Careless Whispers ...

Six international umpires are allegedly willing to fix matches for money. (Reuters) Cricket sting shocker: Pakistan, Sri Lanka umpires ready to fix matches at T20 World Cup THE INDIAN EXPRESS, New Delhi, Mon Oct 08 2012, 22:24 hrs Cricket stung again, this time umpires 'caught out' TNN | Oct 9, 2012, 05.03AM IST Question: Do we really need sting operations, blaring over TV channels and the screaming headlines flashed over front pages next morning, to prove the obvious? What once was a fine game called C ricket has since degenerated into what I call as “ T ricket” - A reality show, a Tamasha – sheer waste of precious time. Since last few years, probably after the first season of IPL, I have stopped watching this show, just like every other reality show. But there are millions of innocent cricket-loving-fans across India, who follow the game with their heart and soul. Pouring out their deepest emotions, they discuss and debate the fine details and nuan...

Fake IPL Player Blog - 7972 followers and 46 blog posts in 6 weeks flat – 120,000 profile views – WOW !! Here are some very interesting snippets indeed from this curious & mysterious cricketer turned blogger: ###### QUOTE from Blog – “Another sitting with the broadcasting folks has brought out some interesting facets of how thing's work out here. Being right here, I can tell you that the grounds are pretty sparsely filled, especially during the first inning. But the broadcasting team has been told to keep talking about the excitement and the fever at the ground. The camera men have been instructed not to pan towards empty stands. And the producers keep telling the spectators to scream and shout when the cam pans to them. I don't know what you guys sense on TV, but watching it from here, the so-called 'excitement' and 'energy' seems even faker than this blog.” My comment: This one is for those 200 million IPL fans and followers who have spent their precious h...

The show must go on! Just after someone has passed away or after a huge tragedy, people are so restless to get on with their life as they must continue to make some more money, they normally would say – The show must go on! Often heard on the showbiz circuits and award functions like Filmfare, IIFA, Oscars, Grammy etc. It actually means – let’s not waste anymore time in brooding over the tragedy and let’s get on with our lives. This is exactly what has happened to Cricket in India – It is dead and gone as a True Sport. But the show called IPL – INDIAN Premier League - must go on! If not in India then in South Africa. Venue is not so important, Money is. Money of all the stake-holders. The buying and selling ceremony (Player Auction, as they call it) was a boardroom style Tamasha. The way Ms. Preity Zinta, Ms. Juhi Chawla and the legendary Ms. Neeta Ambani entered the five start hotel in their sexiest business suits & dresses - to buy and sell players - was evident of how proud and ...