Treat current and old players alike

Even as the Indian team started to win some games in Australia, better news was coming from the US where Yuvraj Singh is being treated for a tumour. The great news is that the tumour is almost out of the system and hopefully by the time the treatment cycle is complete, it will be out forever. Yuvraj has shown the temperament that has taken him to the very top in the game and like he has bounced back after being left out of the Indian team, it appears that he will bound into the India team sooner than later.

What this has shown him is the affection of so many millions of people, not only Indians but from other countries too, who want him to get better, back in action and delight them again with his power- packed performances. This enforced absence from the spotlight will also give him the chance to reflect back on his life, career and realise that while there will always be the odd doubter and critic, the majority are with him. What he will also understand is that the greatest wealth a sportsman has is the love of the people, and while that does not necessarily translate into putting food on the table, it lifts the spirits like nothing else does.

Prayers for sportspersons

There will be thousands who he will probably never meet in his life, but who will pray for him and who have prayed for him even before this huge ‘test match' started. These are selfless people who without even hoping to get a glimpse of him in person, will make some sacrifice so that he does well on the field. This is the same with others in public life, but more so with sportspersons who bring so much joy and also despair with their performances.

When a player is young and bursting with energy, he has little or no idea how much sporting success can lift a nation's spirits and also how a bad performance can cause listlessness in the country. Sure, not everybody follows sport and not everybody follows all the sports but for those who do, an India win gives a burst of energy and a loss is a big dampener.

Yuvraj's illness also brought forth the difference in how we treat those currently playing and retired players. As soon as his ailment became public, even the Government of India came up saying that it would pay for his treatment. That the BCCI and his team sponsor would do so was a given. It is here that the disparity comes through. Quite clearly, as people age, they will suffer from some ailment or the other. That is nature's way, and again, the earning potential of sportspeople as they grow older becomes less than what it was in their prime. The BCCI, however, has a limit of how much they will support the treatment for a retired player, but has no such limit for current players. I am not sure how much insurance comes into play here but going by what has happened in the past, it does seem that it is better to fall ill or get injured while one is playing than when one is retired.

Plight of former players

Have you known of a single Indian player who has taken treatment even for a fracture of the fingers in India? No, he has to fly to Australia, South Africa, England or Germany for his treatment. The late Dattu Phadkar, one of India's favourite all-rounders, got help from the late Rajiv Gandhi for his heart bypass surgery because he could not get it from cricket's parent body. Admittedly, there was not the kind of money in cricket then as is there now. His is not the only case. Greats like Polly Umrigar, Vijay Hazare also had to look for treatment at their own cost. The players then hardly earned anything and had to work elsewhere to earn a living. Today, thanks to the IPL, cricket has become a very good career option.

Don't get me wrong. Not for a moment am I saying that the current player should not get the treatment that will help him get back into action as soon as possible. In fact, he should get the best attention available. All I am saying is that the former player, who also has put on the national colours with pride and has sweated for India, should get the same treatment with no expenses spared like it is for the current ones.

— Professional Management Group