The readers of the blog might be wondering why the title of every post is a question!! This is because the blogger seeks the opinion of his readers. So I urge every reader to kindly post their valuable and geniune comments. Now coming over to the topic.
FIFA World Cup'10 is running as a super hit show similar to its predecessor editions. Fans going all crazy with their loud VEVUZELAS, their roar is so loud that even players might be having some problem with hearing the referee's whistle I guess. But why are the cheers back home not loud enough? We do celebrate our wins in the World Cup matches, yet, definitely not in this manner. Most cricket playing nations can never match the euphoria of a soccer playing nation. What's the difference?!!
Soccer is mainly a club-oriented sport played in competitive leagues, countries dont play against each other that often and hence whenever they do, fans get involved. Cricket is predominatingly a country versus country sport and in order to keep the moolah going we have abused it to the extent that it doesn't hold the same charm. While the World Cup is still coveted, still it lacks the novelty of its soccer counterpart. I'm not suggesting more leagues like the IPL because the paucity of good-cricket playing nations is a limitation. What's the next best thing? Perhaps, reducing the number of matches or getting rid of meaningless tournaments.
It won't be a bad idea to take a leaf out of FIFA's book. The ICC has nearly nine months to figure out a plan so that the 2011 World Cup doesn't flop like the 2007 edition.
Cricket no longer has the charm or charisma that it used to have a few years ago , may it be the subsequent cases of match fixing or several allegations of doping on the cricketers. This all has led to the downfall of the game and its very true FIFA is like a prime sport coz the nation's only get to face each other after 4 years and they have enough time to prepare and practice for the next tournament in the meanwhile all the players are associated with different clubs so as to be in touch with the game. Indian Cricketers are always busy endorsing for one product or the other , they spend more time endorsing than they spend practicing on the grounds. Lets hope ICC finds a way to make the 2011 World Cup a hit just like the FIFA World Cup.!!
ReplyDeletekaran i really commend ur command over the language but let me tell that ul find fixing in every sport being played over the world. n yes i was not talking not just about indian cricketers. many footballers are into the brand endorsements n moreover these footballers are paid several folds higher than the cricketers that it hardly matters to them if they dont go for the endorsements
ReplyDeleteIts true that almost all the sports are fixed but cricket has got fixing right to the core of the game,an example is in front of us during the asia cup first sri lanka beats India ruthlessly and in the finals Sri Lanka does not stand a chance in front of the indian team. Its just a piece of cake for India in the final where as it was pretty hard the other day what would u call this my dear friend. Soccer may be fixed but it's still unpredictable unlike cricket.
ReplyDeletebrother u cannot call every coincidence in a game as match fixing. i guess u were a patriot :)
ReplyDeleteI dont think making cricket a club game like soccer would do sumthng ! The problem is there are just a handful of countries that are in main league ... wich doesnt make the cricket world anywhere near the Soccer universe. and reducing matches would mean less exposure to feild for players .... the nworld cup wont b fun !
ReplyDeleteI actually dont have suggestion because i dnt find anyway how ICC can make this worldcup a better success ! they have to depend on Asian subcontinent enthusiasm !
Dear monica, i respect your views and i agree with your point that their are very few countries in the elite panel of teams but let me tell u that we have plenty of talented cricketers in countries like Holland, Namibia, Ireland etc but to give their careers a shape they are migrating to countries like England, South Africa, Australia etc and they make a space for themselves in the national squad. Their are many players like Dirk Nannes. Also playing cricket is not only restricted to 10 major teams i.e. the test playing nations, many other nations are into it and infact ICC is trying to build a cricket league in USA with the help of BCCI.
ReplyDelete