Tours to UK a big business in Calcutta

Cricket has become big business in Calcutta, especially if it concerns sending teams to England during the off-season. Each year, former and present cricketers of Calcutta take a team of youngsters to England to play matches in different counties. A total of 15-20 cricketers are chosen on the basis of their financial ability by the clubs, formed solely for this purpose and then sent to England. The team plays aound 15 matches if it is a three week tour or around 20 matches if the duration is more than 25 days. The main intention for these clubs is to find lucrative contracts for the touring cricketers for the following year.

This year, three teams have gone to England. The former Tripura Ranji Trophy player Satrajit Lahiri's Calcutta Colts Cricket Club has the busiest schedule. The team will play 21 matches in around 27 days against various club sides in Somerset and Gloucestershire. The former Bengal and East Zone captain, Raju Mukherjee has also taken a team consisting of 15 players. The third has been taken by Debu Banik, a local club level cricketer in Calcutta.

So approximately 60 boys from Calcutta are at the moment touring various parts of England to make a name for themselves. However, they have to pay for their own expenses with this varying from Rs 70,000 to Rs 85,000. Some of these cricketers recover the money if they manage to get a contract the following year. Some do not. However, the dream of becoming a Saurav Ganguly or Sachin Tendulkar entices the young cricketers and their parents to spend the huge sum every year.

There is also a tremendous struggle between the teams to get the best possible cricketers. The clubs usually organise trials to select the teams under the watchful eyes of the coaches. Sometimes the expenses are lowered for a really talented cricketer. However, the question remains as to how good the opposition are. As Lahiri said on Thursday, before his departure to England, "The opponents are quite good. Otherwise the boys would not have dished out such a huge sum from their pockets."

Former Bengal cricketer Gopal Bose however, feels the tour does a world of good to the players even if they spend their own money. "It teaches them a lot about fielding, running between the wickets and also improves their technique against the quick bowlers. Even minor county sides have some very good pace bowlers. Other than this, the boys also get a chance to play on bigger grounds. As far as Calcutta grounds are concerned, you either hit a four or take a single. The size of these grounds is so pathetic that either you are at slip or at third man. So the batsmen develop a misconception regarding their talent. Playing at the bigger grounds of England is an education. Above all, they learn what discipline is all about as the tour is an exposure to do everything yourself and to function as a teammate. So, I think that the tours are a good idea."

A similar thought was also echoed by the former Indian opener Pranab Roy, "If the boys can afford it, what is wrong in going and playing a few matches. After all in Calcutta, the number of games that we play are very few in number. So another 15-20 matches will always be beneficial for them. Moreover, if they manage to earn a contract with some minor county club, they stand a chance to recover their money within the next couple of years."