The events in the recent past have left him disillusioned. In the opinion of Kirti Azad, former India cricketer and a sitting member of the Lok Sabha, the game has been hijacked by “unscrupulous” and “self-promoting” officials, leaving the cricket fraternity disenchanted. “It is a cricket crusade I am leading because I fear the game will be harmed more by these officials,” says Azad.
We meet for lunch at The Meridien’s 24-hour dining restaurant The One that offers international cuisine. Azad is a foodie, can cook and gorge home-mad stuff, but “burn the calories” next morning. “I love eating,” he says.
He also loves cricket. “The ills that have been plaguing Indian cricket hurt me. I am at a loss to describe my feelings. I feel very sad. I knew it was coming. If you remember I had staged a dharna outside the Ferozeshah Kotla last May. We have seen all kinds of scams in IPL, the Shah Rukh Khan incident in Mumbai, the rave parties, two cricketers testing positive for drugs. We knew what the disease was but did not fix responsibility, did not press for accountability,” Azad says.
Water melon juice arrives on our table and is dealt with promptly. “One more please,” says Azad and the senior captain of the restaurant, Rajneesh Kamal, an avid cricket fan, is quick to oblige. Azad strikes an instant rapport with him. The menu for lunch is arrived at quickly.
Cricket occupies Azad’s mind. “The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has exceptional talent to skirt the issues, not let them come in public domain. There are skeletons in the cupboard that will come out. There are six associations, including Delhi’s, facing corruption probes. Is this what cricket is all about, only controversies? When you have films stars as franchisees this is what you get. They need controversies to stay in limelight. Cricket doesn’t need them; this filmi dance and drama on cricket field should stop. People like IPL but it should be clean.”
The chef understands Azad palate best. A platter lands on the table with prawns, basa fish and squid calamari. “Have the prawns; fantastic,” Azad recommends. How does he know the prawns are fantastic? “Well, I am an expert you see,” he smiles. “It depends on how the prawn is made. You know it when you put it in the mouth, if it is fresh or frozen. Frozen prawns are hard. You have to be good at cooking prawn. You can’t overcook or undercook prawn. If you are a good chef you know when to take it off because it cooks very fast.” Chef Mukul Singh has obviously done a superb job as Azad digs into the plate.
Would Azad welcome a regulatory body to monitor the Board? “Why not RTI (Right To Information). If they are clean, why fear the RTI? I fear no one because I have my accounts audited. They don’t want government interference but they take so much from the government. BCCI says it is an autonomous body. Does it mean BCCI is above the law of the land? You get land at institutional rates, police bundobast at matches, players get national awards, you want tax exemptions, you want National Anthem, you say you’re a private body and yet use the name of India. Then you say you are autonomous. Ridiculous! If BCCI is autonomous and private body, was it the BCCI XI that won the World Cup in 2011?”
The seafood platter dealt with, it is time for the vegetarian platter of kababs and paneer tikka. There is another assortment waiting. Fruit salad, cherry tomatoes, avocado and tomato mousse. “The mousse is delicious,” mumbles Azad, his mouth full with the delicacy. Azad recalls some excellent politicians who served cricket with dignity — NKP Salve and Madhavrao Scindia. “They were like father figure to so many cricketers. Look at the current lot. By 2005 cricket had been taken over by politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats. And now these franchises. IPL has been a shame, the beginning of all the ills coming to cricket. The BCCI is to blame for the rot.”
No cricket is bad, insists Azad. No food is bad either. “I am not fussy about food. I can make pizza, Chinese stuff, matar paneer, dal. I could never make rotis though. But the best cook on earth was my mother. She was a darling. I miss her.”
His phone rings. It is time to leave. A posse of media persons have landed at his house. It is going to be a long day for Azad, the most vocal critic of the BCCI.
