Cricket And Monopoly Capitalism
By M.Mohibul Haque
30 April, 2009
Countercurrents.org
Cricket is the most popular game in the Indian subcontinent. As out of four Cricket –playing nations in South –Asia, three have been world champions, the game becomes more popular in this region. India alone with more than one billion population accounts for more cricket lovers than that of the combined population of all cricket playing countries in the world. This is the reason that BCCI is the richest Board of Cricket in the world.
Misuse of position
The BCCI seems to be misusing its power and prestige under present circumstances. The Board of Cricket is increasingly converting itself into a profit-oriented multi-national private company .The IPL vs. ICL controversy created mainly by BCCI is a glaring example and pointer to the fact. The manner in which the BCCI has attempted and been successful in handling the so-called rebel cricket organized as Indian Cricket League shows that the market –oriented capitalist ethics has entered into cricket also. The BCCI acted as a giant multi- national corporation and entered into competition by announcing its biggest cricket bonanza i.e., IPL.
The ethics of free trade
The BCCI may easily justify its move in this era of universally accepted ethics of free trade. There is nothing wrong in entering into competition with other challengers. But it can not tamper the rules of free market for its own benefit. After all Essel Sports (Pvt.) limited as a profit-oriented company like BCCI in this case has every right to enter into competition. It has freedom to organize matches and hire players who can be considered as commodity in the market. The only way for BCCI to compete is to organize better matches and hire better players but in no case it can force other actors to enter into competition. However the BCCI has flouted the same rules of free market according to which it is claiming to play the game. Thus making of ICL as untouchable is unjust and unfortunate.
Monopoly Capitalism?
Capitalism thrives on free market. It opposes regulations by the state or society as far as economy is concerned. The market should be open and free for the competition. Thus, might is right becomes the governing principle and Social Darwinism to the level of survival of the fittest is preached and practiced. The BCCI seems to be following the same principles. It has neutralized rather dismantled its potential competitor by adopting unfair means leading thereby to maintain its unjust monopoly over cricket in India.
Victims of Competition
As we find victims of developmental capitalism in many developing nations like India, similarly we see countless innocent victims of monopolistic tendency of BCCI. The BCCI by declaring ICL as rebel cricket and putting unwarranted and unjust ban on players playing in ICL has ruined the promising career of many cricketers. After all, the players who are not in the national team or in any zonal or state team need money for their survival. Also they need platform to shine and show their talent. Since BCCI could not and can not provide such a platform to every one, the ICL was and is providing the same to hundreds of cricketers, thus it should have been encouraged. It would be good for the Indian cricket. But BCCI wants players to keep on waiting for life without playing any lucrative cricket which can not be justified on morally and legally respectable grounds.
Humiliation of senior players
The BCCI in its endeavor to establish and maintain its monopoly over Indian cricket has committed the cardinal sin of humiliating a legendary cricketer like Kapil Dev. He is one of the most popular and respected cricketers of our country. The BCCI never gave the respect and role to him which he deserved but it did not spare any opportunity to humiliate him in this latest IPL vs. ICL conflict.
Judicial intervention is needed.
The Supreme Court as the custodian of rights and liberties of people may intervene in the matter to save the promising career of hundreds of Indian cricketers associated with the ICL. The BCCI should not be allowed to transgress its power against the will of millions of cricket lovers in India. After all it is not a private limited but a state-controlled Board.
M.Mohibul Haque is a Lecturer in Department of Political Science, AMU, Aligarh. He can be reached at [email protected].
