The League – The dirty face of cricket as we see it today- Review

Dirty League- Seven teams- no rules by Mr. Rajeev Rajendra

This is all about the latest book written by Rajiv Rajendra ‘The League’ is out to show the real face of not so real cricket being played these days especially the T-20 leagues, the fastest version of cricket. The novel is second by the author based on cricket and its timing must give it an instant reorganization, as the timing is so perfect when the IPL-6 is in its prime stage. The book is all about money, scams, match fixing, murders and involvement of big guns from different fields society and it has become dirtier with the latest spot betting incidents those took place recently to make things worse which were already gloomy.

Most character in the novel need no introduction as they introduce themselves, take Prince Abdel Raftar al for instance who started the league in this novel on Palmyra Island who look so similar to filthy rich UAE billionaire Abdul Rahaman Bukhatir who started it all in Sharjah. The author has given a new dimension to character of Raftar by mixing a little bit of Dawood Ibrahim into him to give it a touch of mafia connection and glamorous touch as well.

The League – This is serious matter

As we know the in the real cricketing world, the novel also revolves around the billion dollars The League Of Cricket that is played every year on an imaginary Palmyra Island started by a filthy rich Arabian Abdel Rafter al Rafter which has seven teams consisting famous cricket players from all over the world.

The teams have as unique names as we have in real cricketing leagues like- Violet Super Heroes, Yellow Scorchers, Orange Speeders, and Red Shooters etc. The league has seven teams, which look so close to real teams with so many similarities including real life players incidents, officials and owners including an interesting name Jahan Pnah Khan, which certainly needs no describing whom the author is mentioning here.

The book is having so many other real incidents like murder of famous South African coach Bob Woolmer, who was training Pakistani team when found dead in his hotel room. In addition, the incident when Pakistani wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider disappeared from his team hotel to emerge in England later seeking asylum fearing threat on his life by match fixers.

Then there is a character resembling to former under nineteen captain Virat Kohli who is leading a IPL team and one of the most successful members of Indian cricket team in all three formats of the game. Let us begin from the beginning as the book is all about money involved in the game especially in subcontinent where people go to any length just to watch a game of cricket with all their concern toward their favorite team.

As we are a nation who loves our movies, cricket and politics without any reason whatsoever but for the sake of our affiliation to a particular team, party or film star. Same is true for this book that is almost a real story of today’s cricket, which sounds less cricket but more of a manuscript of a crime thriller with every page unfolding a new suspense. The main lead of novel a superstar of cricket of yester years who came out of retirement to become part of the game finds himself in such a mass that he decides to overlook happenings around to be part of the system to keep safe himself and his family members.

The overall theme of the book matches more with a suspense thriller and as the writer has himself agrees that he chose the time for releasing the book during IPL to make it an instant success. He also thinks that readers can see the relations between fiction and realities as they know facts despite their love of game do not allow them to distract. The author has used a famous mafia line frequently, which says that ‘Once you entered into the gang you can stay here as long as you want to but cannot quit it alive’

Here are few words about author of this wonderful book. The author of the book Rajiv Rajendra is a computer engineer and PG in Marketing and Finance who served a global bank for years who is co-founder and lead advisor of Aktrea capital who trusts in reasons and fairness in business with genuine advices, real knowledge and true leadership.

Rajiv Rajendra has an art production house that helps different artists in production, art and cultural work on no profit basis. This book has 131 pages and it is available online with Amazon.com.

The League : Seven Teams. One Tournament. No rules. (Paperback)

It was available on another online site when I searched it- infibeam for INR 87/ which is almost US$1.2o only. I hope you will find this book informative as well thrilling.

Image source https://pixabay.com/en/cricket-stumps-ball-sport-match-724616/