Time to look beyond the 'Indian Problem League'

The IPL is fast turning into a Frankenstein, says Suresh Menon, writing in DNA. The BCCI, he says, cannot abdicate its responsibility in restoring sanity to world cricket.

Should the BCCI be concerned so much about world cricket when its brief is Indian cricket? So long as Indian cricket is served, why worry? Countries construct their diplomacy and economic policies on the foundation of self-interest, so why should sport be different?

As the world champions, the No. 1 Test-playing country, and with the power and influence that comes with having the richest cricket board in the world with the potential to make themselves and everybody else richer, the BCCI must give up their narrow-minded domestic concerns and focus on cricket the world game. Whatever the compulsions of political entities in the United Nations, sport must follow the beat of a different drum. For that is the reason for its existence — it is artificial and should strive to be idealistic.