KARACHI, May 19: Indian boxing officials on Friday blamed cricket for decline of other sports including boxing in the sub-continent, while they believed step-motherly treatment of the sponsors is adding woes.

“I have no reservation in saying that cricket has eaten up all other sports in India and Pakistan and boxing is no exception. It is this game (cricket) because of which other sports are suffering,” Indian coach Jaydev Bisht told Dawn at National Sports Training and Coaching Centre on Friday.

Expressing his concern for what he said step-motherly treatment to boxing both in India and Pakistan, Bisht said cricket had been pulling the raw talent of both countries for various reasons.

The Indian said both neighbouring countries were facing a decline in sports because of financial benefits, glitz and glamour in cricket — the two major factors which, he said, were instrumental in attracting youths toward the game.

“It is cricket which plays a major role in drying up the pool of young athletes in India and Pakistan.

“There was an era when youth would involve in boxing, football, athletics and other games.

“But today, the glamour of cricket has created a drought in boxing. “Now there is big money in cricket. On the other hand, sport such as boxing is isolated and always short of money.

“Both the governments of India and Pakistan want to focus on cricket. This trend has created a cricket-craze in both countries,” said the coach.

Bisht said while it was hard to get some patronage from the Indian and Pakistani governments, it was even difficult to acquire assistance from private sector since multinational corporations were heavily investing in cricket through sponsorships but always reluctant in promoting boxing.

The coach said he was positive that Indian and Pakistani pugilists could deliver at international level and Olympics, only with the sponsorships from multinational companies.

“There are so many big names involved in sponsoring cricket in India and Pakistan.

“They are always lined-up to sign lucrative deals with Indian and Pakistani cricket boards. But they are not ready to give a single penny to boxing.

“Why would youngsters choose to box, while there is so much money and glamour in cricket,” he questioned.

Rajender Singh Tanwar, the Indian team manager, endorsed Bisht’s opinion, saying cricket was the rot eating into boxing and other sports.

“If there is a cricket match the president and prime minister will come to watch.

“But nobody is interested in watching boxing. In this situation how can we expect Pakistani and Indian athletes to do wonders?” said manager.

Like Bisht, Tanwar too pointed out what he said appalling attitude of the sponsors.

“Just imagine, in India we have top companies sponsoring Ranjhi Trophy which is a domestic event. Same is the situation in Pakistan.

“If this unfortunate situation continues, both countries would not be able to deliver in boxing and other sports.”

Tanwar also blamed media for ignoring boxing and giving undue coverage to cricket.

“One can see pages dedicated to cricket in major Indian and Pakistani newspapers. Media in both countries has also contributed in popularizing cricket and ruining other games.”

Bisht and Tanwar are not the first Indians who blamed cricket for the decline of other sports. Indian hockey legend Leslie Walter Claudius recently said cricket acted like an “atom bomb” and crushed all other sports in the country.

However, the Indian officials, who are in the city for a Pakistan-India series, were optimistic about India’s chances at this year’s Asian Games in Doha and Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

“We are expecting two to three gold medals in Doha and a gold in Beijing along with couple of silver and bronze medals,” Tanwar said.