Cash Rain as India Reigns

I'm just on a high thanks to our Twenty Twenty victory! Victory has never been so long awaited ....or tasted so sweet!

But what shades my present euphoria is the news of rewards to some players and nothing for others.

First came news of the BCCI, State governments and corporates giving monetary rewards.
Then came the reaction from the Hockey fraternity claiming 'step motherly' treatment.
Now news of our players under the Modi government in Gujarat and those from Kerala not being rewarded.
Then the Karnataka government accepting their gaffe and rewarding some hockey players as an after thought.

Region, religion, favoritism - all dampening the very spirit I was high!

If I were a cricketer in this team I wonder which State would reward me! My Father was from Karnataka, Mother from Maharashtra & I was born and brought up in W Bengal! I guess it would just become another issue about which government should pay! Hmmmm but while I'm still dreaming of being a World Cup winning cricketer let me take it a step further ....maybe I'd be rewarded by all 3 states with each wanting a piece of me :D! Who knows!

But lets just account for all the rewards -

Rohit Sharma - Rs. 10 lakhs
Ajit Agarkar - Rs. 10 lakhs
Joginder Sharma -Rs 21 lakh
Rudra Pratap Singh -Rs. 10 lakhs
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag -Rs. 5 lakhs each

The BCCI president Sharad Pawar has already declared an award of $2 million for the Indian team.

The team had already earned $4,90,000 in official prize money for winning the tournament.

I can go on and on ... and I haven't even come to Dhoni or Yuvraj Singh.

But I want to make a point.

The point being - do they need to be rewarded by money, cars and flats or have they been already been rewarded by carving a priceless place in Indian cricket/ hockey history!
If one feels that they need to be given cash rewards shouldn't that be left to their employers and not the government.


With these victories, cricket again sells! Advertisers like LG (LG had announced withdrawal from cricket advertising in March after India's poor performance in the World Cup tournament) are back and so are some regular biggies. The advertising world is caught in a frenzy. Surely the team would earn big bucks!

I'm not FOR Cash rewards for any kind of achievement, be it in cricket, hockey or any other sphere. When you need money a cash reward is a great carrot to dangle. But most of these players have gone beyond 'needing' or 'wanting' money! Money does make a difference to new players who haven't made a tidy sum in endorsements. But after a while I feel one plays for a different set of reasons - for enjoyment, honor, pride, dominance, records....& money may figure way below in the list.

I do understand the point the hockey players are making by wanting to go on a hunger strike. But I wonder if it feels any better now that the Karnataka govt has 'rewarded' them with Rs. 2 lakhs each to help them lick their wounds! I feel what they are really clamouring for is 'Recognition' by their countrymen...and at the right time!

How many of us really know what went on in the Asia Cup? I must admit to be guilty of knowing only that we won!
Let's for once stop blaming the Government...the Media for promoting just Cricket.
The Media sells what we buy!

So save the tax payers money - for once Give them a Break (pun intended). Spend it where that money will go a long way...& there Are many such ways! The MIB have made enough to afford a luxurious life style, the hotel or sports academy they plan to open and savings for the next few generations.

Yes, Recognition must be shown.

I loved the novel way the Swiss Government recognised Roger Federer when he won the Wimbledon. A cow when he won the first time ....& a giant horn (Alphorn) when he won the second!

& Lets for once be more aware!

ummm.... Hockey lessons anyone?