Mini-IPL will prove players have become mere commodities

Published on: Jun 25, 2016

If all goes according to plan, the Board of Cricket for Control in India will organise a mini-IPL in September, which will be played abroad

If all goes according to plan, the Board of Cricket for Control in India will organise a mini-IPL in September, which will be played abroad. BCCI President Anurag Thakur announced the same at the end of the board’s working committee meeting in Dharamsala on Friday. It is learnt that either the USA or the UAE could be the two strong contenders to host the mini version of the cash-rich league. The other proposals passed at the meeting include the decision to host Ranji Trophy games at neutral venues and also replace the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with a zonal-based competition.

"In the month of September, the BCCI is willing to host a mini IPL or IPL overseas. It will be a shorter format, not home and away matches but a lesser number of matches; in a two-week window we will be able to complete it” Thakur was quoted as saying by cricinfo. Interestingly, Thakur admitted that with the Duleep Trophy to be held at the end of September, the window for the new T20 tournament is very small. "It is a tight schedule. It is in a less than two-week window we have to organise it. And we have to look into various details, but we are keen to play in that window,” he told the website.

In many ways, this is a rather shocking development. As it is, the main IPL now eats away nearly two months of India’s cricketing calendar. During this period, players from other countries have to shuttle from playing for country to their franchise. With the huge sum on offer, players are often lured to choose club over country, which is not a great sign for cricket going forward. With the unsuccessful Champions League T20 being scrapped, it seemed there would be a mini-respite for players, and fans as well. But, that may not be the case anymore.

While the IPL has undoubtedly made a lot of unknown players from across nations famous, it has also in a way promoted mediocrity, as a number of games have often lacked competitive spirit. In addition, the cases of corruption have also risen as the seasons have progressed. India have lost talented players like S. Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan to spot fixing. That’s not all, major teams like Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, both former champions, have been suspended from the league owing to corruption allegations.

Above all, in many ways, the mini-IPL be a final nail in the coffin as far as the status of players are concerned. While many are superstars, they have become more like commodities these days, trading their talents in different competitions around the world for different teams and franchises. The rise in the number of T20 leagues have already taken the concept of off-season away from the game. And the introduction of a mini-IPL will only make matters worse. The ratings for the recent IPL prove fans are tired of cricketing overdose, but the powers that be at BCCI are obviously thinking otherwise.

--By A Cricket Analyst

Related News