‘You can’t play cricket if you ain’t got no b*lls!’ says expelled IPL cheerleader
‘You can’t play cricket if you ain’t got no b*lls!’
By Gabriella Pasqualotto
So, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is finally over; some of us have had our fair share of cricket, and some of us will never have enough! For one month I was lucky enough to watch the IPL in the Indian heat, right from the boundary. The last month, I was unfortunately watching the cricket in my chilly South African home, from my lounge – not by choice, of course!
At home, I waved my Mumbai Indians flag like a mad woman, cheered crazily on the couch and screamed and shouted at the television screen. For a couple of weeks, I almost could not wrap my head around the fact that I was not meant to be home, and that I should have been on that box doing my thing.
People asked me why I still supported my team with a full heart if they dismissed me so unceremoniously.
First of all, my beautiful cheerleading girls were still there working hard, providing entertainment and doing a fantastic job. I am proud of them and supported them all the way. Secondly, it was not my entire Mumbai Indians team that had me packing. Honestly, I think some of them have better things to worry about than their guilty consciences. It was the IPL as a whole, well, after a few ‘naughty’ schoolboys went running to the principal Mr. Chirayu Amin and got me expelled. Sweeping me under the carpet seemed like the most practical thing to do at the time, but hasty and irrational decisions are never clever. They are ‘act first, think later’ kind of people and look at what has happened as a result!
There is a saying in India, ‘Atithi Devo Bhava.’ Translated, it means guests are like God. Therefore, when I was booted and banished, the people of India were only sympathetic towards me and for that, I will definitely be visiting the country again. Touring India was an unbelievable experience, especially after the Commonwealth Games in which sportspersons did very well. The cricket buzz, the high and the camaraderie everywhere was unreal and it proves that cricket is a loving religion in India.
However, more cricketers are retiring from international cricket to play for the IPL. It seems as if it is getting stronger and more popular every year and if this persists then sadly, international cricket will soon decline. Where is the control? IPL cricket is now being called an industry, rather than a sport. Players are there for the big bucks. But surely playing for your country is more important than playing for a club. IPL is all about the glamour and the highlights of entertainment to gain more publicity, which is why it is so different to other cricket tournaments. I was part of that glamour and entertainment and there is a whole lot of it, but surely performance is important too. IPL is expanding and hopefully will do so in future with the right ideals.
Do I regret writing what I did and posting my blog? Not at all!
Yes, people do jump to conclusions and make assumptions about anything they read but what I wrote is not something of a revelation. From the aftermath, many people have shared their personal stories and thoughts with me of cricketers or sportsmen and behind the scenes affairs. I just made it public. I am the type of person that explains the unnecessary, but states the obvious. For that, I was punished and treated the way I was because I was an internal source and seen as a whistleblower at these flashy private after-parties. I am still receiving so much support from people globally and majority of them are grateful for what I said.
‘Fame doesn’t give you license to commit adultery’
Understand, that in previous blogs I have generalized, speaking through cheerleaders’ eyes, but I am not saying that every cricketer and sportsman is characterized this way and not every Indian man views women in the light I portrayed them. Each person is interested in a different facet of my story and especially the Indians, they believe in the morally right. My writings were not meant to be malicious, intentional or to spoil anybody’s fun, but ultimately it comes down to pure principles and morals. Just because you have recognized talent, you have a famous face and adored by millions, does not mean you can commit adultery and indulge in some of life’s interesting and easy pleasures, while you have loved ones supporting you at home. Then when you get caught out it seems surprising, or when someone writes about it, it seems shocking…but, dude, you have recognized talent, you have a famous face and adored by millions, hello! Add a few brain cells in the matter and maybe I would not be writing this today!
I have stood my own ground and kept my morals by not sensationalizing my story and the cricketers, but rather hoping that I have set an example to live by. You cannot deny your actions to the world in order to accept yourself. Everybody knows that an acceptance that stands on denial is no acceptance at all. It just creates a kind of stand that says, okay, we all know that you are lying but you just want yourself to look good in order for yourself to feel better about yourself, so you try convincing the ones you have hurt, but actually they are the ones you love. People are scared of the truth and therefore they create perversions of their responsibilities, and like the people of the IPL, they avoided a mess by creating one. I guess what I am trying to say is: ‘You can’t play cricket if you ain’t got no b*lls!’
(This article is reproduced with permission from AlternativeCricket.com. AlternativeCricket is currently developing scholarship for young Afghan cricketers. You can follow them on Facebook (facebook.com/alternativecricket) and Twitter (twitter.com/altcricket)