Well things are always acted upon too late and this time as well the situation is no different when the Delhi high court thinks about making sports betting legal in India. I can recall the entire world asking for an umpire referral system after the Sydney test debacle in late 2007 in the Border-Gavaskar trophy. The umpire referral system should have been proposed by any of the cricketing greats long back and not wait until the Sydney test episode to happen. Umpires are also human beings like anybody else and are bound to make mistakes. Keeping this fact out of mind was another mistake.
And now as well, the world and especially the Delhi high court had to wait for the spot fixing episode to kick off for it to think of legalizing sports betting in the country. If one would ask me, I'd rather say that sports betting would bring as much thrill as playing the game for which you would give away anything and everything on earth to just watch it live. Legalizing sports betting would not only bring in more revenue to the government but at the same time, make you think in a different way rather than just jumping with joy when your favorite batsman hits a six.
I happened to go through the site Yarnhoj which need not to worry has got nothing to do with sports betting but had everything to distract my attention from the topic. Anyways, that apart with sports betting being made legal in India, in addition to players, even spectators can make money at the same time lose money when the same team gives a bad performance. All this is being written keeping in mind the fact that I myself am a fan of many sports betting sites which is evident from the sidebar of my blog. Not to mention, the same has its own drawbacks.
With sports betting being made legal, though the movement of funds can be tracked effectively, the very same is bound to increase the risk of match fixing. With crores running into sports betting, sparing a few lakhs to settle issues with players would not be a problem for the bookies at all. Of course, in India, with cricket players being one of the highest money makers, that would affect them to a very little extent. But, settling issues with foreign players would also cause equal disrespect to the game. This is no horse racing or club gambling to justify the same in sports betting.
So, just think and proceed!
Showing posts with label ICL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ICL. Show all posts
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Is the NZC influenced by the BCCI?
Should one feel happy for the New Zealand cricket opening an IPL window for its players in the recently concluded eight year agreement between the players' association and national board or feel disgusted and let low for one of the major cricketing power is bowing to another cricket board for reasons best anticipated by one and all following the game of cricket especially in the sub continent? The blog has repeatedly thrown out the other board's reaction to the two cricket leagues in one country when there were biased decisions regarding the IPL and the ICL. Now, there is no need to mentioned the latter.
All major cricketing boards including the one in Bangladesh were against their national players from playing in the rebel league and tried almost everything possible to make way for the other one namely the IPL. Few cricketing greats like Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne also insisted that the IPL be included among the ICC's future tours program. The unofficial involvement of the BCCI can never be turned down in this regard. There are domestic tournaments happening in every country including non test playing nations like Ireland. But, no one comes out asking for a window for those tournaments no matter what.
The New Zealand cricket had formerly banned star fast bowler Shane Bond from featuring in the national side after he had enrolled for Delhi Gaints in the ICL. And now, the same cricket board has allowed its players that includes Shane Bond to feature in the IPL. Shane Bond has signed for the Kolkata Knight Riders who come in the bottom of the table in every edition played so far. There is hardly any country's cricket board who does not bow to the richest cricket board in the world - the BCCI and New Zealand has also not been an exception whatsoever.
However, the rest of the plans that come under the 8 year agreement is worth giving a thought for every cricket board who insists in taking the game forward in their country. The agreement has references to $65 million which can evoke interest in cricket among any cricketer from New Zealand. I wish this agreement is more valuable than playing in the IPL. But, this agreement is of no use to the BCCI and the IPL and citing a window for the IPL in this agreement can boost ties with the BCCI. This is no freedom for the NZC. In case the NZC wants to enjoy freedom I wish they visit Reko Blogging which may stop it from bowing to money in the form of IPL and BCCI.
All major cricketing boards including the one in Bangladesh were against their national players from playing in the rebel league and tried almost everything possible to make way for the other one namely the IPL. Few cricketing greats like Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne also insisted that the IPL be included among the ICC's future tours program. The unofficial involvement of the BCCI can never be turned down in this regard. There are domestic tournaments happening in every country including non test playing nations like Ireland. But, no one comes out asking for a window for those tournaments no matter what.
The New Zealand cricket had formerly banned star fast bowler Shane Bond from featuring in the national side after he had enrolled for Delhi Gaints in the ICL. And now, the same cricket board has allowed its players that includes Shane Bond to feature in the IPL. Shane Bond has signed for the Kolkata Knight Riders who come in the bottom of the table in every edition played so far. There is hardly any country's cricket board who does not bow to the richest cricket board in the world - the BCCI and New Zealand has also not been an exception whatsoever.
However, the rest of the plans that come under the 8 year agreement is worth giving a thought for every cricket board who insists in taking the game forward in their country. The agreement has references to $65 million which can evoke interest in cricket among any cricketer from New Zealand. I wish this agreement is more valuable than playing in the IPL. But, this agreement is of no use to the BCCI and the IPL and citing a window for the IPL in this agreement can boost ties with the BCCI. This is no freedom for the NZC. In case the NZC wants to enjoy freedom I wish they visit Reko Blogging which may stop it from bowing to money in the form of IPL and BCCI.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Inzy decides to come to light
Well the retired Pakistani batsman, Inzamam Ul Haq has shown his interest in becoming the batting coach for his team if the latest news in Pakistan cricket is anywhere to go by. This, if at all happens, would be another star batsman taking over as the coach of the Pakistan team after Javed Miandad was selected as the Pakistani coach in the bilateral series involving India in 2004. Though secondary at the moment, that was after a long gap of 12 years that India were touring Pakistan for reasons once again which are secondary here. Whatsoever, Inzamam's nod for the job should be worth a thought by the PCB.
The Pakistan team need not be blamed for losing 3 + 5 + 1 matches against Australia last year which was extended to two more T20 losses at the hands of Australia in the T20 world cup followed by a loss in the first test in England. Likewise, it would be worth mentioning that they did win the second test against Australia unexpectedly not before whitewashing the same in the two T20 games that preceded the test series. One doubt that everyone should be found asking should be why was there no one day games played between the countries? Anyways, why should we bother when ICC didn't? Right!
Coming to Inzy, the man has been not only out of any cricketing action but has also been out from all sorts of cricket news. After his retirement from all forms of the game in 2007, Inzy was found starting the 2nd innings of his cricketing life when he was found playing for Lahore Badshahs in the banned Indian Cricket League. Since then, Inzamam has neither been seen playing in any of the domestic leagues (atleast as far as my knowledge goes) nor found taking the mike in his hand and doing some sort of commentary stuff like say Wasim Akram is doing after is retirement some 7 years ago.
And, how long can Inzy keep himself isolated from the world of cricket, when he has made news for the good reasons in the field since the 1992 world cup for a decade and a half. As a matter of fact, Imran Kahn was found making news in the elections when he stood opposite Benazir Bhutto and then Waqar Younis is seen coaching the bowlers of the national team after 6 years of retiring from all forms of the game. I doubt whether anybody knows that Waqar Younis is the third highest wicket taker in ODIs. And then, despite a hattrick in the 1999 world cup and just 12 scalps less than 300 to his name, Saqlain Mushtaq is a forgotten episode in Pak cricket.
The careers after retirement for a cricketer would be commentator, coach, columnist or finally player in other leagues. And, with the ICL breathing its last and IPL closing all doors for Pakistani players, the only option left for Inzy would be coach and it would be no surprise that he is utmost needed for the job.
The Pakistan team need not be blamed for losing 3 + 5 + 1 matches against Australia last year which was extended to two more T20 losses at the hands of Australia in the T20 world cup followed by a loss in the first test in England. Likewise, it would be worth mentioning that they did win the second test against Australia unexpectedly not before whitewashing the same in the two T20 games that preceded the test series. One doubt that everyone should be found asking should be why was there no one day games played between the countries? Anyways, why should we bother when ICC didn't? Right!
Coming to Inzy, the man has been not only out of any cricketing action but has also been out from all sorts of cricket news. After his retirement from all forms of the game in 2007, Inzy was found starting the 2nd innings of his cricketing life when he was found playing for Lahore Badshahs in the banned Indian Cricket League. Since then, Inzamam has neither been seen playing in any of the domestic leagues (atleast as far as my knowledge goes) nor found taking the mike in his hand and doing some sort of commentary stuff like say Wasim Akram is doing after is retirement some 7 years ago.
And, how long can Inzy keep himself isolated from the world of cricket, when he has made news for the good reasons in the field since the 1992 world cup for a decade and a half. As a matter of fact, Imran Kahn was found making news in the elections when he stood opposite Benazir Bhutto and then Waqar Younis is seen coaching the bowlers of the national team after 6 years of retiring from all forms of the game. I doubt whether anybody knows that Waqar Younis is the third highest wicket taker in ODIs. And then, despite a hattrick in the 1999 world cup and just 12 scalps less than 300 to his name, Saqlain Mushtaq is a forgotten episode in Pak cricket.
The careers after retirement for a cricketer would be commentator, coach, columnist or finally player in other leagues. And, with the ICL breathing its last and IPL closing all doors for Pakistani players, the only option left for Inzy would be coach and it would be no surprise that he is utmost needed for the job.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Finally Whom Does Afridi & co want to blame?
Well no one on earth would have tolerated the insult what the Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi and co had to bear on the first day of the auction for the 3rd edition of the Indian Premier League. It is not an unknown fact that none of the Pakistani players were bought and more the less not even bid for on the first day of the auction. And no one would have also supported such a treatment to anyone let alone Pakistani players. But, the other side of the coin is also to be given a closer look at I suppose.
After the Pakistan team made it to the finals of the second T20 world cup, which was their second such feat and a much better one when they won the championship, I remember reading in one of the leading newspapers-The times of India that the Pakistani players should never settle for something less by giving a nod for a throwaway price by the IPL sponsors. But, none of them including the then Pakistani captain Mohammed Yusuf would have thought that Pakistani players will not even have to feaure on the sponsors' hit lists for the auction. May be that the ICL returnees would be kicking themselves after they decided to leave the rebel league hoping of a better prospect in IPL.
Pakistani players namely Naved Ul Hassan Rana, Abdul Razzaq and others ditched ICL to get back to their international team and so to the IPL but, the result is quite in front of us. Things worked out well for New Zealand's Shane Bond but not for Pakistani players. If the BCCI or the IPL considers the ICL as a rebel league, the Pakistani players should have anticipated that the same BCCI considers Pakistan as a rebel country. So, in a way, it has to be Pakistani players who could not anticipate even such things and feature themselves for the auction and then come out cursing.
Likewise, every T20 team would like to have someone like Afridi in their team. But, what is the guarantee that Pakistani players will turn up for their respective franchisees? Moreover, taking into consideration the impression that the Pakistani players have in the minds of the Indian people, is it worth the risk to-be-taken by the sponsors which might see them lose viewers' interest in their teams and products? A little bit of bitter relationship between the two countries might end up in all the Pak players called back from the IPL half way through. Who is going to take the blame for that? And last but not the least, IPL has had a good run in 2009 when there were no Pakistani players featuring and things might not get worse this time as well.
After the Pakistan team made it to the finals of the second T20 world cup, which was their second such feat and a much better one when they won the championship, I remember reading in one of the leading newspapers-The times of India that the Pakistani players should never settle for something less by giving a nod for a throwaway price by the IPL sponsors. But, none of them including the then Pakistani captain Mohammed Yusuf would have thought that Pakistani players will not even have to feaure on the sponsors' hit lists for the auction. May be that the ICL returnees would be kicking themselves after they decided to leave the rebel league hoping of a better prospect in IPL.
Pakistani players namely Naved Ul Hassan Rana, Abdul Razzaq and others ditched ICL to get back to their international team and so to the IPL but, the result is quite in front of us. Things worked out well for New Zealand's Shane Bond but not for Pakistani players. If the BCCI or the IPL considers the ICL as a rebel league, the Pakistani players should have anticipated that the same BCCI considers Pakistan as a rebel country. So, in a way, it has to be Pakistani players who could not anticipate even such things and feature themselves for the auction and then come out cursing.
Likewise, every T20 team would like to have someone like Afridi in their team. But, what is the guarantee that Pakistani players will turn up for their respective franchisees? Moreover, taking into consideration the impression that the Pakistani players have in the minds of the Indian people, is it worth the risk to-be-taken by the sponsors which might see them lose viewers' interest in their teams and products? A little bit of bitter relationship between the two countries might end up in all the Pak players called back from the IPL half way through. Who is going to take the blame for that? And last but not the least, IPL has had a good run in 2009 when there were no Pakistani players featuring and things might not get worse this time as well.
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