By Nelson Lewis - Bahrain
Bahrain, Aug 26: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is run and controlled with bizarre characters whose prime motto is to line their pockets and also give fat money to ex-cricketers who are appointed in this body in official capacities, so that they are kept happy and contented. This is because they do not want these ex-cricketers to spill the beans regarding the inner workings of this organization, which is as secretive and mysterious as England's Free Masons. Surprisingly, BCCI is not answerable to the Central Ministry of Sports, there are not audit figures published and no one knows what exactly its sources of earnings are and how it spends the money. Common man should have a right to be privy to this information.
BCCI chief Sharad Pawar and ICL chief Subash Chandra
A few years ago, BCCI said in the Court that the players in the Indian team do not play for India, but rather for BCCI.
When Sharad Pawar initially heard about the launching of the Indian Cricket League (ICL), he scoffed, saying that they would only attract players who had either retired or were past their prime. Later, when he realised that ICL was gaining strength each passing day and was able to attract local and international players, he started to use threats and sanctions.
Firstly, Sharad Pawar should realise he has no authority to stop the pensions of players, because this monetary incentive is paid to players for their past services. These players could sue BCCI in the Courts for stopping their pensions.
By BCCI’s own admission it is a body that does not represents India. So why does BCCI have the animosity to ICL? What is wrong if ICL sports teams by paying players princely sums? Every sportsman has a right to earn a decent sum and live respectful lives. Many cricketers may feel that the chance of playing for India are remote and may feel fully contented and consoled in playing for just three years and earning good dough to lead happy lives thereafter. What is wrong with that? BCCI has to realize that though very few can make it into the Indian team; every cricketer worth his salt should get the opportunity to earn a living. I recall decades ago, one of the top Indian singers with monopoly over the film industry and would threaten that she would not sing for those film producers or directors, who gave assignments to one of our neighbour’s rising star. However, today it is heartening to see many singers getting an opportunity to earn their bread.
Let us analyse things rationally. One cannot tell with certainty whether ICL will prosper or collapse after sometime or few years. However, the fact of the matter is that ICL will force BCCI to change itself for the better and radically too if it wants to survive. Cosmetic changes just would not serve the purpose.
Further, both BCCI and ICL could join hands and arrive at an understanding that they conduct their own tournaments, apart from the Ranji, Duleep, Irani trophies and other tourneys being presently played in the country. More matches and tournaments are very good as many cricketers will get opportunities to display their talents and prove their worth. Moreover, the Indian team will always have lots of players who could play competitive cricket and prove their worth, rather than the present situation in the team where players whose shelf lives have expired long ago are still playing. It is very, very sad to see some of these players who were very good players in their prime are not able to perform today and give their 100% performance due to age factors, being scarred by injuries, etc., which naturally has affected their fitness, instincts, etc. I do not blame these players, but the BCCI for being totally unprofessional and non-businesslike when it comes to exhibiting players who are 100% fit on any given day, rather than selecting players due to their past pedigrees or performances. This is amateurish way of selecting teams.
There should be BCCI and ICL and probably floatation of one or two more bodies, so that many cricketers earning enough to enjoy a middle class lifestyle. This is not the case today. Imagine with intense competition many good all rounders will be discovered. Again imagine an Indian team, like the West Indies team of the yore, having four fast bowlers in the team and another four fast bowlers sitting on the bench due to lack of berths in the team and having six to seven all rounders playing at one go. India then will have a team of fit, energetic and athletic players and not “langdas”.
However, the selection of the team for the country should be done by the Ministry of Sports consisting of its own officials and officials from BCCI and ICL. However, the Ministry of Sports should have the prerogative to select officials from BCCI and ICL on its own and without anyone's prodding, be it Sharad Pawar or Subhash Chandra.