Promotions for the much-delayed Sri Lankan Premier League, which kicks off on Saturday, are underway in full flow. Unfortunately, the organisers have already been dealt a blow, with Chris Gayle, the biggest selling factor of the League pulling out. They still have a few big names, with all of Sri Lanka’s international and domestic cricketers taking part in the event. What’s more, the arrangers of the tournament have also found an Indian automobile company as their sponsors in spite of the fact that the BCCI hasn’t allowed Indian cricketers to take part in the event.
There is, however, still a lot the men in charge of organising the tournament have to be careful of. They need to keep the controversies surrounding the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in mind as they host the event that’s critical to the future of domestic T20 cricket in the country. Just like the SLPL, the BPL was also held amidst a lot of fanfare in Bangladesh. All seemed well for a few days after the tournament got over. And all due credit to the players, who produced some highly competitive cricket. But, the honeymoon was short lived.
What followed a few weeks after the tournament were reports of players not being paid their promised due. In no time, the great cricket the tournament produced was forgotten, and the players whose dues were pending became grumpy, as they got nothing but assurances from the BPL committee. The federation of the players association has also stepped into the fray now, and what was supposed to be a tournament to showcase that Bangladesh too can host quality cricket events – they can as the Asia Cup demonstrated – has now turned into a legal tangle, with both parties pointing figures at the others, and not concrete coming out.
While the Lankans would hope nothing of that sort happens, they should be wary nonetheless. The problem with boards like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is that they aren’t cash rich like India. The BCCI is far from a professionally-run organisation. Yet, they can get away with anything primarily on the basis of their money power. Remember, Lalit Modi airlifted the IPL tournament from India to South Africa in a matter of days, after Indian government refused to provide security to the event owing to the elections that were going to be held in the country at the same time.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh may have the right ideas and the committed men to do the job. But, money definitely makes a big difference, and this is where India’s neighbours cannot and should not compete with them. Without sounding derogatory, it would be fair to say that they should be aware of their limitations. Bangladesh have run themselves into series trouble for not doing so. Has Sri Lanka learnt its lessons? The SLPL will tell.
--By A Cricket Analyst
