The Indian Premier League (IPL) is no longer an Indian tournament. It is fast emerging as one of the finest cricketing events in the world.
Though touted as a clash between teams from Indian cities, the inclusion of the world's best stars in the different teams has transformed this event into a clash beyond boundaries and nationalities.
Australians are as keen as the people of Rajasthan on following the success of their star player Shane Warne. Deccan Chargers' battle against Chennai Super Kings is also a battle for supremacy between the two former Australian top order batsmen Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.
With Sri Lankan players giving it their best, cricket lovers on the island are also keenly following the tournament. Lalit Modi, the chairman and commissioner of the IPL, who visualised this tournament, deserves all the credit.
There was a time when cricketers, especially from Australia and England, had numerous objections towards an Indian tour. For the fear of coming down with an upset stomach, Australians used to fly in their own food during their tours. The English players had even complained about air pollution.
Today, none of them seem to have any complaints. That is the IPL magic. It has got cricketers to fall in love with India, with some even candidly admitting that it is one of the finest places in the world to play cricket.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), whose sole aim is to promote cricket, must accept the fact that this is a tournament that has won the hearts of cricket lovers around the world. Maybe they could create a 45-day window in the international calendar to enable the best in the world to participate in this cricketing festival. Refusing to do it is nothing but playing spoilsport.
It is a well-known secret that if cricketers are rewarded well, like in the IPL, their enthusiasm to produce their best will also be high. If money can get the best out of cricketers, then one should not hesitate to go ahead with it. Former England allrounder Ian Botham, during a chat in Abu Dhabi last week, lauded Modi's initiative.
"You need a strong person to get up and do things. He [Modi] is not one who keeps waiting for decisions but instead he takes matters by the scruff of the neck and implements them. This seems to have worked out pretty well," he said.
The truth is, many cricketers and cricket boards around the world will endorse Botham's observation.
