India, Australia and South Africa are currently the top three teams in the cricket World Cup. All three are former British colonies with a rich cricketing history and a spirited following. And wherever there are people and passions involved, politics and policy follow close behind. The political part of it is opaque, but when it translates into law making, it highlights the role of sports in shaping society.
Let’s start with Australia, where in the April of 2013, its national cricket team desperately sought a spinner. Earlier that year, they had suffered a 4-0 defeat while touring India. Next up for the Baggy Greens was the Ashes. The feeling in the Australian Cricket Board was that a capable spinner would strengthen the team for the matchup in England.