The Indian Premier League (IPL) has now made a habit to come up with a series of 'firsts'- first domestic Twenty20 tournament, first tournament in cricket to replicate the glamour of the English Premier League, and now, the first service to be outsourced out of India. The hit cricket series that dominated TV channels in the subcontinent is being shipped out of the country to South Africa. This has led to an outcry from millions of Indians who have rallied around this matter in far greater numbers difficult to replicate in the upcoming elections. While the organizers have set about making the public see reason in their decision, only one thing reverberates in every Indian's mind- what is Indian should stay Indian.
Envisioned by the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI), the IPL is tailored to equal the greatness of the English Premier League (EPL). In its inaugural season in 2008, it put US$1 billion into the BCCI's coffers. However, this year, this tournament is being moved to South Africa and this has incensed many Indians. I myself am enraged with this decision, especially after realizing the reason given by the tournament organizers is fallacious and the potential negative consequences.
The only reason given by the organizers for this almost heretical move is the lack of security that can be provided to the players and spectators of this tournament. The IPL coincides with the general elections of the world's largest democracy, and policing this mammoth exercise will be hundreds of thousands of police and paramilitary forces from all states. This leaves precious few armed forces for safeguarding the tournament. Security of cricket cannot be taken for granted anymore, not after what happened to the Sri Lankan players in Lahore, Pakistan. Gunmen open fired on the team bus carrying the players, something unprecedented in the history of cricket. With little security forces present to stop any armed psychopaths from coming to the matches, the organizers have reasoned, the IPL could be a killing ground if it is hosted in India, and shatter India's global image, as compared to a mere smear with the IPL moving out. However, this is a sophistic subterfuge, and in my opinion, shows the unwillingness of the organizers to go the extra step for the IPL. The lack of state-sponsored security can be compensated by installing private security arrangements. The IPL funds will definitely allow this to happen, but it is not the easier way out for them. The delusional excuse of the dearth of security arrangements is an attempt by the incompetent organizers to mask their apathy.
There are several arguments why this tournament should not have moved out of the country.
The main argument for not moving the IPL out is that, by moving the IPL out of the country because of the fear of terrorist attacks simply sends the message that the inhumane tactics of terrorists are working. The main aim of terrorism is to create terror in people's minds, by blowing bombs and killing people in front of them, so that they cannot carry on with their lives normally. Their success lies in the failure of people to carry on with their daily tasks. The IPL was what all Indians followed, because it is a home-grown tournament made by Indians for Indians and it was a gem of India. They took great pains and pride to follow this tournament, and this was part of almost every Indian's daily routine. This failure in carrying out a part of the daily routine occurred because of the actions of terrorists, and this is where the schizoids can claim their success. So, in effect as it can be seen, by moving IPL out of the country because of terrorism will disrupt something that was done regularly by Indians, and send the message that terrorism actually works in the country.
The second argument is something more pragmatic and something more down-earth. By moving the IPL to South Africa, the tournament will make less profit. This is because of two reasons. Firstly, there would be a loss in revenues. To South Africans, cricket is simply a pastime, and to Indians, it is religion. Therefore, South Africans are much less inclined to spend their money on watching matches live in the stadiums. So, ticket sales in South Africa can be called to a drop in the ocean of money Indians would have been willing to spend on ticket sales. In addition to this, money made from broadcasting this tournament will also be much lesser compared what it would have been had the IPL been hosted in India. This is once again because South Africans will be unwilling to spend money subscribing to channels that show the IPL. Besides this, TV viewership from India will also fall, as a result of the time difference the two countries have. Because of these two collective causes, the IPL will get less revenue. The second reason to a smaller profit would be the increased expenses. The causes of this are many, ranging from increased tax and broadcasting rights rates to moving the entire competition, its players etc, to another continent altogether. Thus, as it can be seen, downsized revenues and inflated expenses will reduce the profits the tournament makes, and this will be detrimental to the future of the competition.
Although for now Indians will have to say alvida to the IPL for now, this should not have happened. The reason given by the organizers is ridiculous; what is claimed to be problem is evidence of dispassion on their part. When the IPL moves, it will bring along with it many problems, and leave behind some benefits. This move is detrimental not only to itself, but also to India. It is a score for enemies of the state, by successfully disrupting one aspect of almost every Indian's daily routine. All in all, the tournament should have stayed in India.
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