CRICKET IN ARMED FORCES
The World Cup 2023 has reiterated a fact that cricket is a binding force in India especially when our team does well. Therefore, an average Indian may find it surprising that the Army has recently said ‘NO’ to cricket as a sport within the Army. As such, the services team for the recent T20 tournament comprised of only the Navy and the Air Force players. This is likely to happen for all national tournaments conducted by BCCI, including the prestigious Ranji Trophy.
It is feared that in due course the Navy and the Air Force may also decide to stop participating in cricket tournaments outside their individual service. Even if they wish to continue, in absence of the Army, BCCI may not consider a depleted services side worthy of participation at the national level.
The current services cricketers are disappointed. Those who were enrolled as cricketers and who have rarely been with any unit are especially disheartened to see their (cricketing) careers finished. Many veteran cricketers also are emotional about this development. One of them exclaimed, “Sadly, there will be no services cricketers tomorrow!” Veteran cricketers see themselves getting completely cut off from their parent cricket board.
Well, let us look at this development dispassionately. It appears to be a well thought out decision. Just like the military is kept away from politics, it would be in the interest of the armed forces to keep this business, ‘Cricket’ away from their personnel. Some of the major changes since 1990s about the character of cricket and a cricketer, will indicate the likely rationale behind Army’s decision:-
Ø Until the 80s, there were only two national tournaments, Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy. For Duleep Trophy, only a few services cricketers represented North Zone. As such, a regular services cricketer was on sports duty for about 3 months, including Inter Unit, Inter Command, Inter Services, and the Ranji Trophy. He had to get back to unit and get more committed to work to compensate for his absence. A cricketer often compromised his annual leave as a compensation for his absence for cricket.
Ø Now, cricketers are permanently attached only to play cricket and are engaged round the year in national level tournaments. Besides their total absence from the units, they do not also participate in local Inter Unit games, which are meant to build team spirit and morale in units.
Ø Since the inception of Ranji Trophy in 1949-50, five Army officers and two from the Air Force played for India until 1961. All of them were acclaimed as highly professional military men. We continued to have great cricketers. But unfortunately, none qualified to don the India blazer after 1961 as cricket demanded more time on the field, which was not possible for professional military men.
Ø Services cricketers played predominantly based on individual talent till the turn of the century. They were military men first, cricketers next. However, growing professionalism and money in cricket began demanding 365 days commitment to the game. Today, a cricketer aiming to play at the national level must be a professional cricketer and cricketer alone. The military tag is only a matter of one’s self-esteem without making any contribution to his basic duties as a soldier, seaman, or airman.
Ø Besides the above, one of the most vital aspects is that cricket is more a BIG BUSINESS than a sport. With a single IPL contract, a cricketer would make far more money than his colleagues would earn in their whole careers. This would surely upset the balance in military and be counterproductive for maintenance of team spirit and morale.
We, the veteran cricketers have a reason to feel disappointed. However, I am sure that tomorrow none of us would wish to see a veteran services cricketer, who has not been a worthy military man first.
Cricket within the armed forces without professional cricketers shall be far more enjoyable and team builder than at present.
Jai Hind !
Very well stated, Sir.
ReplyDeleteThe contracted cricketers should be Ejected from armed forces cricket, at the earliest.
No more maai -Baap “ sarkars for them.
If they are good cricketers, let them find their worth in the open market.
Other wise, they could be recruited as Agniverrs …. And placed to improve Fauji zon-wise cricket for fauji kids.
Meanwhile, Officer ( and cricketer ) like qualities, should not be ignored.
Let an Inter services cricket schedule be drawn up.
Matches should be easy affairs, with emphasis on winning, but fairly. Like it was, in the 80s and 90s…. before misplaced promotion/ranks ruined the atmosphere…. And now we barely ssee w an Officer or 2, in this genteel game
Aptly concluded and spoke the most of the minds of veteran cricketers. Hats off to Athavale sir.
ReplyDeleteI agree the subject is contentious.But the seasoned cricketer, who has watched it up close from the field and off it,deftly puts aside any confusion and makes his argument with reason and dispassion.There are so many new developments in cricket(that the reader may not be privy to or not observed) and the services and those challenges warrant a new approach and attitude.
ReplyDeleteThe author touches upon the troubled underbelly of the new times and winks at a lot of dark things.We've been not doing well enough since '61 to justify investing a large resource of time, material and manpower.What he does not say however,that Cricket was never a troop game,always elitist and officer-oriented. Though the IAF, joked about as "civilians in uniform" might be given the pass on that count,by default.(Air Force was always so charming
and sporty). Essentially, like golf it is not cost-effective and players do not break into a sweat as often as is prescribed to be called a "combat sport".The Army, like many Commanders of different services,have second-guessed their political masters,and in the name of indigenisation and de-colonisation have done away with another vestige of dead-habit.While cynically,I've always believed Cricket to a game for the pot-bellied and slothful,I find it difficult to reconcile a Hony.Gp Capt Tendulkar,many raw but uncut-diamonds in different fields of sport, to be cannibalised into Uniform, for subsequent medals on the bigger stage and loudly appropriated, as a Services contribution.I hear in the Asiad and the Olympics of the future,Cricket is being considered for inclusion.(Psst.Have the Generals got it right then"?)Whether it sits well with "Kabaddi or Khokho" is not my issue here.There is money to be made.Tradition and modernity shall have a shoot-out. There shall be a Milkha not being respectful of Generals.There shall be combatants too, like priests to be carried along as load perhaps,for the greater glory.Team spirit,leadership, stamina,courage and duelling shall ironically, foster in a game mocked as "a gun is no more dangerous than a cricket bat in the hands of a madman".
I believe,despite myself,Cricket today,is not just another game.Like the coming in of Computers and the digital age - the brass of the military need to make their peace with the uneasy marriage of money and sport.Trophy wives and trophy husband's still merit the Classifieds .A long peace, unfortunately compels many compromises.
One cannot equate politics with cricket which is a sport. Will army / services stop ther personnel from taking part in other sports such as athletics, water sports, equisterian andany others. Sports and fitness go together. Fittest of citizens are found in the services. By stopping services personnel from competing in sports is disservice to sports and many sportspersons joining the services.
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