Is the IPL a mutant destroying the game?

Test Cricket all-rounder Andrew Symonds bowls for the XXXX Gold Queensland Bulls during the first match of a Twenty-20 double-header against Indian Premier League (IPL) team, the Kolkata Knight Riders in Brisbane, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008. AAP Image/Heather Faulkner

I enjoy all forms of cricket. But I was initially against last year’s IPL Twenty20 extravaganza staged in India: cricketers auctioned like cattle, teams chosen by billionaires with little interest in cricket, teams not selected to represent their country or State. Not my cup of tea.

But it was a grand spectacle and I watched matches on TV from Sydney, staying awake until the early hours of the morning.

Yes, I changed my tune.

I appreciated the opportunity to see Sanath Jayasuriya, Brendon McCullum, Shaun Marsh, Adam Gilchrist and Sachin Tendulkar bat, retired greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath bowl, youngsters – inspired by playing with and against legends – improving their game, most stadia in India filled to capacity.

Also, it was played in India, giving cricket’s most ardent followers, great pleasure.

However, IPL 2009 will be played in South Africa, and I am surprised that there has been so little outcry in India.

One can understand the rationale in this move. The news of the Sri Lankan team being shot at by terrorists in Lahore in early March has everyone worried. Also, no one has forgotten the Mumbai massacre of November 2008.

But in both these tragedies, the security was inadequate.

If the same security given to Presidents, Prime Ministers and other VIPs, can be promised to the cricketers, there should be minimum risk.

The Indian Government could not promise such high level security in view of the General Elections to be held at the same time in India.

But I ask: should the IPL go on for 37 days? Is it necessary for each team to play fourteen matches? Could the tournament be condensed? Can’t it be finished in 21 days, with more matches held in a day?

After all, a Twenty20 match takes only three hours.

So, instead of starting on April 18, it could have started a fortnight later with full security available.

And do security problems exist only in India? Mugging and vandalism is rife in certain parts of South Africa.

And will South Africans flock to see IPL matches as the cricket-mad Indians did last April-May? I think the South Africans would have had their gut full of cricket ny now watching their team play Australia for two months at Test, Twenty20 and ODI levels.

In 2008, an IPL cricket match in India attracted more than ten times the spectators than an exciting Test series between two strong teams, Australia and India – both playing aggressive cricket – did.

There were probably more cheer girls at a Twenty20 IPL “exhibition” last year than spectators at a Sheffield Shield or Ranji Trophy match.

Is instant gratification by IPL a cricketing mutant destroying the game with a beautiful name? Is it cricket or cricketicide? Or am I just a fuddy-duddy?