There is proof now, if any was needed, that the promotion of cricket is being taken to new heights. Brian Lara may have to vie for popularity with Mickey Mouse, Sachin Tendulkar may well find himself fighting Donald Duck in the ratings. The ICC has apparently been contacted by the Walt Disney World Company in a bid to stage at least three one-day matches in Orlando, Florida, next year.
No prizes for guessing what is behind this latest move. The ICC is said to be eager to break into the lucrative American market and expand cricket beyond the Commonwealth. The American company has made the proposal, according to an interim report of the ICC development committee which was released to Reuters news agency. The fact that it has been released is obviously to test the water and it comes a few months before the ICC meets.
Cricket's ruling body would have to make a commitment that for a minimum of three consecutive years, three national teams from among the full members will participate in these matches, the tournnaments to take place in August-September 1998, 1999 and 2000. The matches are to be played at Walt Disney's Wide World of Sports facility; once the commitment is made by the ICC the American organisation will build a cricket facility to international standards.
This so-called development committee was set up in response to a report from ICC chief executive David Richards that the game has too narrow a base to compete with other sports. The members are not named but one can certainly guess at their identity. The panel, in the report released to Reuters, feels that "cricket must take advantage of this opportunity". It goes on to say: "Internationally televised cricket is our number one marketing tool to give global exposure to the game, to inspire the (sic) youth to play the game and to promote the role models of the game".
The committee is not content with this; no, it is obviously made up of men whose consciences are extremely active. The World Cup, say these wise men, must take place once in two years, not once in four. "Indications are that TV rights fees will continue to increase. Staging the World Cup every two years will result in substantial financial benefits to the host country, the global expansion of the game and development among associate members," says the report. In other words, a cow will eat meat if it is paid the right amount in the right currency.
It takes time for these things to sink in. But it does not take very long to figure out that the only reason for such ridiculous plans is to rake in more money. The game may be played in the North Pole but are we going to be able to recognise it? What would a one-day game consist of -- matches played for 15 minutes at a time? The Hong Kong sixes has already done enough to make the game look ridiculous. And we don't need any more of this high-faluting talk of "popularising the game" -- let's level with people and say that we are going all out to take the money and run.
The only people in North America who bother about cricket are the expatriates from cricket-playing countries -- mostly India, Pakistan and the West Indies -- who have migrated thither and have little chance to see matches as they once did in the countries of their birth. How would playing matches there popularise the game among Americans who already consider cricket an inferior game to baseball? Playing a game for seven or eight hours would be deemed ridiculous; Americans are notorious for their short attention spans and it is unlikely that this is going to change. The soccer world cup was staged in the US but has the game caught on there? We all know the answer to that one. How many Arabs -- and one is not talking about UAE citizens of Iranian, or Pakistani origin -- have taken to the game after the Sharjah started hosting cricket tournaments?
This revelation comes at a time when some captains are complaining that the number of one-day games must decrease. It is obvious that any team which has to perform well must have some kind of break from the game; one look at the Indian team in the West Indies and there is no need to argue this point any more. Cricket is being increasingly made to serve the purposes of administrators who seek office. Teams are being sent abroad to countries to curry favour. The US adventure, along with Singapore, Toronto and Sharjah, will generate money. It will leave players jaded, it will slowly start eating into Test cricket and it will change the game in ways that makes it unpalatable.