, very much unlike of a team that has historically withered away when pushed against the wall, even when not being directly implicated for wrongdoing and underperformance. And more than a statistician’s delight, Shikhar Dhawan’s back-to-back centuries and Ravindra Jadeja’s 5-wicket haul have reposed a newfound interest for the game in the hearts of millions of Indian cricket fans around the world.

The inner-circle fielding unit comprising of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik have shown eye-catching athleticism and acrobatics to form an impenetrable belt, constantly pressurizing the batsmen, who fail to get past them for runs.

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar is doing exactly what MS Dhoni wants from him that is picking up early wickets by exploiting the favourable swing-conditions. Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav have lived up to their expectations, providing able support to Kumar with their fast-paced deliveries and ability to extract bounce from the wickets. It sure is heartening to see the same Ravindra Jadeja, who in the ICC World T20 of 2009 held in England laboured to a slow-paced 25 off 35 balls which many cited as the reason for India’s shock exit from the tournament, dictating terms with the ball having got limited opportunities to showcase his much-improved worth with the bat. The offie R Ashwin, surprisingly has played second fiddle to Jadeja, having snared fewer wickets than his spin twin although having maintained a decent economy rate.

Even more fantastic has been the relative ease with which the top order batsmen have adjusted to the playing conditions and sharpened their back-foot technique, which over the years has led to the struggle of many Indian batsmen playing on foreign pitches. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have forged an unbreakable alliance at the openers’ slot, with the former leading the top run-scorers chart at present. Virat Kohli, along with Dinesh Karthik have ensured that the good work of their openers wouldn’t be in vain. The middle-order consisting of Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja haven’t been put to stern test so far but all three have played crucial knocks either in the warm-up ties or in the league stages.

Having perched comfortably at the top of their table, India will be looking to satisfy their fans by continuing their winning run going into the semi-final round. For now, Dhoni and Co can hope to evade the media wrath and inquisitiveness regarding controversial themes. But are we to believe that if India returns home victorious, Dhoni (of all others) can escape the swipe of the sword that Dalmiya has hinted at? Such is the mindset of Indian fans who get swayed away by victories and conveniently forgets past follies.

Sooner or later, controversies surrounding Dhoni and other bigwigs will be laid to rest. This is so often the case especially in cricket  (unlike in politics) where opportunities to improve on learning from mistakes is so limited, while political controversies escalate to nationwide anger. Maybe that has to do with the direct bearing politics has on the lives of ordinary citizens. Cricketers are beneficiaries of what is popularly called ‘Perform till redundancy’ which is at least theoretically different from another equally customary phrase ‘Perform or perish’ which politicians, by virtue of their electoral mandate, affects their actions. Are our cricketers accountable to the public or not? If yes, there is a host of questions that our performing cricketers need to tackle, more deadly than Malinga’s toe-crushers or Narine’s mystery spinners.

Even with a privately-run body like the BCCI managing the welfare of the players, the primary reason why cricketers should face investigative action is because of their commitment to the nation’s sporting success. The fans just don’t shell out cash, whether it is in form of buying match tickets or viewing sporting channels, but end up spending so much on the diverse brands their heroes endorse. Ultimately nobody is the loser but the fan, as everyone else - BCCI, players, channels, brands - make truckloads of money. But

The public’s verdict regarding the appraisal of players is rarely noticed, and that being the case, how can it be a national team or a national issue? Public consensus is difficult to ascertain but given the overall mood of dissatisfaction, the BCCI can oust players owing to poor performance or malpractice.

It remains to be seen whether interim BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya will abide by his word when he had promised to look into Dhoni’s ‘conflict of interest’ issue once the team returns back after the Champions Trophy. Police sources have claimed, after bookie revelations that, Suresh Raina and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar may have been approached by bookies during the IPL. Regardless of whether or not they have indulged in unfair practice, it is imperative that the current bunch of cricketers face questioning, if that can provide headway into the investigations. It is indeed queer that a currently-inactive cricketer like Sreesanth has been framed in a case of spot-fixing which just goes on to show the vulnerability of those out of the reckoning while the performing players are free from any societal interference or enjoy authorized protection if charged.

The Pakistan cricket team is perturbed about the reality of having to face public outcry after their dismal performance in the Champions Trophy, where they lost all their three group matches. The Indian team is no stranger to such circumstances either, as was the case in the aftermath of the 2007 cricket world cup. But now the team looks well on course to lift the trophy which if actualizes, will render them scot-free and all possible efforts will be made to dissociate the heroes from police scrutiny. Such is the impact victories can have in the minds of fans, who from being deceived by the theatrics of the IPL games have once again assumed the role of venerating fanatics waiting to welcome their champions with garlands and bouquets.

In politics, the election polls decide the fate of public servants while in cricket; the voting instrument is the television remote which can hugely impact the glamour quotient of the game by bringing down its viewership. But, isn’t it too tempting to resist? Their cricketing victors have done their bit of propaganda by enchanting the masses with a scintillating performance. Cricket fans have failed to exercise their ‘right to vote’. How easily their stance shifts from that of ‘being cheated’ to ‘being befooled’. This is how our cricketers are granted bail even before they are caught.

Does Shikhar Dhawan Expose the Only Goodness of IPL?

By Carl Jaison:

 

The advent of IPL in 2008 is interestingly similar to the ushering in of globalization during the early 1990s. There developed a mutual exchange of ideas and inter-continental cultural reciprocity. Cricketers belonging to varied nationalities shared a common belonging which resulted in the transfer of vital knowledge from one person to another, that cuts across nationalistic sentiments eventually benefiting the robust and raw cricketing talents of India.

Therefore, when Shikhar Dhawan raced to a quick-fire century of just 80 balls in the first group match of the ICC Champions Trophy against South Africa, little were his well-wishers and cricket analysts surprised. The talented 27-year old, who holds the record for the fastest century by a test debutante, has got a good measure of the world’s lethal bowling attacks owing to his exposure in the IPL. What was commendable was the manner in which he went about pacing his innings in conditions hostile to visiting batsmen.

The IPL stint has indeed helped upcoming players like Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav etc to fine-tune their skills and rub shoulders with the best in business. Sharing the dressing room with one of the top-class left-hand batsmen in world cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, Dhawan has grabbed his opportunities with both hands, both of whom represented the Sunrisers Hyderabad outfit.

Shikhar Dhawan walked in to bat, with a newfound opening partner in Rohit Sharma. It was the latter who first went for the kill, all guns blazing, playing on the backfoot using impeccable technique. All this while, Dhawan was enjoying his partner’s entertaining innings and at the same time, mentally preparing himself for a similar assault on the bowlers. When Rohit was inching closer to his half-century, Dhawan was about 20 runs behind. It was then that the curly-moustached southpaw unleashed his true self, marauding the bowlers at will and in the process, spoiling left-arm spinner Robin Peterson’s bowling figures. He shimmied down the track to spinners and dealt the speedsters with absolute ease. It was an innings effortless to the eye.

For someone who was awarded the man of the tournament in the U-19 World Cup close to a decade ago, Dhawan’s rise to fame is a late blossom. What catches the eye almost immediately is his warrior-like demeanour. His trademark moustache reminds one of the cast in the 2000 blockbuster Hindi movie, Lagaan starring Aamir Khan. His latest appearance in cricketing circles has surely meant that if chosen for a Bollywood role, Dhawan may give the Aamirs and Ranbirs a run for their money in movies befitting of his style.

Dhawan’s maiden ODI century helped India amass 331 runs, thereby marking his arrival onto the big stage. This is what he had to say after the game, “I’m naturally courageous”. India convincingly defeated the South Africans by 26 runs to start their campaign on a positive note. Indian fans salute the IPL for having ‘exposed’ Dhawan and Co to the once-upon-a-time feared pace attacks of the world. That takes care of IPL’s good ‘expose’. The bad ‘expose’, however stole the limelight.

IPL, in just its 6th year of existence, has already evolved into one of the richest sports leagues in the world. Thus, it too has experienced its ‘fair’ share of muck. This was deemed to happen for the sheer quantum of money involved in the tournament. The most unfortunate unfolding was when players were alleged of being lured into tangible temptations, thus eroding the image and credibility of the brand. The recent IPL has brought to light the involvement of underworld nexus and betting syndicates ruling the roost and deciding the outcome of a game. The disturbing news of alleged links of these players with Dawood Ibrahim and associates has sent shivers down the spine of the ordinary cricket fan. Franchisee owners have been quizzed by police officers after bookies revealed having made betting deals and negotiations with them. Gurunath Meiyyappan, CSK team owner, has admitted to betting and leaking insider information to agents, which is clearly at loggerheads with the moral ethics need to be followed by stakeholders.

The police claims to have procured evidence disclosing ‘honey traps’ laid for luring cricketers by bookies, which will only make things murkier. With the Delhi and Mumbai Police engaging in a professional ego clash for who has the requisite ‘burden of proof’ to move a court judgment in their favour, cricket administrators have been left probing with questions about the appointment of BCCI office-bearers after Sanjay Jagdale and Ajay Shirke voluntarily resigned from their respective posts following the spot-fixing scandal. It took an eternity and immeasurable amount of media pressure for N Srinivasan to step aside as BCCI President. In a flash, a desperate Working Committee assigned erstwhile BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya the dirty job of overseeing the spot-fixing investigations and official paperwork as interim President. Prior to Srinivasan’s reluctant abstinence from the top job, a series of resignations mounted pressure on the various Presidents heading their respective state cricket associations to quit, as well as IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla. Even Asad Rauf has been removed from the panel of officiating umpires for the ICC Champions Trophy after news broke out that he too had a hand in the spot-fixing fiasco.

IPL is two-faced. On one side, we witness the advantages of exposure to high-quality cricket which has helped nurture fine cricketing talent from across the globe while it’s darker side provides us with a glimpse into the expose of malpractices and avariciousness that has overshadowed the goodness invested in promoting the brand. The manifestations of exposure are discernible from innings like the one Dhawan played against South Africa, while manifestations of expose keep eclipsing the noble works of the former. Take for example the recent questioning of Rajasthan Royals team-owner, Raj Kundra, who is believed to have admitted to betting. Such an ‘expose’ knocked the stuffing out of Dhawan’s century and more importantly India’s victory. That is the difference in the news value for an ‘expose’ over an ‘exposure’.

The undisputed leader of Indian cricket, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has also reaped a good harvest in terms of his brand value owing to his cultivated success in the IPL. Right from the moment he lifted the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup captaining India for the first time up to the last run he scored off his bat, Dhoni’s market price has quadrupled to staggering figures. He features in Forbes 100 most well-paid athletes of the world, ranking an enviable 13th position, thanks to his multiple endorsements and match salaries. More than half the tribute should be attributed to his ‘exposure’ to the IPL. 

Both are end-products of the IPL factory. One is valued, while the other is scorned at. Individuals are to be blamed for ruining an opportunity for exposure while the administration is held responsible to an expose. In both ways, the game ends up weeping. Shikhar Dhawan and Co may keep performing to the best of their capabilities while the scandals will continue to smoulder. That way the well-respected efforts of the IPL get diluted by adulteration. Blame it on globalization, not the IPL.

Dhoni's Licence to Silence

By Carl Jaison:

Silence is a virtue. At least that is what we were taught or made to believe back in school. It is the underlying essence of discipline and character formation. But, even the concept of silence entails many versions. If a teacher poses a question and you are unaware of the correct answer, you tend to keep silent. On the arrival of a chief guest for a school function, students are ordered to maintain discipline, in other words, silence. These two scenarios reflect the different forms of silence. In the former, the student chooses to remain silent (or else come up with an excuse) while in the latter, students are gagged or coerced into maintaining silence. While one is a voluntary and conscious action, the other is an unquestionable instruction to be followed. However, with regard to training students on responding, has the school system failed to teach us the virtue of speaking when we are supposed to speak?

Dhoni’s recent mime antics during press conferences have seriously raised a question or two. Is remaining silent an act of following authorized orders or sheer escapism from reality to conceal the truth? The Indian captain has been criticized heavily for having indulged in a clear case of ‘conflict of interest’ by virtue of holding 15% stake in a sports-management firm which administers his fellow teammates like Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina , & Pragyan Ojha, to name a few. The serious objection to the stake-holding claim is that Dhoni might have misused his captaincy in favouring the aforementioned players in team selection, which evidently indicates an element of partiality. The media and cricketing fraternity are already miffed with Dhoni for having remained silent throughout the IPL spot-fixing episode, but in a case such as this which requires clarification on his own alleged involvement, he has chosen to keep mum. Or are we assumed to believe that he hasn’t been gagged neither by his boss nor wife to zip his mouth? Dhoni has silenced his critics, whenever his bat does the talking. But here, he holds back his own free will.

A man known to take straightforward questions, Dhoni’s rather charming silence when asked controversial queries have hurt the belief and trust of cricket fans. Unlike in his batting, in which he responds to uncomfortable deliveries with a brave face and a straight bat, Dhoni prefers to dodge troubling questions, which he may actually find harmless if properly ‘played’. People like the stubborn N Srinivasan, foxy Rajiv Shukla, and nebulous Dhoni use their silence-license to evade distressing questions at a time when their vocal chords need to be actively in action. Dhoni’s feeble excuse for having refrained from  elaborating on these issues (he did say, in one of the media sessions, that there would always be a handful of mentally-weak sportspersons in every sports setup), is to focus on the preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy that began today. Now, that is a lame defence from a man who rarely defends a cricket-ball.

Maybe Dhoni felt that addressing the media in such dubious light, might be a tricky affair. Even then, he could have conveniently issued a press statement, straightening out his conscience, by clarifying his stand on the allegation or at least deny claims of his involvement. The student who is asked a question by his teacher doesn’t enjoy the kind of immunity Dhoni possess. Dhoni knows the kind of questions that he will be asked and even knows the answers to them, but fancies playing dummy to the television viewers.

The BCCI maintains, however, that the skipper or anyone addressing the media is never gagged, but should conduct themselves within the guidelines set in the constitution and contractual agreement. Sunil Gavaskar burst out at his detractors when a similar charge of blindly following boss’ order was levied on the commentators who too are salaried employees of the BCCI. The former India batsman says that nobody’s freedom of speech is curbed and it is entirely the individual’s prerogative to respond or not respond to media queries. Well, in that case, why does the Indian skipper, who otherwise has an opinion on almost every topic, choose to remain mute this time?

Ask a layman and he would say, that keeping quiet is an aristocratic style. Does it link with the position they are in? Whatsoever the case, it has surely become fashionable. From Manmohan Singh to Srinivasan, the bandwagon keeps getting huge. Avoiding the media is increasingly being considered good for ones health. Inside Parliament, ministers puts across their views in a chaotic and zealous style but while addressing the media they tighten their screws and expresses their message in a typical rhetorical tongue. Thus, the public is left grappling with questions. Silence can never be misinterpreted, especially when exercised by people in power. It is simply an act of face-saving arrogance, with full-knowledge of their actions. Not like the student who hasn’t done his homework. The know-it-all class chooses to do so. Maybe, silence isn’t a virtue, after all.