The Importance of International Sporting Success - Assignment Example

The Importance of International Sporting Success to a Country Introduction The sport that has been chosen for this paper is that of Cricket. This game is renowned for the glorious uncertainties that it possesses and having said that, we realize that its management is not an easy aspect that we delve into. The management style of cricket is such that it has to take care of not only the players and officials who are involved in the game but also the various stakeholders, advertisers, affiliates and a number of other agents who are entailed with it in one way or the other. Management Style of Cricket The cricket board thus is an influential authority which governs the rights of staging any activity under its auspices as well as looking after the financial aspects related with the events and the salaries of the players and officials. The cricket board minces its money from the different television channels and advertising groups which place in-stadia advertisements and billboards to get the message through to the right target audiences at the most cost efficient rate possible. For this these advertisers buy space in bulk even before a particular cricket event or tournament is staged. Television channels give a lot of their budget to the cricket board so that the television rights could be granted to the same. This includes the territorial as well as terrestrial rights issues which have to be taken care of by the cricket board and its relevant authorities. The aspect of breaking through and getting to the point of being remarked as a profitable entity is also significant and for it to happen, there is a need to understand the values which the cricket board inculcates. The cricket board needs to have a couple of financial audit concerns under its belt so that it could bring out the shares and revenues which have been earned right in front of the people who are involved with it in a direct manner or in an indirect capacity. This means that regular audits are held and revenues are ascertained and more than anything else, clearly spelled out to the general public, since the cricket board has a management style which is directly under the ruling of the public affairs and the various functions and steps that are taken are administered by the governmental departments so to speak. Cricket in Pakistan We speak of the nation of Pakistan when we talk about cricket here. Pakistan is a country which is rich in cultural heritage and its sports industry is one that is booming endlessly. About a decade back, there was tremendous applause for the sporting heroes more so because it had four world cups within its fold. It used to be a champion in cricket, field hockey, squash and snooker, all at the same time. But the times have changed and there has been a lot of litigation in the related ranks. At the present, it does not have a championship under its belt under any sport that we mentioned above. The irony seems to gain basis from the fact that there are problems left, right and center, within the board as well as within the naïve thinking regimes of the sports legislators who seem to enjoy their perks and privileges more than giving something back to the sport of cricket and more than that, to the 160 million Pakistani population who love the game like there was no sport whatsoever. Nature of Cricket in Pakistan Thus from the look of things, the cricket board in Pakistan is an autonomous body but on the same token, it is a management entity which is monopolistic in nature since a country cannot have more than a single cricket board under its belt. This sole board makes all the decisions which are based on the rulings of the management body which brings about steps that have to be taken for the improvement of the game at the grassroots levels as well as on the international circuit. The regional bodies working under the umbrella of the Pakistan cricket board have to be in line with its different management decisions and they are given grants and commissions based on the formula devised by the cricket committee itself. Managing cricket affairs within a nation and more so within the Pakistani nation or for that matter any sports are not an easy task since the cricket legislation has to make sure that it is proactive rather than being in a reactive state of mind. The money making exercise carried on by a cricket body is thus not the only thing that it does. There is much more behind this notion so to speak. The hurdles that such a cricket regime faces in the wake of its different teams losing out in tournaments is a totally different thing altogether. It has to make sure that the people’s sentiments and emotions are kept in check courtesy its different decisions and rulings. At the end of the day, satisfying everyone is a difficult proposition but the Pakistan cricket management must make sure that it gives its best shot no matter what. Therefore, the aspect of sports management is such that it has to take care of every aspect related with the sport and that in itself is not an easy task. Thus by all accounts, the Pakistan cricket regime is a monopoly which can bring about any form of undertaking and thus change the domestic and international structure of the game. Following of Cricket in Pakistan Cricket is followed fervently in Pakistan. The Pakistani populace simply loves the sport and its heroes. However there is a flip side to the coin as well. They detest losing and cannot understand the basis of the age old notion that there ought to be a losing team when two teams are competing. The Pakistani nation wants to win every single game and for this, they can even go to the extent of burning the effigies of their sporting heroes, administrators and so on and so forth. If they love like there is no tomorrow, then they literally have hatred for the opposing end as well. Actually the reason behind Pakistani population’s love and lust for the game is simple. They have no other sports entertainment let alone any kind of other entertainment on offer. There are so many divides in the society that one is left to watching cricket and that too to excel within the sport as well. They just cannot accept defeat no matter what happens. Winning and losing is part of the game but what they most detest is the fact that their team loses without giving in a fight which is quite understandable and for this reason the administrators and management committees running the whole show (of cricket) be taken to task. No one must be allowed to play with the feelings and sentiments of the 160 million Pakistanis. Actually the game of cricket is such a beauty that one just cannot leave following it. When the equation has the Pakistani cricket team as well, then the stakes are even higher and people attach a lot of expectations which at the end of the day, becomes quite an understandable expectation. It is the only sport within Pakistan that is played on an international level. In the past, there used to be teams of field hockey, squash, football and other sports but with the passage of time, all these sports have faded out since the coverage of cricket has gained so much weight and the advertisers know that their brand would gain mileage if they attach them with the game of cricket. Government Intervention in Pakistan Cricket Affairs The role of government in this discussion is pertinent. The government gives out huge bonuses and appoints special committees in order to award and reward the team whenever it wins abroad and does well on an international level. However the point which seems to be missing here is that the government does not understand the basic working methodologies related with the Pakistan cricket board itself. The issue of ad-hocism itself is ruining the game within Pakistan for the last 8 years and this is one of the very long lists of aspects which should be controlled immediately. Then there is the issue of one man show running the whole cricket body which must be done away with as soon as possible. The district and regional associations need to be given incentives and fees by the Pakistan cricket board which is not being done at present. The formation of bogus clubs is a similar thing which must be understood if the Pakistan cricket board and its management committee want to improve the standard of the game within the lengths and breadths of the nation and that too in a quick and effective manner. Lastly, there is the aspect of grooming youngsters so that they could come up with fresh talent which is polished over a period of time. The grassroots must have academies which should instill the much needed training and coaching that is required at the basic level. All said and done, the measures of cricket within Pakistan at the present is not something to write home about and dedicated efforts are needed to set things right in the related scheme of things. BIBLIOGRAPHY GORDON, Sandy. (1994). Effect of Internal and External Imagery on Cricket Performance. Journal of Sport Behavior, Vol. 17 MANGAN, J A. (2004). Cricketing Cultures in Conflict: World Cup 2003. Routledge PERERA, Suvendrini. (2000). `Cricket, with a Plot: Nationalism, Cricket and Diasporic Identities. Journal of Australian Studies WATT, David C. (2003). Sports Management and Administration. Routledge Word Count: 1,557 Read More