Indian Premier League 2009

"India may be the soul of world cricket, but IPL is its commercial heart. Just as 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' changed the ground rules for quiz shows by injecting a massive dose of money into the equation, IPL has changed the dynamics of the cricket economy."

-Vikas Swarup

A year ago, the Indian Premier League brought together some of the most influential people in the country to organize the first successful commercial sports venture in India. Preparations for its second edition will attract the most powerful industrialists, the most influential bureaucrats and the most prominent of entertainers to put up millions of dollars in a dangerous, high stakes game that will impact (on a truly baffling scale) both the future of India and their own standing in society. Winning the game means more than just the pretty trophy, and honestly has scant little to do with the way the sport is played. On the other hand, each of these worthy players needs the others to have the remotest chance of success. With the precarious political situation in India, threats of terrorist activities and the economy in flux, this year’s competition needs major logistical changes to stay afloat. The future of Indian cricket relies on their choices, but the impact could be far more pervasive than that.

To sum this up: you have some of the most powerful and controversial personalities in one of the largest countries in the world pouring extremely large amounts of money into an incredibly emotionally charged pastime during a time of instability. What could possibly go wrong?

Job requirement: Guts.

Not required for the job: Actually knowing how cricket works.

 

Background Guide

Update Paper

 

 

Chair - Molly Blondell

Molly Blondell is a fourth year undergraduate majoring in Environmental Studies and Political Science from Baltimore, MD. As a self-declared firecracker, she is a proficient user of Snapchat and avid fan of the Boston Red Sox. She has served on Nisha's staff for ChoMUNs XVI and XVII during which she founded the non-existant charity, "Eunuchs in Tunics". In addition to serving as an executive for ChoMUN this year, she is also the Member at Large for MUNUC XXVII, UChicago's high school conference. What's her favorite Beyoncé song, you ask? She'll never tell.

Email: blondellm.uchicago@gmail.com

 

Crisis Director - Nisha Bala

Nisha Bala is a fourth-year Math major from Bangalore, India who spends much of her time being the President of UChicago's competitive MUN Team. She enjoys experimenting with novel committee structures, having previously power-tripped as an assortment of emperors for The Great Indian Empire: Mughals Through the Ages at ChoMUN XVII and crisis directed the Concepcion, the Victoria, the Trinidad, the Santiago, and the San Antonio for the Voyage of Ferdinand Magellan at CHoMUN XVI. The Indian Premier League will mark her first foray out of the 16th century and she's excited to push the envelope on how Model UN can engage with South Asia through the combination of sports, politics and business. Her legendary sass and rapid speaking will be featured every session, so delegates should be on their toes all weekend, and be prepared to ask her to slow down as necessary.

Please feel free to contact me at nbala@uchicago.edu