Lesson for BCCI

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7772785.stm

BCCI is availing all the facilities, like tight security, land for grounds etc, for free or almost free... However, they wouldn't donate to a cause like this... the same applies to our cricket players, who receive God-like treatment, and bollywood members. They would rather spend that money on hiring few more private bodyguards.

CCTV image of Mumbai attackers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7760690.stm

How can policemen with .33 calibre rifle compete with someone having an automatic weapon? This is the state of our country's security on the streets that most policemen have to patrol streets using a bamboo stick or .33 calibre rifle. Not many policemen have got automatic weapons.

M J Akbar's article

http://in.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/02mumterror-pakistan-will-have-to-pay-a-heavy-price.htm

The only thing that I agree from this article is the "corruption". Our politicians are not worried about the lose of common man's life. It doesn't matter to them if the common man happens to be from Bombay, Delhi, Gujarat or Nagaland. For them what is utmost important is the vote-bank. Our political system is now in such a state that the agenda for politicians is to make their political tenure as profitable as possible and to ensure they secure their political career during subsequent elections. Obviously, this means they need help from underworld and gangs - and in return, they provide protection to these bad elements of society. With such leaders in power, our public servants with police, judicial powers have got license to become equally corrupt. Nothing will change in our country, unless the politicians and civil servants start to do their real job - and that is to serve common man of the land.

Cricket, Business and Corruption

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Dont_corrupt_cricket_Thackeray_to_Pawar/articleshow/2804833.cms
Cricket is a booming business in India now a days. Everyone wants to profit from every possible opportunity. From cricketers themselves to administrators, sponsors and politicians. We all know politicians are opportunistic and that's why they want to control cricket in India. Why dont we see politicians getting involved with sports in other countries? Why Indian politicians are not involved in less popular sports (like badminton, kabbadi, etc), in same fashion as they are involved in cricket?

There is nothing wrong with sports associations making money or private clubs making money. However, it would be nice if some of the money earned went back to promotion of the sport itself. BCCI earns so much money, but we dont know how much they spend on grounds, players and training of young promising cricketers. There is no transparancy like sports bodies from other nations have.

England premiership clubs have A sides and acaedemies to promote football. Let's see if IPL franchise will invest in something similar. To be honest, the kind of money these franchises have paid seems too much to make them profitable. After all, Indians like Team-India not the clubs.