CRAZE FOR CRICKET
The film Lagan is the best example for the craze for ill cricket in India. Cinema houses showing Lagan were full and the picture ran for months together in certain cities. It was, of course for the superb acting of Amir Khan. But cricket too played a big role in the success of the picture.
Cricket is no popular a game that you would find it being played in lanes and streets of big and small cities. Boys’ even young boys would come out with their bats and balls and play the game any where they find a little space. On Saturdays and Sundays and during vacations one can find big grounds full of different team playing cricket match. Leaving India after ruling the country Britishers have left certain legacies. Craze for foreign goods, studies in foreign country and cricket are some of these legacies. It is being played only on common wealth countries. It is not a part of Olympics. It symbolizes our slavish mentality.
This craze for cricket has cost the country a lot in terms of sports and games. No other sports and games are given importance viz a viz cricket. That is why our performance in Olympics is very poor.
Another problem with cricket is that when there is a match in India people stop working in offices. They enjoy the match either on TV. or radio sets. Then millions of working hours are lost. Every media gives too much importance to the game. On the day of the match all other programmes on Doordarshan and Akasavani are cancelled. Even regional news are not broadcast.
Cricket is a good game. But we should adopt international games. Sports should form a part of the curriculum at least up to high school. Some sports are very common among tribals. We may inspire them and include them in our team.