Staff Writer – Archi
Sports psychologist Dr Rudi Webster is pained seeing the fixing saga hit the richest T20 league of the world — the Indian Premier League so badly.
Former Barbados cricketer Webster has helped many Indian cricketers too. He was Kolkata Knight Riders’ mental skills coach last year. Today, when he hears of malpractices that have plagued the sport he loves, there’s distress in his voice.
“I am not sure if value systems have changed in the last two decades. But what we see in cricket today is a reflection of what is happening in society,” he said.
Webster, 73, is unable to conclude why handsomely-paid professional cricketers resort to corrupt practices. “Greed, or whatever you want to call it, seems to be a universal emotion. I don’t know what’s motivating youngsters now.
There is lack of commonsense. A lot of them are tempted to get easy money — a part of modern culture —instant gratification. A lot of them feel they can get away despite doing wrong.
Dr Rudi Webster. Photo courtesy www.iplt20.com
It’s a pity because India’s T20 product is fantastic. People here in the Caribbean are also crazy about it,” he said.
Three Indian cricketers — S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan — were arrested by Indian police on charges on spot-fixing. BCCI president too found himself in a tough situation after more skeletons keep tumbling out of the IPL cupboard and making Caribbean news.
Webster first met Sreesanth during India’s tour of West Indies in 2006. Sreesanth was part of the historic side that won a Test series in West Indies after 35 years. Since that coup, Sreesanth has been part of two World Cup-winning squads too.
“He seemed like a perfectly nice kid. What is it that motivates people to do certain things, I will never know. There are two types of motivation — internal and external. The latter is money and other rewards. The more you are given, the more you expect next time. Sreesanth must have lost internal motivation,” feels Webster.
S Sreesanth. Photo courtesy www.guardian.co.uk
“In Australia, some take pride in playing for clubs more than nation. That sort of club loyalty isn’t there in India yet. That could be another reason players are doing this in T20s.”
Webster spent more than a decade with the indomitable West Indies side of the 1980s. “Champion players have a lot of pride. Usually, lesser talented players don’t have pride. I suppose culture of individual has a lot to do with it, and values he’s been brought up with. If he sees others enhancing themselves by doing shady things, he may think it is okay to do it,” he felt.
