An open letter to ex-president Anurag Thakur and ex-secretary Ajay Shirke as they spend their first few days outside BCCI corridors of power
Anurag Thakur
Dear Mr Thakur/Mr Shirke,
Trust this open letter finds you coping well with the embarrassment of being asked to vacate your positions from the office of the BCCI by the country's apex court.
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In a sense, your names will be etched in the history of Indian cricket as 'debutants' in being asked to vacate office. I daresay, like millions of lovers of the game, that these unique achievements have made you a part of cricket administration folklore and a good question to answer at school quiz competitions.
Ajay Shirke
I have no reason to doubt that if you were selfless, as you proclaim you are, in working for the benefit of Indian cricket, you would have offered to relinquish your positions when the Honorable Supreme Court instructed you gentlemen to execute the Lodha reforms. However, I do understand that the seat of power provides a resilient adhesive. It is human to smell intoxication in the delusions of grandeur that becomes a part of one's existence because suddenly, the world around looks at you with reverence, albeit cosmetic.
As a former cricketer, a lover of the game and Indian cricket, I have a few questions that you may be able to answer before you move away, sadly forcibly, from the corridors of power. Answering these questions may help clean some of the cobwebs that have collected in the minds of the Indian cricket lover.
Q1 When did you first come into cricket administration? Please chronicle your journey, positions held, year-wise.
Q2 Which other sports bodies are you associated with? Please elucidate the positions held in each of these bodies, year-wise.
Q3 Have you received any remuneration from BCCI, or your state association? Please provide a year-wise list.
Q4 Please provide details of premises hired by BCCI in Delhi, and the annual rent that is being paid for hiring them? Who has authorised the expensive lease of these premises? Who uses the said premises?
Q5 What are your playing credentials?
Q6 Were you a national selector for junior cricket? Were your credentials enough to qualify you for the responsibilities associated with the selector's post?
Q7 Did you comprehend the nature of judgment of the Honorable Supreme Court?
Q8 Are you aware that there is a difference between Lodha Committee recommendations and the final order of Supreme Court?
Q9 Did you make efforts to comply with the Supreme Court order of July 18, 2016? What efforts did you make to ensure the implementation of the said order?
Q10 Did you not commit perjury when you had asked for a letter from the ICC CEO asking whether a CAG nominee would amount to government interference?
Q11 Did you receive complaints about mismanagement in state associations from respected cricketers such as Bishan Bedi and Kirti Azad? What action did you take against financial bungling in state associations?
Q12 Did you have a system of replying and redressing complaints from the cricketers, stakeholders etc? Was each letter replied under your regime?
Q13 What was the system of verifying accounts submitted by various state units? Were there complaints of window dressing of accounts? If yes, what action did you take to ensure every penny given as subvention money was being utilised for the development of cricket?
Q14 What is the role of the BCCI CEO? Does he have any real powers to approve bills and take decisions relating to administration?
Q15 Did you interview senior cricketers for the posts of selectors last year? Were all applicants called/interviewed? What was the criterion for selection of selectors? Did you think you had the cricketing expertise to select selectors? Did you follow the yardstick's given by the Lodha reforms on the criteria for selectors?
Q16 Were you confident that the process that you put in place for selecting the selectors was the best and that you selected the best from the applicants?
Q17 Did you try to prevail upon the England and Wales Cricket Board to cancel the 2016-17 Indian tour?
Q18 How many stadiums have been constructed in Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra during your tenure?
Q19 How many cricketers have been selected in the Indian teams over the last 10 years from your states?
Q20 How many votes are there in your respective states? Do you have any relatives in any capacity in your associations? How are elections held?
I know you gentlemen love the game and Indian cricket unconditionally and it would be a pleasure to catch up with you sitting in the stands watching a game of cricket and not in the air-conditioned comfort of the hospitality boxes.
The apex court may have asked you to vacate office, but it hasn't asked you not to be passionate about Indian cricket. I look forward to hearing from you, like so many Indian cricket lovers, sooner than later.
Yours truly,
Shishir Hattangadi
(Former Mumbai Ranji Trophy captain)
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