Insisting that the great Indian national anthem be played like it is done in international cricket before each of the next year's IPL 2020 games, Kings XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia wrote to the BCCI and also lauded the board for scrapping the all too expensive traditional opening ceremony.
"It is an excellent move. It is high time that we don't have an opening ceremony," Wadia told PTI. "I have always wondered the value and necessity of hosting an opening ceremony. One thing which they (BCCI) should do is to have the national anthem before each game given that it is the Indian Premier League."
Read Also: R Ashwin and Kings XI Punjab decide to part ways, confirms co-owner Ness Wadia
"I had written to the BCCI earlier also and now I have written to Mr Sourav Ganguly (BCCI president). And I think it is still played in movie theatres."
The Indian Super League (football) and the Pro-Kabaddi Leagues have had the tradition of playing the national anthem before their games.
"It is the Indian Premier League after all," Wadia said. "We should be proud of what we have, which is a wonderful national anthem and a wonderful league. In NBA too, the national anthem is played before every game."
The IPL governing council this week discussed the idea of "friendly games" abroad proposed by multiple franchises to further popularise the league in overseas markets and encash them.
However, not only the IPL consitution doesn't allow for the implementation of the idea but it also finds a major hurdle from the international cricket FTP.
"The IPL is an Indian tournament. However, if one could look at expanding its reach, that will only be beneficial for all the stakeholders including the BCCI because it is also an international event," says Wadia who believes in the plan.
"If you look at the top football leagues all around the world, you do see them playing a lot of pre-season friendlies overseas. It only improves the visibility, reach and eventually the value of the IPL. BCCI must consider it."
"It would be nice to have the world's number one cricketing league emulate what other sporting leagues have done. NBA has also come to India and China. The problem is the window (the scheduling) and that is where the BCCI comes in," he concluded.
(Inputs from PTI)
