IPL or FPL?

By Gulu Ezekiel

The Indian Premier League in its second season is rapidly turning into the Foreigners Premier League.
What is almost certain is that from next season onwards the franchise owners—IPL’s de facto rule makers—will ensure the quota of foreigners in the playing XI is raised from four to six. They tried this year but were thwarted in their bid.
However with all eight franchises packing their support staff with foreigners, mostly from Australia but also South Africa (understandable this time around) and England, there appears to be a concerted move to sideline as many Indian players as possible.
The inaugural IPL began last year with five teams being captained by Indians, all icons.
Mid-way through VVS Laxman (Deccan Chargers) was replaced by Australia’s Adam Gilchrist when he was forced to miss some matches with a knee injury.
This season Rahul Dravid has been replaced by Kevin Pietersen who in turn will be replaced by South Africa’s Jacques Kallis when the Englishman returns home on national duty.
Kolkata Knight Riders dropped the biggest bombshell when they first floated the ‘joint captain’ concept and then dumped Sourav Ganguly once the team reached South African soil.
His replacement, New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum has caved into the pressure this season and the team’s fortunes have plummeted along with his form with the bat.
That leaves just Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians), Virender Sehwag (Delhi Daredevils) and MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) as the Indians in charge of a side this season. And the only Indian coach is Mumbai’s Praveen Amre.
The sending back of Kolkata’s Aakash Chopra and Sanjay Bangar after they made just appearance follows on the heels of Rajasthan’s packing off of Mohammed Kaif and five other Indian players. It is an ominous trend.
But what takes the cake is Rajasthan captain Shane Warne’s comment to an Indian newspaper: “We, foreigners, can help develop Indian players and thereby help Indian cricket.”
Somebody should remind Mr. Baked Beans that if it were not for Indian wealth and passion, he would still be plying his trade as a poker player!
www.sportshero.com (28/4/09)