Cricket in the sub continent over the few decades have been the fastest growing religion. People leave their jobs, education and other commitment and sit before their television, PC and even radio to catch the match. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the four major countries playing the game. The incidents in the past and the current ones during the world cup have raised big questions in my mind.
Is cricket a sport that we watch or is it far beyond that? If its no longer just a sport then is this wild craziness good for the sport? The biggest stadium in India is the Eden Gardens which can hold the maximum spectators, but no game is being played for the world cup. The lathi charge in Bangalore due to unruly crowd behavior for getting the tickets for the India vs England game, and the most recent incident of Bangladeshi fans throwing stones on player's buses.
Let us take Eden Gardens for instance, the worst day started during the 1960/67 tour of West Indies later during 1969/70 Australian tour and Eden gardens tagged "unruly crowd". The one that is still fresh in memory 1996 world cup semifinals India vs Sri Lanka. Later in 1999 Pakistan tour to India when Sachin Tedulakar got runout and then had to appease the crowd for the match to continue. Above all the stadium renovation process dull and slow resulting in the great stadium not part of the venue.
In the 2011 world cup after the West Indies vs Bangladesh match, the Bangladeshi fans started hurling stones on the buses of players. No harm done to the players, but a great deal of moral puncture has been received over the incident. The subcontinent fans are tagged arrogant, immature, crazy for cricket and have no sense of appreciation for the game. The best example is people getting beaten up for trying to get cricket tickets for India match against England, and the same counters empty for English/Irish game. As a love for the game, I felt the English/Irish game was more entertaining and refreshing that the previous match. I feel that fans have to be more responsible, better crowd regulation and ticketing system and for god's sake proper management of cricket stadiums.
I wish we all enjoy the world cup with no more dirty incidents and enjoy the game for we have only one to cherish. I leave you with a few pictures that I thought reflects the need for change.
Is cricket a sport that we watch or is it far beyond that? If its no longer just a sport then is this wild craziness good for the sport? The biggest stadium in India is the Eden Gardens which can hold the maximum spectators, but no game is being played for the world cup. The lathi charge in Bangalore due to unruly crowd behavior for getting the tickets for the India vs England game, and the most recent incident of Bangladeshi fans throwing stones on player's buses.
Let us take Eden Gardens for instance, the worst day started during the 1960/67 tour of West Indies later during 1969/70 Australian tour and Eden gardens tagged "unruly crowd". The one that is still fresh in memory 1996 world cup semifinals India vs Sri Lanka. Later in 1999 Pakistan tour to India when Sachin Tedulakar got runout and then had to appease the crowd for the match to continue. Above all the stadium renovation process dull and slow resulting in the great stadium not part of the venue.
In the 2011 world cup after the West Indies vs Bangladesh match, the Bangladeshi fans started hurling stones on the buses of players. No harm done to the players, but a great deal of moral puncture has been received over the incident. The subcontinent fans are tagged arrogant, immature, crazy for cricket and have no sense of appreciation for the game. The best example is people getting beaten up for trying to get cricket tickets for India match against England, and the same counters empty for English/Irish game. As a love for the game, I felt the English/Irish game was more entertaining and refreshing that the previous match. I feel that fans have to be more responsible, better crowd regulation and ticketing system and for god's sake proper management of cricket stadiums.
I wish we all enjoy the world cup with no more dirty incidents and enjoy the game for we have only one to cherish. I leave you with a few pictures that I thought reflects the need for change.
1996 World Cup India Vs Sri Lanka
Sachin's controversial runout leading to crowd appeasement
Getting Beaten for trying to watch cricket
Paradise Lost in this world cup 2011
