Indian cricketers have gone too far this time

The ICC has accepted the norms laid by the agency to check doping amongst sportspeople i.e. WADA. As we are aware, doping is a serious offense and sportspeople across all sports have to abide by the rules laid out to ensure that sports continue to be free of performance-enhancing drugs and the competition remains fair for all. This far all is good. Cricket is only recently coming under its purview. All the cricketing nations except India have agreed to abide by the WADA guidelines. Indian cricketers have objected to the clause where they have to reveal their whereabouts at all times. They say after playing for such long durations, they deserve to guard their privacy when they are not playing. The board BCCI which has got used to arm twisting and throwing its weight around has sided with the players instead of sitting down and addressing their concerns and ensuring that they toe the line.

There are many flaws with this argument. If the cricketers from other nations who also play a lot of cricket can sign it so can they. If other sportspeople like tennis players, badminton players who have equally hectic schedules can do so surely so can they. Even sporting icons like Roger Federer have signed this and I am sure he respects his privacy a lot. Most importantly, all sports have to be on equal footage and Indians cricketers cannot expect to be the exceptions to the rule. Cricket with its T20 format is aiming to be an Olympic sport but it cannot happen till dope testing is mandatory for all cricketers.

The reasons they give are frivolous. They are behaving like spoilt brats but this time they have gone too far. Players from other sports in India and the Sports Minister have also criticized the cricketers for their highhandedness. It is high time that someone instilled some common sense in them and helped them to prevent the alienation they will feel not only from cricketers across the board but also their own countrymen.