Why Lalit Modi shot himself in the foot?
They say hindsight is 20-20. It all made sense when the second season of IPL was scheduled for this summer, children have vacations, not much of the matches would be a wash out, and families could easily take time out for half days and come and watch the cricket. It was just perfect. It could have easily made more money than the first season. But, the fact that the one of the largest democracies was going into election during this time was overlooked.
To be in their favor, they would not have expected the security lapses in our country and attack on pakistan soil on Sri Lankar cricketers which scared every cricketer out of their wits and rethink their IPL stints.
It was further aggravated with the Home ministry putting their fut down and expectedly so deciding that the elections were more important than a stupid game of cricket.
Now, Mr Modi's options seemed dim of hosting a successful season of IPL 2 in India and he decided to take it overseas. This may have been an unforseen outcome, but, it does ensure that the IPL season 2 will go ahead albeit on foreign soil in South Africa.
I am still circumspect about it being successful for the fact that local teams (although it has foreign players) would attract too much of the SA crowd. Ofcourse, the Indians in SA would love to watch these matches and if it is priced at a good bargain then it might turn out to be sellouts!
I am sure that would have been the case if it were in England as the Indian population in England is the highest anywhere in the world outside of India.
With Modi trying to profit out of it and make sure the BCCI coffers are still loaded with moolah at the end of the season 2, he is leaving no rock unturned to cut down expenses and increase his profits. His negotiation skills and his management degree will come to work here.
Everything said and done, the follow up to season 1 will be a downer and it was not what Modi cohorts were expecting!
