Players Auction at IPL

Sent to the HINDU ( Letters to the Editor ) on Feb 23 2008

The recent bidding for the players for IPL was termed as ostentatious and not in the spirit of the game, fingers were raised saying that huge sums of money could have been used for other more socially beneficial causes. Well I feel that such an argument can be given to any entrepreneurial act which is done with commercial purpose. The revenues and the forex that will be generated, as is happening in Soccer leagues and Basket Ball Leagues in western and European countries is being overlooked. The revenue will definitely boost the indian economy in a big way and the funds generated can be used for escalating the plight of other sports like hockey, badminton if not for direct sociological causes.Side by side It is undeniable that a good structuring of the matches are needed to prevent the burnout of the players, thereby harming the traditional styles of the game with which people identify themselves emotionally.
Another point that is not very appreciable is the naming of the clubs ( or the franchisees ) on regions like mohali, Bombay which certainly can bring a regional dimension to the clubs, other names based on probably companies or cricketing legends would have been more in the spirit of the game.