Costly Slaves

During the last couple of days, a terrible tamasha is happening in India. Cricketers - the already pampered lot and blue eyed boys of the society - are being bought and sold like commodities. It is really sickening to read the figures and how overnight their bank balances increased by lakhs of rupees. Read the headlines of some news items for example :

• Film star Shah Rukh Khan buys Delhi lad, Ishant Sharma for US $950,000
• Liquor Baron, Vijay Mallya buys South African, Jacques Kallis for US $9,00,000
• Indian Captain, Dhoni was bought by Indian Cements, owner of the Chennai franchise, for a whopping 1.5 million US dollars, approximately Rs six crore.
• Australia's wicketkeeping ace Adam Gilchrist was bought by Newspaper group, Deccan Chronicle's Hyderabad franchise for US $7,00,000 (around Rs 2.8 crore).
• Spin legend Shane Warne of Australia was purchased by Emerging Media's Jaipur franchise form US $4,50,000 (Rs 1.8 crore).
• The Sri Lankan duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and Mahela Jayawardene also fetched high prices.

I can't help but remembering the bad old days when people were bought and sold like things. Slaves they were. But, these modern Gods have also become things that can be bought and sold, bargained, negotiated and bid.

The Australian cricket captain is sad and shocked to know that he is only worth $ 400,000 while his teammate Symonds has been sold for $1,200,000 ! "Now onwards, when we go out, Symonds has to pay !", Ponting has told, it seems.

If all these millions have gone to improve the sports infrastructure of the country, if not for other social investments like health and education, what difference it would have made for hundreds of thousands of people, I thought.

But, even otherwise, the thought of someone buying and owning me, makes me feel a bit sick - even if they pay a million. Now, if someone else pays a few hundred thousand rupees more, these players can be sold and transferred as well. If India Cements wants Dhoni to promote their brand, he has to do. His shirt should be yellow colour, his pants have to be pink colour - they may specify. He has to ride brand x motorbike in public, should wear brand y shoes, eat this, drink that - of course, we will pay you !

Costly slaves, I guess.
Question : Now, why is it illegal if someone hits a six or does not hit a six, if someone pays them the money ? Why betting is considered wrong ?

Hope : I hope, problems crop up between players in the dressing rooms - "I was paid only so much. So, it is enough if I hit 3 runs. You were paid so much, so you better take more catches and run harder !"

Prediction : Terrific way of killing patriotism. When Sachin gets out, most of India (outside Mumbai) now may clap. So will be the case, when Symonds hits Harbhajan Singh for a sixer. We will be thrilled ! What an ironical twist to the racism row of the last two months ...

Wish : I wish something happens to the satellites during the tournament period and no coverage is possible !