The Hindu : National : It’s tabloid cricket: CPI

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It’s tabloid cricket: CPI

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League edition of cricket came in for criticism in the Lok Sabha from Communist Party of India member Gurudas Dasgupta on Tuesday.

Raising the issue after question hour, he lamented that the game was reduced to a “tabloid format.” Stating that money was determining the contours of the game, he pointed out that the idea had been borrowed from the U.S., drawing an immediate observation from Speaker Somnath Chatterjee that cricket was not being played in that country.

The CPI member said players were being purchased like cattle and teams franchised. “Cricket is being taken over by the industry and open gambling is taking place.”

Referring to the huge amounts being pumped into the game, Mr. Dasgupta wanted the government to trace the source of this funding. He asked whether cricket should lose its nobility and if gambling should be allowed in the game.

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