IPL-3 claims 2 scapegoats

With Mumbai Indians losing out to Chennai Super Kings in the third season of the Indian Premier League, the tournament finally came to an end. However, the closing stages of the gala event that went on for about six weeks marked the beginning of the core game, which I don't see winding up any time soon.

And I bet that the atypical game, which started after the bidding of two new teams for the IPL, will be more exciting than the one that was played on the field. Soon after the deliveries of corruption were bowled, two prominent personalities lost their wickets. However, it wasn't the good ball that claimed their position, but a well-planned scheme. In fact, they were made scapegoats to save their big bosses or the face of some organisations.

The first to go was Shashi Tharoor, who was clean bowled by the hullabaloo surrounding the Kochi franchise. Though the mantri ufffd who was becoming a cause of embarrassment for his party ufffd wasn't directly involved in the scandal, hewas left with no option but to resign from his ministry.

The reason: The mantriji's party didn't want to take any chances, or rather give the Opposition a chance to corner it in the Parliament. Also, it was a well calculated decision that was taken keeping in mind the assembly polls, which are scheduled to be held in the Hindi heartland (Uttar Pradesh) in about 18 months. Thus, in a bid to present a clean image of the organisation, Tharoor was made the 'bali ka bakra'.

The other to be declared out ufffdu00a0 after the last ball of the tourney was bowled was Latit Modi, the man who made IPL what it is today. Be it, the glam factor or the money, the man brought every thing that was required to make the IPL a hit. But as soon as the matter of bid rigging for the two new teams came up, Modi was hit for a six by his colleagues. The media got what it needed to up their TRPs, especially during the time when people prefer watching scantily-clad babes shaking a leg and not the news channels.

One thing lead to another and by the end of the tournament around 20 charges were levelled against Modi. If proper investigations were initiated, a couple of top netas could have landed in a soup. Hence, in a bid to save them, Modi was asked to leave. Now that the controversies' best friend has been punished, the entire issue will die a natural death. Now, what's interesting is, to wait and watch how and by what means those involved in the business of cricket try to fool the gullible cricket fanatic janta!