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No perfect 10 but... |
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By: Clayton Murzello |
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Date:
2008-09-23 |
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Place: India |
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HOW would Sharad Pawar's report card look like at the end of his three-year tenure as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India?
Considering Pawar toppled the Dalmiya group in 2005 to emerge the king of Indian cricket only four years after his plunge into cricket administration (he became Mumbai Cricket Association chief in 2001), he's done pretty well.
Yet, it is important to examine the Pawar years.
One cannot say cricket development at the grassroots has gone places. A recent column by a writer in the know quoted an unnamed National Cricket Academy trainee in Bangalore as saying, "Sir, how do we get out of this jail." This is worrying.
Doubtless, BCCI can do a lot more even taking into consideration that this aspect needs time.
The biggest fear is the amount of talent which goes wasted because of a lack of talent hunt initiatives. For a country as large as ours, there has to be a well-coordinated, organised, efficient programme. Bringing talent to surface has to be the number one priority.
Administration
It appears that the game is better run now than it was when Jagmohan Dalmiya called the shots. There are certainly more people working in the cricket board than in 2004. The executive secretary role has made way for a Chief Administrative Officer. There's a Media Relations Officer, Games Development Officer and a person in charge of logistics at the Wankhede Stadium's Cricket Centre, a heavenly structure as compared to the office at Brabourne Stadium's North Stand. So, in terms of personnel, the Board has stepped it up.
There's no Indian on the list of elite umpires and the fact that Australian Simon Taufel just grabbed his fifth Best Umpire award from the ICC in as many years proves that cricket umpiring is in trouble. The BCCI, meanwhile, have tied up with Cricket Australia who send their experts to train Indian umpires.
Pawar being open to the fact that selectors need to be paid professionals has to be commended. Rs 25 lakh makes it a lucrative job. Where players are concerned, they won't be complaining as rewards have come thick and fast for sterling performances. However, India's embrace of Twenty20 cricket and a crazy calendar are matters of concern.
BCCI didn't seem to believe in public relations at all. The Indian media certainly cannot say that they are fully satisfied with what they get in terms of fitness-related reports (which still get leaked) as compared to what Cricket Australia dishes out, but there has been an effort to have areas covered (no pun intended).
Recently, the BCCI held a conclave where media managers from all state associations were called in to participate and exchange thoughts with a member of the print and electronic media. It led to the belief that the BCCI cared about its image and were willing to understand the media's needs better than ever before. Yet, the you-are-not-welcome attitude to websites in the wake of their big TV rights deal which includes Internet rights too is beyond comprehension. To put it simply, a journalist working for a website has no place in a press box.
In that sense, the BCCI is blockading the spreading of the game through a medium which is fast increasing making other forms of journalism look redundant. By the way, the BCCI has yet to launch its website unbelievable. Even Bangladesh, the latest entrant to the Test fold has one. A politician in today's world surely understands the value of the internet and not having a website is absurd.
Merchandise
Apart from attire, there is nothing for the fan to take home and treasure. Only Australia can match India's star value, yet the BCCI has not been able to open up avenues to sell collectibles like autograph bats, key chains, coffee mugs and other souvenirs, items that are available at every ground in major Test-playing countries.
Grounds
Talking about grounds, many of our Test and one-day venues are a disgrace in terms of facilities for spectators. And although the Board is not directly responsible how each centre organises its gig, there has to be strong direction from the governing body, which backs mega projects like the Indian Premier League. The Board is richer than ever before and its financial health can only get better. Administrators would like to take credit for this, but the fact is that the market for the game is bigger so obviously there'll be a creamier look to the balance sheet.
Rebels
The Board's apprehension of the rebel Indian Cricket League was understandable, but the manner in which they have gone about dictating terms would be considered deplorable to most. An ICL player was pulled up in an inter-collegiate match by a member of a state unit while those aligned with the ICL cannot even play club cricket. Reminds one of the Australian Cricket Board's diktat during the Kerry Packer's revolution in the late 1970s.
Pawar's ruling camp has not won popularity polls with their decision to stop pension for cricketers who got involved in the ICL.
The pension was initiated to reward cricketers for their contribution to Indian cricket as players and not what they did post-retirement.
Blessings from former players well earned by Sharad Pawar
All the same, Pawar's further generosity to the former players was rightfully hailed.
The word 'further' has to be stressed, because the pension scheme was initiated by the old regime. Pawar and his men enhanced the amount to make life more comfortable for the pensioners. India has shown the way to other boards many of whom give their erstwhile stars nothing.
Even Indian widows benefit now as do first-class players and umpires. Pawar has earned their blessings.
Women's cricket
Women cricketers have never had it so good. Now, the game for men and women is administered under one roof and the merger couldn't have taken place without Pawar. Women cricketers can use the same grounds as their male counterparts and apart from better traveling facilities, the news of a pension scheme for them is great.
Overall, Pawar can be proud with the state of affairs although even he would admit that there's a long road ahead. The hopes of India being the best cricketing nation should relate to their administration too. They've made more than a start.
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Your call! |
MiD DAY now gives you a chance to express your thoughts on Sharad Pawar's term as chief of the BCCI and how the Board can make things better for Indian cricket and its followers.
Restrict yourself to 200 words and the top five views will be published in these columns on September 27, the first day of the BCCI's Annual General Meeting. Your views are important.
E-mail them to: sports@mid-day.com with details of yourself. | |
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