The Girls Next Door and the Million Dollar Baby

When the IPL III auction started its engine, conventional wisdom held that players jarred by a tight schedule would be overlooked by franchises looking to mitigate their financial risks. After all, these franchises had given a number of players, from around the world, new deals in the worst of times and a patchwork of economic safety since then. They’d do well to solve their own problems before meeting the needs of players, or need of players, which incidentally, was the path taken.

Unfortunately, this frame of thought escaped the minds of a particular sample set, a large plurality of whom belonged to our noisy neighbours. The illogical counterintuitive notion that their ignorance was a ‘conspiracy’ to belittle the status of the reigning world T20 champions just goes to show why politics and sport inevitably are tethered together by a relatively thick rope, in addition to their unsporting chain of thoughts.

It’s quite simple to find a national consensus that government should lead on matters like security concerns. When the Indian government proposed to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan back in 2004, the players knew that there were people better qualified than them to take a stand on this. At the end of the day, the country’s interests come first.

But any out rightly bold reach beyond the basics will become problematic when franchises attempt to confront costly realities. We could make a rather iffy proposition that the abundance of talent from Pakistani cricket is 51% necessary and 49% futile for the IPL. It’s definitely one of those push-me, pull-you issues for which we have to be a part of this effort, and no, merely mouthing platitude in support of those grieving isn’t enough. And if the government feel that security will be a concern, it definitely is.

The franchises have their point slated out quite clearly as well. They had to choose from a menu of options, most of which were less than ideal, and with a budget cap fixed at $750 000, they couldn’t afford to sample all the dishes on the menu of unappetizing options. They had their names in mind, well before the auction, after thorough consultation and assessment of their needs, and associated a reasonable figure with each. Every decision they have made can be meticulously defended. So can every decision they didn’t make.

I’m sure as ardent cricket fans, we’re definitely going to miss the pyrotechnics that Pakistani cricketers are capable of. It is their mere unpredictable nature that makes them a thrill to watch – their recent final test against Australia will do justice to this statement. And I’m sure I could think of a lot of names that would have floated through the minds of the men in charge, had such a situation not portended a new stage.

But let us not forget, as equally as we may have missed an Umar Akmal or a Mohammad Ameer, we’re still missing the likes of Brad Haddin and Doug Bollinger, had it not been for their schedules, with the latter pair more than capable of what the former have to offer. Some boundary conditions just have to be met.

It would have been funny to see Australian cricketers, had they had a less intense calendar and still been ignored, point their fingers at the problems Indian students are facing in Australia these days as a reason for mixing other issues of national concern with sports. It’s probably just not in their nature to do it.

I’m all for India resuming cricketing ties with Pakistan, and even lend a hand to the development of the game in Afghanistan, but only at the right time. It would otherwise be a dangerous mixing of apples and predators when we’re trying to stabilize one of the more dangerous parts of the world in an era where we’re witnessing insane carnage caused by crudely constructed roadside bombs on the evening news. But at the apt moment, when things are stable, ties must be made.

I’m sure there are many who would find this romanticism quite delusional, especially since it rankles when applied to a questionable war. But the romance of the fight is at the heart of sporting culture. Would we not love to see a world that brings out outstanding cricketers from regions we never thought would embrace the game? From countries we never thought we’d see eye-to-eye with? Sport, clearly, can shelve the grudges one might have for the other. Sure sporting rivalry will arise, but that is like a virus off a whale’s back when compared to what national conflicts can yield.

For all those sceptics out there, lying ahead is a skew of unresolved problems. Sure, I’d have loved to see our neighbouring cricketers showcase their talent out here, but the issue would be like watching a duck swim. On the surface it will seem fine, but underneath it is quite chaotic. The existing and emerging national crises are masking a whole lot of chaos these days. But accept it or not, sport will always be burdened by the heavy baggage that is created due to these conflicts.

Rather than fretting over what has already happened, and happened for the good, let us look at the bright side. With Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach, Shane Bond, Wayne Parnell and Eoin Morgan walking into different franchises, its probably time to get ready to watch missiles fly all over the field. A record bid of all time made by the Mumbai Indians for the West Indian all-rounder, the million dollar baby in Pollard (he’s just 22 after all), coupled with the bemusing re-entry of the ex-Aussie middle order marshall Damien Martyn, IPL III has got a lot at stake to overshadow the recent happenings, if I may term them so in the first place.

Equally shocking was the steal made by the Bangalore Royal Challengers for the Irish born England middle order. Morgan, who I thought would have attracted a lot more attention and dollars, might consider himself unlucky in perception when compared to a very lucky man in Mohommad Kaif, who could have so easily been ignored, or gone at a much lower rate on another day.

But all’s well that ends well. And as Rameez Raja ponders over his attempts to start a ‘rival’ Pakistan Premier League, for which I heartily wish him the best of luck, I’m gearing up for one of sport’s most festive seasons when it kicks off on the twelfth of March in Mumbai. May the most sensible franchise win!