[ESPN]

Conspiracy, cricket and love

This has been a bizarre week what with a celebrity wedding, a bitter IPL drama and some sensational cricket to cherish.

By Ayaz Memon

I’ve lived an action-packed week, what with having to hop across to Hyderabad for the marriage reception of Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik, doing some ICC World T20 countdown shows for ESPN in Delhi, and all the while coping with the controversy that erupted in the IPL.

Where the last-mentioned event is concerned, it would be fair to say that in the past week, the IPL appears to have been hit for a six. I mean that metaphorically of course, such has been the fall-out of the controversy over the new Kochi franchise in which minister of state for external affairs,Shashi Tharoor has had to resign, but in which knowledgeable believe there is more drama still to be played out.

Lalit Modi, commissioner of the IPL, the other lead player in this controversy, is in Dubai attending an ICC meeting at the time of writing this. But doubtless, the spotlight will be turned on him on his return, and the scrutiny by tax and other authorities into the affairs of the IPL will resume too.

As if this was not enough drama, the double blast at Bangalore’s Chinaswamy Stadium last week necessitated the shifting of the two semi-finals to Mumbai. There were murmurs of discontent from Bangalore – among state authorities and the Royal Challengers team, which would be losing out on `home’ advantage. But in matters of security, the options for organizers are limited, and the objections too were therefore muted.

Meanwhile, the tournament wound its way towards the final in a trail full of exciting suspense. Six of the eight teams were in the running for three places in the semi-finals after Mumbai Indians had sealed their entry. Last ditich efforts and do-or-die battles produced some spectacular performances and topsy-turvy results, leaving the players and fans alike short of breath.

Only on Sunday, with only seven days remaining for the final, did we get confirmation of who the other three-semi-finalists would be. Chennai, huffing and puffing their way past the Vindhyas to the Himalayas in the north, finally conquered their demons to beat hapless Kings Xl Punjab thanks to a calculated, brutal attack by M S Dhoni. Later in the day in the country’s capital, home favourites Delhi were laid low by the resurgent Deccan Chargers who scored their fifth win on the trot despite Adam Gilchrist having contributed few runs.

Such has been the unpredictable rhythm and flavor of this IPL that only the loony would venture to pick a winner even at this stage, though Mumbai Indians have looked the best team yet. Sachin Tendulkar’s sublime form, and with terrific support from Rayudu, Pollard, Harbhajan, Malinga, Zaheer and now even Duminy, Mumbai have looked the team to beat because of their depth and balance of talent.

And yet, such is the nature of T20 cricket, that no team can take victory for granted. Mumbai could well have an off day and be upset in the semis. Which is where I feel that the League should adhere to its classical concept in which the top two teams on points play a best-of-three finals to win the title. This eliminates the prospects of `fluke’ wins.

A striking feature of this IPL has also been the form of the `oldies’. In the batting list, four of the top five batsmen are all in their 30s. In the bowling, however, only of the top five is above 30. Is that just a random event or does it tell a story I wonder.

But clearly there were other, more engaging aspects to the IPL last week than just runs scored, wickets taken and who beat who. When the Marxist historian and cricket writer C L R James coined his immortal axiom, ``What do they know of cricket who only cricket know?’’ he would have hardly known how aptly it would fit the current imbroglio in the IPL.

Indeed, if you knew only cricket, you would be a colossal loser, so action-packed and riveting has been this crisis. And we haven’t reached the climax yet…