IPL 3

Third IPL is here, just round the corner and already controversies and accusations are flying thick and fast. IPL is a commercial venture. Organizers are concerned about turning a profit and they will do everything they can to make this year a success too.  Similarly team owners want players they want ; and players they can depend upon being available . It  is simply an economic decision. Now many players that were in the market were not bought and as it turned out none of the Pakistani players were bought by the owners.

So starting from Afridi to Pakistan Cricket Board   all  have got into overdrive. It is  seemingly a snub to them at  India's behest. As if IPL cares  about India!! Remember last time they removed the whole tournament to South Africa rather than play in India because of similar security and organizational reasons. IPL 2 was criticised severally for being anti India last time. It did not matter to them in the least. They want their Business safe and sound and profitable.

 This Pakistani outburst is typical of  the sub continental style emotional way of looking at things.  IPL is a business . It buys things it can sell  to public at a profit. It  is not a sport , just an  economic venture. Pakistani players were   considered too risky an investment. An asset that IPL may find hard to market  in their primary market (India) and  fears are that  this asset may not  even be available  when needed. Snub and politics is not in picture . Pure commerce is.  They don't care if  Afridi  plays or not . They care  even less about what he says. If he is not worth the risk , he does not get a buyer.  He needs to get a grip  on  this reality and move on. Fact is there are dozens and dozens of  other exciting players waiting in the wings  and they are cheaper to boot. Moreover if I was a Pakistani , I would not care to even react . This is a non issue. Even if you look at it from  a commercial standpoint. Which company shouts from the rooftops when their products are not bought ? No one is stupid enough like PCB .

To my knowledge even players from  Holland and Canada also did not find a buyer. Maybe Canada and Holland should recall their ambassadors  to  India as a mark of protest !!!! Childish-  but such is the sensitivity of Indo- Pak relations that anything and just about anything can snowball into an insurmountable problem.