The success of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 is more than evident from the fact that it has been roping in more and more illustrious cricketers from around the world every year. This year's netting in is by far the best so far in terms of the shortest version's elite crops sans, albeit, the Indian players. The most thrilling and glitzy version of cricket was meant for pure entertainment. But who ever could think of its downside where unscrupulous bookmakers turn the game into a gamble? With the frenzy of T20 proving overwhelming, the bookies are all set to scandalise the game. Already a university student lost his life protesting betting near his residence at Badda on one of the matches held at Sylhet. The cricket gamblers stabbed him to death. In a world of innocent entertainment, there are evil elements who can spoil the day for all.
Small-scale betting sucks in people from all walks of life, particularly students, day labourers, small shopkeepers and even farmers. But the all powerful betting syndicates operate from a safe distance and their stake is high. According to independent international studies, the size of the betting is valued at $1.0 billion by now. This is because of the involvement of unsolicited betting syndicates from India and the Middle East. This is indeed a cause for serious concern. Pakistan cricket has witnessed the curse of betting on a scale no other country had to face. A number of talented cricketers had to pay a high price for what is known as match fixing. Indian cricket was in turmoil over similar charges against high profile executives and members of the board of cricket council there. In Bangladesh a lone case involves a highly talented cricketer who served a ban that curtailed his international career. Let there be no such development to further undermine cricket in Bangladesh.
The euphoria over the shortest version of cricket is admittedly misplaced. To puritan cricket connoisseurs, this is no cricket at all. It is in fact harming the classic form of Test cricket. However, there are different opinions too. Bangladesh's weakness in Test cricket was woefully exposed by the team's failure to apply to the challenging condition in South Africa. Critics point out that honing in on limited over cricket actually does not help build the right temperament and application for Test cricket. The T20 proves particularly pernicious for adjusting to the longer version. But here is lure of lucre and bookies are also taking undue advantage of its shorter duration.
It is not easy to keep the game free from betting. If TV spectators in different localities, remote locations not excluding, are drawn into the betting vortex, it can hardly be checked. Betting is illegal but who cares when jubilation of the sixers and boundaries is greatly enhanced by the expectation of fattening the purse! However such a thought is preposterous because most betters become ultimately a loser. The mentality is stoked by irrationality of striking the jackpot when one is in fact in a dire state financially. Any short-cut to richness is fraught with risks. There is no alternative to hard work for leading a life of one's own choice.
