The IPL saga

Here's a very nice article that captures several nuances about the IPL saga.

My thought on this was that the incumbent party (UPA) in India wants to hedge its risks politically in case there is a terrorist attack during the IPL. Given the enormous popularity of the IPL and also the fact public opinion typically turns against the government during such attacks, UPA stands to lose enormously (and that is being hugely euphemistic). There is literally nothing to gain for UPA if IPL is successful as that is general baseline expectation.

With this simple cost-benefit analysis, it looks like the UPA wanted to appear as the paternalistic protector of India democratic institutions. Now that IPL is likely to be played in England or South Africa, UPA has more or less achieved its political objectives.

But what is lost here is the opportunity to show-case to the world that India can conduct world class sporting tournaments in India. Now this discussion on security will become a vexing issue for BCCI at the beginning of every home tour, especially after 26/11 and SL attacks.

But why did BCCI not spend money to hire private security providers with intelligence support from the government? The government would probably not agreed to that, but would have helped BCCI from a longer term credibility stand-point. But then, why would BCCI (a registered non-profit organization!!!) want spend any extra money when they were allegedly paying only about 3-4 lakhs per game for security? It is a sad (and a selfish) self-goal in India's fight against terror.

Nonetheless, don't underestimate the relevance of holding IPL in England (if it turns out to be the case.) It is a snub on the boorish behavior of the ECB and, more importantly, a full house Chennai Vs Mumbai in the heart of London in many ways re-enforces the ever increasing reverse cultural colonization!! At the risk of being a lil' melodramatic, I'm tempted to quote the saying that the sun never sets on the Indian dispora!

As far I am concerned, it's go Dhoni and go CSK to the championship title this time around.