IPL is gone finally..

The cat and mouse game between IPL and Govt. of India is over and the final verdict just confirms the initial speculation but after lot of drama. BJP leaders immediately jumped onto the scene and accused government for letting IPL go. Congress will counter this attack by highlighting the relationship that Modi shared with erstwhile Rajasthan chief minister whom Lalit use to address with the nickname "Vasu" (and one of the reason why Jaipur got a franchisee last year and probably the reason why Jaipur was denied any matches in this edition). Also, the other leader who has just leveled the accusation has his last name common with the "karta dharta of IPL" (and because Ahmedabad was likely to get a franchisee soon).

No wonder if you hear the news about BJP wooing Sharad Pawar in the name of IPL as Pawar was the guy who ultimately had to bargain with the government. Anyways I think the government is right by denying IPL the permission for this year. Arre bhai itna bada political circus is already under the way? Who needs distraction?

Well there are some reasons why IPL should be held in India and first of all the name itself is Indian Premier league. It's really a shame if Indian premier league is to be hosted by England or Australia for that matter. Leaving aside the 'I' connection, I think the business needs are more compulsive. Just imagine -

If it is not for India or Indians then who will really bother playing 7 Indian players in the match?

Difference in Time zones will make the IPL TV coverage less lucrative for both franchisee and the sponsors. At the same time the costs will go up unless they play in Bangladesh.

I don't think that the stadiums will get the same capacity crowd in some foreign country. What worked in India (the quantity of the matches) might not work in the Videshi land. I don't find lots of Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers or Kolkata Nightridders in let's say Tunbridge Wells.

So it's a blot on the homeland security (forgive me, I know there is no homeland security thing in India but the word looks lot cooler) and the home ministry and it's foolishness on the part of the organizing authority to ask for police protection. It also raises a basic doubt that why government should provide security to an event being organized by private parties? Had IPL paid anything to the home ministry for the public/state services availed by them? "Hmmmm a nice Right to Information idea". Well, even if it's there can't the organizing authorities be a little more sensitive to the larger issue at hand like holding free and fair elections?

Well, anyways this will be definitely good for the Kolkata Knight Riders's cheerleaders if Shahrukh really allows them to travel with the team. Good hai.