Is Cricket becoming another TV anf Gambling MEcca?
By Peter Whelan

Test status is conferred upon a country by the International Council and Test Matches are played between national representative teams which have "Test status", as determined by the International Council (ICC).

However, is becoming another TV and gambling mecca.  The International Council sold broadcasting rights for the current and the next World Cup many dollars. Apparently, ticket sales were declining in international test matches and was one of the resons why the ICC were deemed in some quraters to have 'Sold Out'. The current crisis within the international community has perhaps been precipitated by the climate of suspicion and fear surrounding the war on terror and as a result, we are already seeing lesser number of people watching international games compared to 5 years ago.  Anothe reason for declining crowds are that the facilities for fans inside most leading international stadiums are deplorable to put it mildly. 
Television technology, we know, has more or less settled stumpings and run-outs in international and is one of the benefits of television as well as bringing the sport to the masses. Not everything the ICC do is wrong, by any means. It is greatly to their credit, for example, that they grasped the nettle of corruption in the game, a problem that dwarfed all the rest, and that the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) decided last year to begin an education programme with all international players and officials, starting when they are playing in Under 19 tournaments.  

Cricket is no longer the gentlest of games and is more than the national pastime in some countries.  is not just the game of bat and ball, it is much beyond than this.  is a gentleman's game and still there are many of them playing in the middle.

Watch Pietersen arrive back in the UK
Watch pictures of Kevin Pietersen's arrival at London's Heathrow airport from South Africa, following his resignation as England captain.



Peter Whelan is freelance writer with a passion for sport.