Being an ardent lover of the game of cricket as well as business/ economics, Iam inclined to find parallels between the recent insipid third cricket test match between India vs England (which ended in less than 2 days as compared to the stipulated 5 days) And development of the Indian economy over last 30 years since economic liberalisation since 1991.
The recent cricket test match at Ahmedabad saw one of the most bizarre test cricket matches I have ever seen. It was the shortest test match since 1940. Pitch used was sub standard to favour the home team India. Test pitches normally break from day 4 but this pitch broke down on day one itself. Intention was to favour the Indian spinners and hence win the match. Well home team advantage is given in cricket but one shouldn't overdo it. Local umpires ( officiating referees to use a parallel to football) used were sub standard and some ludicrous decisions were taken which favoured the home team.
In all, conditions were doctored , protectionist environment created to favour the home team !!
Indian economy was highly protected till 1991 to favour sub standard local companies. However once the economy started liberalizing, most of the local Indian companies stood up to shape themselves up and face global competion. Many of them now are world class companies now and aren't afraid of competing in the global business environment now.
The Indian cricket team, achieved global respect a month back when a team ravaged by injuries but led by an humble but astute second in command captain beat a full fledged Australian cricket team in Australia beating all odds. Very similar to a global Indian company beating global competition in their own backyard.
Young and globally competitive India isn't of afraid of taking on the global big boys !!
Hence the recent conditions, under which the recent Ahmedabad test cricket match was played and won by India, is very similar to Indian companies playing in the pre 1991 license raj era where everything was doctored, using a pliant inward looking government, to favour uncompetitive, inefficient Indian local companies which thrived under protection.
Indian cricket team now consists of world class players . Hence it doesn't make sense to create hugely favourable conditions to suit them to win matches.
Hence I would urge the Indian cricket authorities, under the cricket board BCCI, to not resort to subterfuge methods like in the recent test match . On the other hand, they should create sporting even conditions so that the competitive Indian cricket team,very similar to their business counterparts who faced global competition, can prove and mantain their dignity as world beaters and not be branded pusillanimous local heroes.
