Is the 20-20 version of cricket an idea borrowed from the United States? At least, this is the belief of Communist Party of India MP Gurudas Dasgupta, who raised the matter in Lok Sabha on Tuesday alleging that the 'tabloid version' of cricket had reduced the game to 'gambling'.
Apparently referring to the ongoing Indian Premier League, Dasgupta said this version of cricket was being played only for money.
Claiming that Rs 4,000 crore was being spent on the series, he asked the government to find the source of the funds and questioned whether 'gambling and betting' should be allowed in the game.
He said India was 'borrowing ideas from the US' by conducting the 20-20 cricket series.
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was not impressed by Dasgupta's argument, pointing out that cricket is not played in the US.
Some Bharatiya Janata Party members were also seen taking a dig at him but the CPI leader went on, saying that the idea had been borrowed from the US, United Kingdom and Australia.
"Eight teams have been franchised and players purchased," he said, adding the game earlier played by greats like Don Bradman is being 'taken over' by industrial houses and 'wine merchants'.
Chatterjee said he was sure that Finance Minister P Chidambaram would be informed about Dasgupta's views.
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