A fan mail to the BCCI

Respected Sir,

It is in high respect and admiration for your administrative skills that I write this letter to you. I am just a part of the crowd who throng the stadium to catch their heroes live in action. I hereby thank you for your persistent efforts at dissuading me to do so and hence save a fortune which I had been spending on such a trivial and inconsequential matter like a cricket match. I had been constantly reprimanded by my elders and well wishers about the waste of money and time such an exercise was proving to be but it was not until the very end of this cricketing season that I have realised the truth in it.

You see, I am a true fan. I devoted my time and money towards catching all the World Cup action live in the stadium. And I was rewarded with entertainment and satisfaction worth every penny even if I had to undergo certain discomforts such as lathicharge from police. Such minor hassles apart, it was an extremely positive experience. I rejoiced our crowning glory and had planned on celebrating for weeks but IPL was beginning in 5 days. So I was back in the stadium, the tricolour still visible on my face and shouting hoarse in support of Gambhir and Sehwag Kallis! My father was bemused to know that I was cheering for Kallis when just a few weeks ago I was cursing him and felt so relieved when Ashwin had him caught in the deep. No actually, Harbhajan ran him out. Or was it in the IPL?…..

Anyway, it was cricket in its most ‘entertaining’ form and though the ‘hostilities’ against the opponent teams’ fans were at their lowest (you cannot argue with a person who had danced and shouted slogans with you just a few nights ago), it was ‘fierce’ competition on and off the field! I again applaud your ability to show us what a great leveller the game of cricket is. I was basking in the glory of a World Cup win and 2 weeks later was being laughed upon for supporting KKR.

All that aside, we were back for the internationals as a second string side went for the tour of West Indies. I couldn’t watch it on TV but heard the AIR commentary. It was quite a shock to many people. Not the commentary bit, but the fact that India was playing in West Indies. It was a shame to call such ignorant people cricket fans sir. I told you, I am a true fan.

Fortunately everyone knew about the India England series. The build up was huge and the anticipation reached sky high before the fiasco started. It rather pains me to remember the ordeal again and it was this period that made me really appreciate your true potential as the torch-bearer of the welfare of cricket in this country as you sent RP Singh to join the team. More humiliations later it was some relief when the tour ended. But it was stunning the way you chose the perfect remedy for us to forget our pain. The CLT20 indeed proved to be such a success that I was thrilled to bits and will forever hold Chennai’s Mumbai‘s victory in my mind as a souvenir of the good times. Pardon my memories Sir, too many good souvenirs create confusion sometimes.

Then came the payback series. Surely it turned out to be the next most satisfying experience of the year after the World Cup even if I couldn’t make it to the stadium because of Diwali preparations but I’m sure I was not missed among the crowd. And now West Indies will come home for … are they terming it as a payback series too since we beat them in Tests and ODIs earlier this year? Anyway, it really sits as one of the mouth watering clashes of recent times with young blood brimming to stamp superiority on each other…blah blah blah.

Frankly, I’m fed up! I don’t know if you’re banking on filling the grounds on the fact that India is the second biggest population in the world and SOMEONE will always be excited to watch cricket or the fact that your ‘world class’ facilities at the stadium will pull the crowd from their not so comfortable sofas in front of the television sets. Last year we played South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. This year we played, apart from the World Cup, West Indies, England, England and oh..West Indies. Not to mention the khichdi of IPL and CLT20. Don’t you see that we know each and every strength and weakness of Pieterson just like Amla’s, last year? Or is it this new strategy you’ve come up with. Choose 2 countries out of 8-9 and play them home and away each year. Is it some kind of case study course for Indian cricketers each year?! You’re not only boring us with too much cricket, you’re torturing us to watch the same 22 players play all year round!

Despite my small outburst here, I hold you in highest esteem for your unparalleled vision for the future of cricket not just in this country but around the world and your ability to understand the needs of Indian public. I am sure again, that I will not be missed at the stadiums among the crowd.

Yours truly,

The absent fan.