Terming the BCCI`s Emergent Working Committee meeting in Chennai a sham, former spin legend Erapalli Prasanna says that money is ruling the sport now and it is no more a gentleman`s game.
|Last Updated: Jun 03, 2013, 04:24 PM IST|Source: Bureau
New Delhi: Terming the BCCI`s Emergent Working Committee meeting in Chennai a sham, former spin legend Erapalli Prasanna on Monday said that money is ruling the sport now and it is no more a gentleman`s game.
"The entire controversy is not going to affect the popularity of cricket in India as we have seen packed stadiums in IPL. Followers of the game are immense here but I can see the gentleman`s approach in the game is zero now," Prasanna said.
"Money is ruling the game now and it hurts as cricket has been a glorious game of uncertainties. During our times if a batsman was out but umpire was in dilemma, the batsman himself used to walk out. That was called a gentleman`s game but now nobody is bothered.”
"Cricketers think that umpires are paid well and it is their duty to judge. The whole approach has been changed," the former off spinner, who has taken 189 wickets in 49 Tests between 1967 and 1978, said.
Prasanna insisted that BCCI`s working committee meeting yesterday was nothing more than a sham.
"It is a simple step of manoeuvring and sham. It was expected that Board chief N Srinivasan would resign but it did not happen. He has `stepped aside` and I don`t know what will be his powers now," he said.
"If this was the case then why did they deliberate so long. They could have done it before. I guess (Jagmohan) Dalmiya has only three months time and I don`t think that despite being a former president he can set the things in right direction in such a short span of time," said Prasanna.
Stating that it was not a workable solution, Prasanna said, "I don`t think that this is going to work. Nothing is clear and it will further enhance complications."
He felt that legalising betting in cricket was a possibility, which could be explored.
"I am not endorsing the suggestion to legalise betting but I feel that it is a possibility which can be explored like in horse racing. Betting is a gamble where no player, no franchise and no official is involved. They can talk to horse racing officials in this regard," he said.
Asked about his views on IPL, Prasanna supported the cash rich T20 league, saying, "I don`t think that IPL is not giving anything to Indian cricket. Fielding standards of our players have gone higher. This league gives platform to youngsters to showcase their skills. It is good for cricket."
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.