IPL

The entry of the income tax department into the IPL spat was unavoidable. Available
evidence certainly suggests that all's not well with the premier league's financial dealings.
The matters that need to be probed are no longer limited to the last round of team auctions
and the ownership of the Kochi franchisee. The whole league is now under a cloud of
suspicion. Questions have been raised about ownership details of other IPL franchisees and
previous auction processes. The IPL, and its mother body, the BCCI, have been blamed for
lacking in transparency and having too many things to hide. A clean-up of the cricket
establishment has become necessary.

The conduct of the two men in the spotlight, Shashi Tharoor and Lalit Modi, certainly calls
for explanation. The relinquishing of a Rs 70 crore stake in the Kochi IPL team by Sunanda
Pushkar, Tharoor's close friend, does nothing to dispel suspicion that Tharoor unduly
influenced the deal between her and Rendezvous World, and may in fact deepen them
spelling out trouble for Tharoor. Modi, who's taken the credit for making IPL a success story,
needs to explain his multiple roles in the cricket establishment. There are other players in
the shadows who too need to come clear on their roles in running the game. Conflict of
interest is not a cricketing term. But too much of it appears to be around in cricket these
days.

Cricket is a business enterprise in India and its patrons can't any more justify their
involvement in the management of the sport as 'purely for the love of the game'. The kind
of love they are showering on the game could kill it. It's better that these patrons declare
their business interests transparently. IPL has so far been a remarkable story. The format
mixing sport and entertainment has caught the imagination of players, fans and big
business. It has provided a platform for numerous youngsters to showcase their talent and
rub shoulders with international players.

Unless nurtured carefully, IPL stands to lose the gains it has made in the last three years.
The fear that sleaze money and betting rackets may capture the league is real. Cricket has
been a victim of betting syndicates and match-fixing in the past. Some of it originated in
India and it took a while for players and fans to recover from its impact. A transparent
system of fund-raising and decision-making must be put in place to ensure that the game is
protected from carpetbaggers and dirty money.

IPL-4: A confused fan's dilemma

The Indian Premier League will happen again this year, but as a cricket fan, I really don't know
whom to support.

I would love to root for Rajasthan Royals, but then, can I relate with this team any longer? Perhaps
Shane Warne will be the only common link that this team will have with the one they had for the past
three years. I have loved watching Yusuf Pathan hitting those mighty sixes, smashing opposition
bowling to pulp. Now, would I be watching him do the same as a Mumbai Indian player? Or for
Kolkata Knight Riders? What if Yusuf hits Warne for six sixes in an over? Should I be clapping for
Yusuf? Or crying for Warne?

As the IPL auctions approaches, this is a dilemma I am facing.

Kolkata Knight Riders will have an all new team. No Dada and perhaps no Brendon McCullum or
Chris Gayle. The only common link would be Shah Rukh Khan dancing in the stands and Juhi
Chawla making a rare appearance. If McCullum goes to some other team, which in all likelihood will
happen, will the fans be able to boast about the rollicking start that he had given to the team in
2008? Knight Riders haven't held on to any of their players, not even Sourav Ganguly. If the Pune
franchise, Sahara, pick up Kolkata's Dada, how will his fans relate to Shah Rukh Khan's Knights?
Will just the word Kolkata in their name ensure a fan following?

IPL was always meant to be a competition between city-based teams. Fine, Kolkata Knight Riders
might still hold its preparatory camps at the Eden Gardens and play their home matches on the
hallowed turf, but then who plays for the team is perhaps the most important thing.

There will be of course be some local connect, in the form of players from the catchment areas, but
then do we know who they are?

Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are the only teams which have retained their main
players. For their fans, it will be easy to relate with the team, which they have followed for three
years. Sadly, that won't be so for the other teams.

Fans of Kings XI Punjab will have to accept Yuvraj Singh playing for some other team. There will
surely be a conflict of emotions when Yuvraj's team faces King's XI at Mohali. Sreesanth and Yuvraj,
teammates for three years, would most likely be facing off at a 'neutral' venue for other teams.

Agreed, even in the European football leagues, city-based teams have players from outside, but
then they don't change the entire lot after three years. A few players may be replaced by some new
ones, but the core of the team remains same. When David Beckham left Manchester United, the
core character of the team remained. It was just one of their biggest stars going away. Beckham was
booed for his decision when he played at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Now, when
Ganguly, McCullum, Gayle, Ishant Sharma etc play at the Eden Gardens for some other team, will
they be booed too?

In India, it is a situation that can be related to the football clubs. Followers of East Bengal would
definitely welcome a Selwyn Fernandes or a Roberto Silva, but how would they react if the entire
team is changed? They would surely be confused. Here, we are talking about years of loyal
following. In the IPL, we have this following for just three years.

When Rajasthan Royals play at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur in the IPL-4, I really wouldn't
know whether I would root for them or roar for a Yusuf Pathan six from the opponent team.