Keep IPL clean

BCCI should deal firmly with any kind of fixing.

The fifth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) came to a close in Chennai on Sunday night, producing a new champion team in Kolkata Knight Riders, though the sporting extravaganza had to traverse a long road of hazards before reaching a successful climax.

After India’s disastrous tours to England and Australia, cold response from the crowd was feared initially, the opening matches were anything but exciting, and finally a number of controversies hit the tournament in its later stages. If Shah Rukh Khan’s spat with Mumbai Cricket Association officials was more of melodramatic nature, the revelations about spot-fixing and molestation charges on RCB’s Luke Pomersbach added more taint on the league. But by then, the people had begun to warm to the IPL wholeheartedly, their vote of confidence translated into packed stadiums.

For that the authorities should thank the performers on the field. After a slow start, the IPL picked up as cricketers and teams came to the fore with some outstanding efforts. Rajasthan Royals’ Ajinkya Rahane provided the first spark with a blistering yet classy 98 against Kings XI Punjab at Jaipur, and that knock also, perhaps, was the beginning of the turnaround in the fortunes of the league. Chris Gayle was obviously one of the stars who carried his team RCB on his broad shoulders, and from the mid point of the tournament, there was no let up in intensity from any team, producing a series of close matches that kept the spectators on their feet till the very last over, and till the very last day.

As the IPL V gathered steam, some sponsors, who showed apathy in the initial stages of the tournament, too came on board. The IPL V has been a remarkable success from cricketing and marketing perspectives, and all franchises are set to double their revenue as compared to 2011 season. The Board of Control for Cricket in India too has reaped rich dividends, and they were magnanimous enough to use a part of it for the welfare of former cricketers. But for the BCCI, the work has only begun. Some allegations of spot fixing which surfaced this year, indeed threaten to discredit the IPL and BCCI will do well to stamp it out mercilessly and ensure non-repetition of any unsavoury incidents in the coming editions.