CRICKET HAS BECOME HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL OVER THE YEARS – INDIANS ARE STILL FAR FROM IT

I am quite sure most of the players and may be some of the officials at the helm of the affairs, who may read this may not agree fully and also not like it. But this truth but nothing but truth.

The way game has progressed over the years and decades, Cricket has become very highly professional. When we say professional, what are we saying and what is expected out of Cricket Professionals. Let us examine some of the issues connected with Professionalism.

To my mind the 1st thing that comes is that dedication and the attitude towards the game. Surely playing for money alone without contributing to the game is not Professionalism. This could be termed as “lack of professional integrity. One needs to be very professional in as much as one should contribute without fail towards the game and for the country / team they play for. Yes, it is possible that one may fail to contribute in a particular game – and not contributing should be an exception and not a routine matter. Let us remember that one is engaged for quite substantial price and so one better contributes. Yes, cricket is a team game unlike Tennis or any such other game which is an individual game – but unless all the cricketer playing a particular game contribute the desired objective cannot be achieved.

The second thing is one should not give task to the tongue or to the mouth. One should abstain from making comments. The talking and comments should be either with the bat or ball or may be both. Comments like, “that is the way I play” are totally unwarranted. In fact, governing body of the game from each country prescribe the code of ethics and while most of the times these codes are followed, sometimes these codes are ignored and cricketers tend to make unwarranted comments. In this connection, I cannot but say that Sachin is probably an example and that is why he is so good in the game and every one not only admires him but also respect him and hesitate to make an adverse comment against him.

The most important thing is one should be able to think on one’s feet and take appropriate decisions and that is what is professionalism. While the general strategy could be discussed at the dressing room prior to start of the game, the individual players need think and adapt themselves to the need of the hour while they are at the crease. Not always, it is possible to send signals and directions from the dressing room, especially in T20 format when the situation demands immediate action. The rule of the thumb probably is to score “run a ball”, at least. Unless the strike rate is 100% and above it is impossible to win a T20 game. Yes, the bowling side will try and is that the strike rate is below 100% and if one is not possible to adapt oneself to such a situation, one may get out and not jeopardize the team’s effort. So at the time of selection, not only the cricketing capabilities have to be considered but also these qualities such as adaptability and change the game to suit the need of the hour should be given due importance – and that is the Professionalism expect from selectors. In the last two game India played, they could not adjust themselves to short pitched deliveries (by English bowlers) and spin bowling by South Africans. It is very easy to give excuses for not being able to adapt, but then it is not professionalism at all.

Coming to the present Indian team – in the last one year or so, the team showed quite a bit of improvement and gained in roads in becoming a Professional team. However, in World T20, the team took many steps backwards and there was unprofessionalism visible in each sphere. In fact, it was highly disgraceful to see some of the players talking and making such unwarranted gestures during the time when Indian National Anthem was played. The present team is highly talented and if only BCCI and the members at the helm of the affairs grill into the heads of the crickets the need for the cricketers to become Professionals, the team could go to dizzy heights.