“ Life does not cost you much , lifestyle does . Sports was beginning to be part of Indian lifestyle untill the Corona virus started dictating terms. This is not the beginning of the end of cricket in India but definitely a wake up call to many who have been blinded by the glamour of the game,” believes Chetan Desai as he sees the glass being cured at the empty grounds of the Goa Cricket Association Accademy ground in Porvorim.
Cricket in Goa and Chetan Desai from Goa are difficult to separate . Both have been together through thick and thin . COVID-19 has left the world in disarray with economies crashing and sports being at the receiving end with social distancing being the new norm in place.
“Sports is the last priority of the government. Certainly there are more important things but the first signs of change of attention to sports will be visible when gyms are open to the public ,” thinks Chetan who is considered to be the blue eyed boy of former Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya .
COVID-19 has struck sports hard . football in India seems set for a sabbatical this season . Cricket may prop up . But , nothing is sure because despite the pulls of needing to keep the ecosystem going more attention is focussed on development of the ethos of good living.
“ Previous to this , performance was the maxim on which players were selected. Wit players unable to perform , selection will narrow down to the fitness of players. This, in itself , is a quantum shift. We will not be able to wait for players to get a chance to perform as that will need time. Some times , money cannot wait ,” broods Chetan .
“Cricket what we saw before the pandemic will not continue after the pandemic. The game will go on but there will be twicthes in the beginning which will be touched on once the game gets going again and through the years the ball will start rolling normally again ,” thinks Chetan.
Will new talent get lost or clouded or just not get an opportunity to sparkle ?
“The game of cricket cannot and will not be forgotten . Right now though , cricket is not a priority . Saving lives is ; helping people to live is . Maybe some talent is lost but the same lost talent may have got an opportunity to live. The game will not die,” believes Chetan.
Goa got re-promoted to the Elite League of the Ranji Trophy and Chetan believes the halt in play will not have a lasting impact on the game in Goa. “The present managing committee has been strenghtening systems and things will continue. The priority right now is to see that everyone is safe,” says Chetan.
“Pitches will be maintained. Work will go on keeping social distancing as the main paramteter. Whatever needs to be tended in Goa will be,”assures Chetan .
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