The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Market imperfections

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Saturday, Feb 23, 2008
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Market imperfections

The editorial “Market imperfections” (Feb. 22) is typically balanced, bringing to the fore legitimate concerns of many a true cricket lover. At any cost, Twenty20 cricket should not be allowed to cannibalise the traditional form of the game.

In the absence of national pride, will the “big names” put their heart and soul into the game? Will the viewers not be deprived of competitive games “fought till the end?”

Suresh Manoharan,

Hyderabad

Games are played on the national identity. But this will be lacking in the IPL matches. Neither television viewers nor spectators at stadiums will support any team. Who cares who wins will be the attitude. Team spirit will be lost due to the huge difference in the earnings of the players. In a country like India where 860 million people live at less than Rs.20 a day and 22 per cent of the total population live below the poverty line, such money fit for a king’s ransom being thrown at cricketers is a national shame.

K.V.S. Krishna,

Chennai

The contention that cricketers have become commodities now is not true as the damage was done long ago. The game today is all about trade. Contrast such pampering of media-hyped cricket darlings with the agrarian crisis and farmers’ suicides.

How is it that in a democratic and socialist country a few, in the name of cinema and sports, can earn disproportionate amounts of money while thousands of farmers commit suicide for want of patronage? This is a question all sane Indians must ask themselves. The existing Indian scenario truly reflects the consequence of LPG.

K.P. Mari Kumar,

Madurai

Suddenly, in India, money is flying … whoever-can-get-his-hands-on-it-go-grab-it seems to be the message. While people are dying of starvation, farmers are committing suicide and victims of natural calamities are perishing due to want of a few coins in their hands, all this splash of colour is appalling.

Surekha Tenneti Venugopal,

Hyderabad

The entire episode of launching this extravaganza is a patent endeavour to make money, capitalising on the hold cricket has on gullible people. The promoters will do well to consider other sports which languish without support.

Y.S. Kadakshamani,

Madurai

The IPL is squarely responsible for the absolute commercialisation of cricket and cricketers. Millions have been invested in the sport, which clearly reflects the step-motherly treatment given to other sports. These millions could have been better utilised in improving domestic cricket which would have enabled us to excel internationally.

Priyanka Chauhan,

Faridabad

Many readers have expressed outrage at the big money involved in the players’ auction. People say the same thing when big film stars, who are instrumental in bringing in the audience to fill the coffers, are paid exorbitant salaries. But no one complains about politicians earning huge money, which is disproportionate to their talent and capabilities.

Cricket players have the talent which you and I do not have, and the free market economy allows them to get their market prices. Why should anyone grudge them that? Equally inapt is the argument that the Twenty20 format will sound the death knell for pure cricket. Change is inevitable in any field. People denounced Packer when he introduced limited overs cricket. But it caught the fancy of the people who preferred it to the dull and drab five-day Test ordeals.

A. Dharma Perumal,

Palayamkottai

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