Can BCCI Monopolize the game of Cricket?

With India's growing influence and dominating stature in the game of cricket, the logical next step would be for BCCI to Monopolize the game of cricket so that it doesn't need to share its fortunes with ICC and other cricket Board's. If you look at history no country or body has shared it's fortunes arising out of it's own dominance. America has used its Dominance in basketball and American Football to enrich its won fortunes. Most of the soccer playing nations have their own Private leagues and clubs to maximize the revenue. Even politically, western countries used Industrial Revolution to further their own dominance. One cannot expect Indian cricket board to exihibit the virtue of Modesty when it towers over all other cricketing bodies and nations.

More i look at India's cricket dominance from financial perspective, I believe BCCI has every chance to emulate what NFL(National Football League) and NBA(National Basketball association) Leagues in america have achieved. NFL and NBA leagues in America invite overseas players to play in their Leagues. Because of the tremendous market for Basketball and football these boards are able to bring top International talents to their league and at the same time keep all the revenues and profits to themselves. The passion and the Market for cricket in India is probably bigger than the combined influence of Basketball and American Football in USA. I should say in terms of absolute dollars still Indian market for cricket ranks far below the Football and basketball, but again Cricket players are paid pittance compared to Basketball and Football Players by their respective boards. So BCCI should not have any problem in bringing in reputed internationl players to play in the Indian League.

The recent Introduction of 20/20 Format perhaps presents the biggest opportunity for BCCI to achieve a cricketing monopoly in that form of the game. The 20/20 format gives an opportunity to play 4 to 5 games in a single day or a complete game during the primetime viewership. BCCI should encourage club and franchisee ownership and invite foreign players to play in this league. BCCI should use the sponsors and Television right to guarantee clubs Minimum amount each and every season even before it starts. BCCI would be able to attract best cricketing talents in world because the clubs which are part of BCCI League would be best pay masters in the world of Cricket. Believe me lure of the dollar is too strong. The only thing BCCI needs to accomodate is to Schedule matches in comparatively mild weather and improve Hotel and transportation Infrastructure for the players in the League.

If you look at the most Popular games in the world they are supported by private leagues rather than national boards. Soccer, Basket ball, base ball, rugby all fall under this same rule. Cricket should be no different, I sincerely believe onus is on the Indian cricket board to popularize the concept of Private leagues and to further its dominance of the game in the International arena. I Strongly appreciate BCCI's recent refusal to participate in ICC 20/20 League but I really want them to start one of their own.

With the talk about cricket, i have to put in my two cents about kumble who picked up 500 test wickets in the recently completed test..For a man who made his debut in 1990 and fashioned 35 or more of the Indian victories has largely gone unnoticed compared to tendulkars, dravids, Kapildevs and Gavaskar. I think his contribution towers over other mentioned here because of the sheer number of victories he has architected. So I hereby without regards to anyone else's or expert's opinion nominate and declare that kumble is the greatest Indian cricketer of the last 50 years.

Parodies of Tamil Movies

I just love these parodies particularly Nayagan.
Courtesy Chennai central's Blog

Link to the Parody Videos

Time to drive the Final Nail!

Recent Bush visit to India has been largely welcomed in the world's most populous democracy except for the Ideologically bereft and mentally Challenged communists and some fanatic Muslims who are ready to blow up their bodies and that of innocent civilians for the quest of 72 virgins in their after life. Major protest against bush visit was in the southern city of Hyderabad and not surprisingly 40% of Hyderabadis are Muslisms. Bush signed a landmark nuclear agreement with india and tactically recognized india as a nuclear power thereby signalling its changed attitude towards india's nuclear ambitions. America Understands that india will not give up on its nuclear weapon ambitions unless bully china scraps its nuclear programme which will never happen.

After independence india in the name of Non-Alignment aligned itself with erstwhile USSR and become a defacto socialistic republic. After 50 years india realized socialism as a nation building concept was a utter failure and it did nothing to lift majority of its population from poverty. From the early 90's india has been slowyly embracing the concept of private enterprise and the importance of individual wealth creation. Eventhough as a absolute number india has slightly close to 300 Million people living in poverty but as a % of the population this is slowly going down.

Even in the last 50 years when india was closer to Communist Russia, it was America which straddled the Indian psyche more than any other country. America has always fascinated all sections of Indian society right from its politicians to Indian professionals and students because of the country's openess.

It is paramuont that india continues to share a close relationship with America to better its economy and the quality of life for its citizens. With the rapid growth of the US outsourcing market the lure of the dollar is too strong to resist for Indian businessmen and Professionals. For this to happen india needs to bury the remnants of socialism and embrace Market capitalism as there is no tomorrow. It's time to drive the final nail into coffin and lay the socialism ghost to rest