Where cricket fans are expendable

The IPL is over – and yes, there was a winner, with everyone rushing to ride the wave of victory. But in its aftermath, the tragic loss of lives and the utter neglect of cricket fans will hurt deeply and for a long time. The Bengaluru stampede should never have happened.  

Yes, cricket is a religion in India, and the worship is there for all to see. The gods may have feet of clay, but that doesn’t stop the worshippers from offering their unconditional veneration. Fans will do anything – anyhow, anywhere – to see and meet their idols. 

And so, those who organise cricket-related events must recognise the passion that comes into play. They must put in place everything necessary to ensure the safety and comfort of fans. They must expect massive crowds, remain alert, and be ready to act in an emergency. 

This is a no-brainer. Anyone who says, “We didn’t expect such large crowds,” has no business organising cricket events. 

It is not for us to apportion blame – the courts will decide that. But the callousness and apathy in the air, the quick distancing from culpability, reveal the indifference and utter disdain for the wellbeing of the average cricket fan.

Res Ipsa Loquitur – the facts speak for themselves. It is this visible and enduring lack of care that hurts the cricket follower. Where is the concern, the empathy for the comfort of the cricket enthusiast? 

Stadiums are built and renovated, yet spectators sit for hours in open stands, exposed to the scorching Indian sun. And, the less said of the rest-rooms, the better.

Then there are the long queues for tickets. One has to stand in these serpentine lines, only to find that the tickets were sold out! The sponsors and the privileged get special preference – and two hoots for the devoted fan.

However, it is this very fan who fills the stadiums. It is this viewer whom advertisers target, who makes cricketers into superstars – who bask in the adoration and branding that follow. It is this ubiquitous disciple of the game who has made the Indian Cricket Board the richest in the world. It is this fan who fuels the IPL – who, in effect, makes cricket go round.

Take this ordinary cricket fan away, and the Indian cricket establishment will fall, like wickets tumbling down from a Bumrah yorker.

But do those who run cricket really care? No! Because they know this passionate fan will always be there. Yes, there is the standard lip-service “thank you” to the crowds at post-match presentations. Though, to be fair, not all cricketers are tarred with the same uncaring brush. Occasionally, even broadcasters, from their high perch, condescend to acknowledge the spectators. 

And yet, despite this indifference, the cricket fan is not bitter. The cricket lover continues to support the players and the game -- enjoys the commentary and is on cloud nine when in the stands among the cheering crowds. I can never understand how anyone can watch a match from an air-conditioned box. Where’s the fun in that?

You have to be out there – applauding or groaning with the crowd, drinking gallons of cool drinks, staying alert to watch your favourite cricketers or commentators walk by. That’s an experience that cannot be matched. A die-hard cricket fan would do anything to be part of that crowd.

Once, when my husband and son refused to skip office and college, I took ‘test match leave’ from my law firm and joined a mile-long queue of men outside the stadium.  Desperate for a ticket, I took advantage of my gender and jumped the line – without any scruples. After all, Article 15(3) of our Constitution allows the State to make special provisions for women and children. And, before anyone could shout: “Howzat lady breaking the queue?” I was in the stands – faster than a Rohit Sharma sixer! 

Cricket fans are taken for granted because it’s well known – we will keep coming back, match after match. Because it’s worth everything, just to watch the game we love. 

However, it’s high time we were treated as more than just spectators. The Bengaluru stampede has held a mirror to the cricketing establishment – which, until now, has brazenly discounted its fans. It’s only fair that the cricket fan finally has a voice – a say in the way the game is managed. The voice must be loud, clear and resounding. 

As the legendary Sunil Gavaskar famously said (and I paraphrase), it’s not enough to merely knock at doors… One must blast the edifice down.

(The author is a Bengaluru- based lawyer and writer)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.