It is tough to be an Indian cricketer

The BCCI is at it again. If at all there is a board that will milk the cow until it is dead, it is the Board of Control for Cricket in India. They do not care about the cricketers or the paying public. All they care about is money and money and money. This simply has not changed even when a former player, a captain, successful one at that, has become the president of the board. I really pity the Indian cricketer. I realise that it is tough to be an Indian cricketer.

The board simply does not care for the player. They have become so money minded that the welfare of the players is not of their concern. It has never been and it will never be. Unfortunately, none of the former players, media or the commentators have said a word against the mindless, stupid, ridiculous schedule that the Indian team will have to endure for the next 5 months.

The Indian team’s engagement

The Indian team will engaged in 4 tests, 3 ODIs and 14 T20s between November 2021 and March 2022. Remember there is a series in South Africa that consists of 3 tests, 3 ODIs and 4 T20s. That is a total of 59 match days. In the current climate, it is not just the match days but the quarantine period, bubble must be taken into consideration.

All the Indian players are now engaged in the 2^nd leg of 2021 IPL. The World T20 will follow the IPL immediately. 3 days from the finals will be the series against New Zealand. The Indian team which is already inside the bubble for more than 6 months, will be expected to be in the bubble for 6 more months. At the end of the Sri Lankan series in March, the players will go directly to IPL 2022 which will be a 10 team extravaganza. It is physically impossible to play and perform at the same time under so much stress.

The Covid threat is real and I do not think that the BCCI understands this. If they did, they would have understood the stress the players will have to undergo and will be much more lenient in scheduling games. BCCI seems to think that since the players are anyway contracted to the board, they must honour the board’s bidding.

So many games under such stressful playing conditions is bound to lead to fatigue which will result in poor performance. Injuries to players is another concern. The longevity of the cricketers, especially the bowlers will be compromised.

Other sports must grow

I honestly do not know when will the board learn their lesson. Over the last 15 years, there hasn’t been a proper off-season. It was the time during which the batters can work on improving their technique and the bowlers their pace, line and length. Cricket is the only game that this country is interested in and to which sponsors pump in money. Millions of rupees. The only solution to this problem is for other sports to grow in the country. This will ensure that the money is distributed and BCCI is forced to put performance and welfare of the game and the players above profit.

Let me also talk about the good gesture of the board

The BCCI have hiked the match fees for men and women. This will come into effect from the 2021-22 season onwards. Only complaint is that the earning of a woman cricketer is much less than that of men. I know it cannot be equal because women’s cricket does not bring in that much money but given a chance, they may. Just rewind to their performance against England. If not equal to men, atleast 75% of what the men earn must be given to women.