This refers to Ramachandra Guha's article “Smash-and-grab crony league” (May 25). Mr. Guha starts with the damage the IPL is purportedly causing to the game of cricket, moves away to talk about crony capitalism and shifts gear to focus on the socio-economic divide in allotting IPL teams, and, above all, makes the statement that “...the majority of India does not appear to connect with the tournament.” All these are incorrect.
The IPL is a runaway success and has come to stay. I have seen its impact in towns and villages. That it is harming the main cricket format is again totally unfounded. Cricket, unlike many other popular forms of sport the world over, comes out with newer and richer depth in each of the formats it is played.
Demand and supply are the foundations of any business and the sports field is no exception. No one can take away the glory of the IPL for its sheer reach and gripping moments.
R. Kalyanaraman,
Chennai
The fact that some States don't have IPL teams and that the IPL is sectarian in nature need to be properly explained. All existing IPL teams are either owned by big business houses or megastars with deep pockets. Why? Because they see good business opportunities in it.
These States have more experience and infrastructural capacity to give good returns, as compared to U.P., M.P., Orissa and Bihar which, unfortunately, do not have infrastructural facilities. If these States had IPL teams, where would they play?
Mohd. Junaid Ansari,
Meerut
The IPL oozes instant cricket. Cricket buffs are more inclined to watch riotous run-getting, demolition and power hitting than tenacious run digging. Let this abbreviated format of cricket be immortal.
Soumya Bhattacharya,
Kolkata
The IPL is a clear manifestation of crony capitalism where glamour, fame and wealth have taken centre stage at the cost of the intrinsic beauty identified with the game of gentlemen called cricket. But measures to usher in transparency are the need of the hour.
M. Jeyaram,
Sholavandan
The IPL is a good platform where players from ordinary and humble backgrounds can find a place to stay in the race. But it has also reduced cricket to the level of a kichidi game. It was George Orwell, who in his essay “The Sporting Spirit,” and first published in the Tribune in December 1945, who said: “Even a leisurely game like cricket, demanding grace rather than strength, can cause much ill-will, as we saw in the controversy over body-line bowling and over the rough tactics of the Australian team that visited England in 1921.” It applies to the IPL.
M. Somasekhar Prasad,
Badvel
Published - May 26, 2012 12:54 am IST