Whether its the infamous Slap-Gate or Lalit ModiRss suspension, the Indian Premier

League has been dogged by controversies since its inception in 2008. The league has an
uncanny ability to remain in news for reasons which has no relation to cricketing
activities. Ajeyo Basu looks at the IPLs tumultous journey.
The IPL is as much about cricket and glamour as it is about controversies. Throughout its six-year
existence, the IPL has had more than its share of controversies, repeatedly making it to the headlines
because of the wrong reasons.
The first season itself saw a huge controversy when off-spinner Harbhajan Singh slapped S Sreesanth
after the two were involved in a spat following a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab.
Each and every season since then has seen multiple controversies, culminating in the spot fixing scandal
during the current season.
For purists, the glamorous, cash-rich tournament is very anathema of what the game of cricket has
traditionally stood for - gentlemen in white flannels toiling away at the five-day version, not for any
material reward, but purely for the love of the game.
To be fair, the IPL has had a big impact, not just on cricket, but on Indian sports in general.
It has opened up a window of opportunity for budding cricketrs who can now showcase their talent on the
big stage and earn hefty amounts of money in the process.
It has also inspired other sports in India like wrestling, badminton and hockey to set up similar leagues of
their own.
Lalit Modi, the disgraced creator of the IPL, who was ousted as its chief in 2010 over a series of corruption
charges, said IPL is all about cricket, entertainment and Bollywood.
But this cocktail is pushing the real game to the backseat, despite the fact that the cricket played during
the current IPL season is being touted as the best since the series inception in 2008.
Historically cricket-crazy India now finds itself drawn to the frenzy over the ban of belligerent movie
superstar Shah Rukh Khan from a stadium.
Jamaican cricketer Chris Gayles record-smashing performance at the IPL was lost in the brouhaha of the
Khan controversy, which itself was overshadowed by a sexual molestation case involving Australian player
Luke Pomersbach.
Corruption scandals have also dogged the glamorous IPL teams, most recently a match-fixing scandal.
The on-and-off-pitch action of the IPL has always hurt so-called traditional Indian sensibilities - be it the
sexy cheerleaders, the bacchanalian spirit of the after-parties, the controversies surrounding the playboy
franchise owners and the players.
The IPLs update on the staid colonial game of cricket - faster, bigger-hitting and consumer-orientated -
reflects the sensibilities of Indias new middle class millions, who pack the stadiums every night to watch
the short season.
But its excesses seem to embody conservatives worst fears about modern lifestyles and values.
Perhaps true to Modis definition of the IPL, the series is akin to a plot of a Bollywood thriller.
Controversies have always dogged the game of cricket and other sports worldwide. But what the IPL needs
is better corporate governance and accountability, and an iron hand that can prevent the house from
collapsing.
If the shenanigans associated with the Indian Premier League continue, it wont be long before this game,
arguably Indias biggest sports brand, turns into a failed Bollywood movie.


One is not saying that the concept of the T20 league in itself is bad and one is also not saying that
the IPL should be scrapped, though one just hopes that the BCCI has not created a Frankenstein
monster. But if the administrators are serious about restoring the credibility of the tournament, then
the cleaning up job has to start and now. Especially, with talks doing the rounds that more IPL
matches and not just this years maybe under the scanner and more arrests are likely, not just of
bookies but of players too.

For a start, after the present season of IPL is over, why doesnt the board suspend the tournament
for some time, maybe a year or two, get the right checks and balances in place and then get back
afresh. Also, though the BCCI officials keep repeating it, what exactly have they done to educate the
players so that the lure of money and glamour does not blind them? Or for that matter what did they
do to keep an eye on players who could be under the radar of bookies. A player like Ajit Chandila is
definitely a soft target - he was not able to build his career as a first class cricketer and at 29 he
knew that his chances of playing for India were slim. So, the IPL was the perfect platform for him to
make some quick bucks and make hay while the sun shone.

Inspite of the fact that the ICC and the BCCI have an anti-corruption unit in place, they have neither
been able to get to the root of the problem nor have they been able to catch those who may have
indulged in wrongdoings. Former South African cricketer, late Hansie Cronje and former India
players Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Sharma, Manoj Prabhakar and Ajay Jajeda were named in a
Delhi Police probe; the spot-fixing by three Pakistani players was exposed by a British tabloid; a
television channels sting in 2012 exposed the corruption in Indias domestic and T20 league; and
now again the Delhi Police has uncovered the sordid tale of spot-fixing by players.

If it was bandied about that the IPL was prone to fixing then why didnt the BCCI make use of ICCs
anti-corruption unit? The ICC too needs to wake up. The T20 league is just not limited to India.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Australia too have their own leagues and who knows the
malaise of spot-fixing could be prevalent in these tournaments too.

Post Script: Rightly or wrongly, the fans, while hero-worshipping the players often forget that they
are mortals too and are part of the very system where corruption is a way of life. We like to believe
that sportsmen become what they become not because of the system but inspite of the system.
Sadly, as the match-fixing scandal of Azharuddin and company showed and as the latest spot-fixing
in IPL has revealed, players too are a by-product of the society that they have grown up in.

Having said that, one also has to acknowledge the fact that as long as there are players like Sachin
Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman and Srinath, fans like us will
not lose hope in the game that we so much love. These players are greats not only because of the
runs that they scored and the wickets that they took. They are greats because of the way they have
conducted themselves on and off the field. Hope the new crop of players take inspiration and
guidance from them and play the game with integrity and unbridled passion.
MY Opinion:- Frankly speaking, I"m not at all bothered or surprised about the
current controversy. Corruption has been part of our system for a long time.
It"s only now that media has highlighted it. You"re declared a thief only when
you"re caught. Modi isn"t the only villain in this mess. I don"t think IPL
should be scrapped because the stakes are too high. Just because of one
individual you can"t deny the fans and viewers of their favourite sport. After
all, the game is bigger than any individual. With time, the people of this
country will forget everything.