Poll Analysis | Is Cricket losing its Sheen?
A simple “bat-ball” game (as it was called in 16th century England) started simply as a hobby, as most sports do. Today it has gripped millions of fans because of its popularity as a game that enthrals the spirit and enthusiasm of spectators. Cricket is a craze indeed.
A “gentleman’s game”, this is much more than just a sport. A profession to many and a pastime for many more, cricket is a tradition that reflects not just the competency of its players but also a country’s wavelength as a whole. And watching this game is meant to be a carnival in itself. People thronging in stadiums, small musical bands to entertain spectators, players seeking their luck for the game, ball by ball commentary, people rising from their seats with every four and six – these are some usual images witnessed during the game. Watching and being a part of this game is a way of bonding among people in south Asian and African countries.
But over the years, this popular game has been infringed by trends that are unhealthy and unethical. Outwardly, it appears to be a neat game but the inside story reveals its dark side. Match-fixing, betting and doping cases that have recently come to light have become game spoilers of cricket.
A recent telecast of six umpires caught on camera for match fixing in the ICC World Twenty20 matches is the latest issue to be brought up. These umpires from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh allegedly agreed to manipulate their decisions on field during the matches. Currently under the scanner of ICC Board, these umpires have been suspended based on the evidence submitted by the TV channel that conducted the sting.
So will such cases affect the viewers of the game? “Is cricket a dirty sport now?” is what ipaidabribe.com asked its readers on a poll. Majority of the respondents (73%) agreed to the fact that cricket is getting murkier with such scams, while a smaller percentage of cricket fans (27%) disagreed to the question.
All these developments are sure to underline one fact: cricket is no longer a game but an enterprise that buys and sells players. So it comes down to a call by the sport’s fans, to either focus on the game or the shady deals behind the game.