Hasan Minhaj talks India's cricket corruption in the latest episode of 'Patriot Act'

Right off the gate, Minhaj says he “hated watching cricket” growing up

For the second time in two months, Indian-American comedian Hasan Minhaj is turning to India for material. This time around, the subject of Patriot Act with Hassan Minhaj is the favourite pastime of the sub-continent: cricket. More precisely, “Cricket Corruption.”

The episode details how the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), flushed with the Indian Premiere League (IPL) money and accounting for 70% of the worldwide revenue, is blocking the global growth of the sport.



Minhaj begins by admitting that he “hated watching cricket” while growing up, before going on to put the sport in perspective for the American audience.

“[The] last time India and Pakistan played each other in the World Cup, over a billion people tuned in,” he says. “In terms of viewers, that’s nine Super Bowls, Game of Thrones finales or a billion Murphy Brown reboots. Nobody watched Murphy Brown, I’m sorry. And yet, when Americans hear the word ‘cricket,’ they think of the insect, the cola, or the data plan you get if you want to start selling cocaine.”


One of the highlights of the episodes is Minhaj’s interview with Lalit Modi, the fugitive founder of IPL. Modi, now living in London, confesses that he made a mistake by “creating the war chest for the BCCI.”

Modi was ousted minutes after the final of the third edition for financial irregularities. The allegation was a huge blow and he was charged on five counts: shady initial bids of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab; a suspect broadcast deal with Sony; bid rigging of two new franchises this year and his behavioural pattern.



Perhaps, the most interesting part of Cricket Corruption is Minhaj's interview with Modi. The former IPL chairman plead not guilty to every offence against him except one - that by creating the IPL, the BCCI began to control the IPL.

Minhaj: “Don’t you think you created this problem by creating the IPL.?"

Modi: “I did, and I didn’t foresee this. That’s right. I am to blame for it.”

Overall, the episode is incisive, inclusive and quite funny. The tragedy however, is that unlike the subject matter, the content of this episode will never reach the billions it is intended for.

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