I want to write my blog on some other topic like macro economic or latest credit review policy by RBI, however, Indian team and my everlasting love with cricket compelled the writer in me to share my thoughts with you.
Indians were once again humiliated against a quality pace attack on a bouncy pitch. It didn’t happen first time and I am sure it has not happened last time either. Now what will happen? Rahul Dravid and Greg Chappell will change the team for next one day game. The team management will drop one and two players and probably we will have a respectable defeat. Our batsmen will be acclimatized till the last one day game and probably we will win last game as well.
This is the short term solution and we Indians inherently love this approach. We do not have enough vision to think about resolving the problem and avoid this humiliation again. When Clive Lloyd’s team used to drub Aussies in late 70s and early 80s, the Aussies cricket board thought about a long term vision and implemented it. We all are witnessing the result.
Now, the first question comes – does BCCI care to solve this problem? Is BCCI ready to inculcate a professional and visionary approach to future of Cricket in India? My answer to both these questions lies in negativity. People may have difference of opinion here. However, BCCI is smart enough to make its balance sheet stronger on a year on year basis. I read a study which suggested that BCCI grows faster than Infosys! God knows where all the money goes…One more thing – Indian team represents BCCI and not India. It was clarified by BCCI when a die-hard cricket fan lodged a case against them in court.
There was a need to promote cricket in India when BCCI was set-up. Now, BCCI can leave this job to Indian Companies who will be more than happy to do this job for BCCI free of cost! We know what kind of people has been running BCCI at present and in the past. They want to command BCCI not to make a stronger Indian team but to make money in their own way because nobody can question how BCCI is run, courtesy to its autonomous nature.
The seasoned professionals should run this organization like a listed company. You will ask why? The simple reason is Indian Team may be representing BCCI on paper but practically it represents honor and pride of one billion people. It represents India. Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are national icons and not BCCI icons! The strength of BCCI balance sheet is driven by Indian people passion in Cricket. Therefore, BCCI must be made transparent and accountable to Indian public. The passionate Indians must be given a chance to run this organization professionally based on their merit, educational qualification and other criteria.
We need professionals like Harsha Bhogles and Sunil Gavaskars to run this organization. I don’t know how good these men will be as administrators but they will enjoy it doing more than commenting on Indian matches.
There is a dire need to create an institution within BCCI which educates and trains our young batsmen on fast and bouncy pitches. This institution may provide India what we are looking for last 74 years – a genuine fast bowler. MRF pace foundation and Cricket Academy are delivering but we need a focused and planned approach to win one-day and test series in Australia, England or South Africa in coming years.
Sometimes I thank God that only 10-12 nations play cricket otherwise our ranking in Cricket would have been same as that of Football, courtesy to BCCI. BCCI is not different than other sports governing bodies in India. Then what is the difference? The only difference is “we”.
1 comment:
As far as I see, there are 2 major factors responsible for the sorry state of Indian Cricket - the non-sports administrators and the players - the Superstars themselves. when I say Indian Cricket, I mean the game and not the 'Business' of managing Indian Cricket, which is being handled very well by the BCCI. Barring a few, most of the so-called administrators are only there because of their political connections. They run the associations like their personal fiefdoms - playing regional politics in the team selections and encouraging nepotism in what should be a strictly talent-based selection. The state of the Indian Hockey and Football associations further proves the point.
The need of the hour is to support and encourage the talent, irrespective of the regional bias and encourage the performers. The non-performers need to go, whether they are senior players or not. Similarly, the management should be entrusted to only those individuals who are truly involved in the sport. In the long run, it will not help if we earn millions from telecast rights and sponsors when no spectators turn out to watch our Superstars! The need of the hour if to have a spectator paying his hard-earned money to watch good cricket and not a bunch of actor-models with logos on every visible parts of their anatomy.
- Nafiz Khalife
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