'Are we walking porn?', asks sacked cheerleader?

BANGALORE, INDIA: IPL is not just about cricket. It is equally about parties, glamour, gossips, which makes it more spicy than sporty!

But when Gabriella Pasqualotto, a South African IPL cheerleader, wrote about the behind-the-scene stories, which also pointed towards the flirtatious attitude of some cricketers at the post-match parties, and also the attitude of people who look at cheerleaders as 'walking porn', that proved to be a bit costly for her.

Unlike the 'Fake IPL Player' who blogged about the inside stories of the game a couple of years back, the poor young lady was shown the gate and was forced to catch the next flight to her native country, say media reports.

Cheerleader to take legal action

The cheerleader said she considers to take legal action after the Mumbai Indians sent her home following a complaint from an unnamed Australian cricketer about her blog post, 'The Secret Diary of an IPL Cheerleader', South Africa's New Age newspaper said.

Initially, she started tweeting about her experiences as @IPLGirl. Later, she was approached by a website alternativecricket.com to write an anonymous blog, on which she wrote about flirtatious cricketers, and what happens at IPL parties.

Aussies are fun but naughty: Cheerleader

In her post, “The Secret Diary of an IPL Cheerleader”, she describes the atmosphere inside the VIP room and makes comments such as “The Aussies are fun but naughty, such as Aiden Blizzard and Dan Christian.” She also said that the Indian cricketers were polite and well-behaved.

“On our days off, we are free to explore and take in what India has to offer but its not always easy. You can just imagine, a group of fit, easy on the eye, western ladies cruising the congested busy streets…To the citizens, we are practically like walking porn! All eyes are on you all the time; it is complete voyeurism” reads the blog post.

'Indian players polite and well-behaved'

That is the observation she made of the outside world, where she felt that “the women double take, see you and then pretend you do not exist”, while men watch and watch their anatomy from all angles. But what irked the IPL insiders was her observation on some players.

“Usually only after day matches there is an exclusive after party and at night is when it all happens. The music pumps, the drinks flow and the cricketers come and go. We mingle and associate with important people of the IPL wearing their finest and sexiest, sponsors of all sorts, media and fashion shows, even Indian MTV!,” says the blog.

“But the real fun happens in the VIP rooms where the players and night owls can cause scandal! The few Indian players we have met, such as MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have been very polite and keep to themselves in the dark corners. Hotshots like Tendulkar with families at home are never present. The likes of Jonty Rhodes and Albie Morkel are notorious for having a good time with friends!,” it adds.

After being sacked, in a blog post Pasqualotto said the organisers would not even allow her to cash traveller's cheques or buy a phone card before bundling her onto a plane home.

After being sent home, she tweets: “My blog was meant to be light and witty and not taken seriously or to heart… this should not have become such a scene…”

Her family lawyer is examining her contract with the IPL, which threw her out for violating the ‘privacy’ clause. It is understood that she was only told not to speak to the Indian media while cheer leading but there was no mention of blogging/tweeting.

Was Pasqualotto's sacking justified?

As with everything else, there are two sides to this coin.

Sacking someone over a mere blog post seems like a very unprofessional thing to do. The IPL may have overreacted in their decision to sack Pasqualotto.

A blog is simply an online diary, and it was not her intention to do direct harm by writing her personal experiences. Her piece was not only about cricketers but her experience in the IPL in general. Also, as seen above, she was not legally barred from posting about the IPL on a blog or on Twitter.

“I wrote what I experienced as a cheerleader. But I am considering taking legal action because I feel that I was fired over something small and silly,” Pasqualotto said.“I also think that the situation was handled unprofessionally.”

“If she wrote that people treat us like ‘pieces of meat’, it’s true,” says another cheerleader, wishing to remain anonymous.

Cheer girls have a great time at parties: Bidappa

Not everyone supports this stand. “I don’t know why she’s written this. I’ve always seen cheer girls having a great time at the parties,” says fashion choreographer Prasad Bidappa who organises IPL parties.

Not much more can be said on the matter as IPL officials have refused to comment on the matter.

Overall though, on a blog, while making unflattering remarks about a person, it is better to stay safe and not refer to them directly by name. If Gabriella Pasqualotto had written her post with a bit more sense and care, she would probably not have been sent home.