No way to treat Jimmy

Twenty nine years ago, Mohinder Amarnath played a key role in getting India to the World Cup final and followed it up with yet another man-of-the-match-winning show in the final against the mighty West Indies (yes, far sterner opposition to what MS Dhoni encountered in last year’s World Cup final against Sri Lanka).

Mohinder has been kicked in the gut several times during his association with Indian cricket. His sacking appears to be more than just that. An established former player was picked to be a selector last year and replaced the very next year when he could enjoy a four-year term. Yet, the BCCI president N Srinivasan doesn’t come up with an explanation. He stressed to the media that he doesn’t have to. Mr Srinivasan, of course the public deserve an explanation because cricket is India’s best loved game. You owe it to the fans even though your body is not government-run. It is here where the BCCI’s arrogance sticks out like a sore thumb.

Srinivasan said that the BCCI wanted a new-look selection committee. That explanation does not hold good because Amarnath had spent only one year on the job and all other four selectors had ended their term. Did the BCCI want a complete new panel just for show?

If there was something amiss about Amarnath’s contribution as selector, it could have been either sorted out with him or the BCCI should have been specific with regards to the reason for his ouster. Sure, there should be accountability, but with that, must come a great degree of transparency and straight talk. The BCCI continues to be viewed as an organisation that lacks these qualities however heavy their bank balances appear to be.u00a0

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