The late English novelist Arnold Bennett rightly said, “Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.”
Humans are evolutionarily predisposed to resist change because of the risk associated with it. This perhaps is the contention of majority of stakeholders in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) too. Now, these officials get tumultuous every time they hear the word — retrospective!
The 2016-17 domestic season for the first time in many years is extremely congested. Apart from organising 900 odd matches, there are 13 Test matches this season. Though the majority of sports lovers appreciate the order of the Supreme Court based on the Justice Lodha Commission report, the downside of this ‘retrospective effect’ is a total wipe-out of all experienced administrators from the BCCI at such a crucial time.
Without any transition period, the Indian cricket is most likely to be in a mess! As the domestic season has already commenced, organisation and implementation of these matches is a mammoth task. The modern technology can only help qualified professionals to put a system in place. But, the ground reality in organising around 900 matches of different formats with the speedy mobilisation of manpower and machinery requires experience.
It is unlikely for any professional to complete the task unless he has handled it earlier. In a vast country like ours, execution of plan is of extreme importance.
Having been the CEO of one of the historical associations of the country, I am aware of the magnitude of tasks involved in organising State and international matches. As the associations hold lands on lease from the government, obtaining consent from various departments for organising matches is a huge task. Without the support of the ruling political party in the State, it is next to impossible.
There have been instances when the government agencies have even stooped low to embarrass the host. They sabotage and do not provide basic amenities like water and electric supply to the association hosting an international match. The embarrassment is further heightened when these foreign players describe their experience and pen it down in their autobiographies!
Unwanted elementsThere are unwanted elements in some of the associations. One of the most outrageous incidents that took place recently was when the three officials of the Goa Cricket Association were arrested for a fraud.
Though it is true that majority of officials in the association have been misusing their power and refused to quit for decades, there are quite a few who have taken progressive measures as well. It is unfair for these few to relinquish their posts due to the corrupt majority prevalent in the associations. Why should associations which have done exemplary work over the years as a team suddenly be the victim of ‘retrospective’ and get penalised?
Ideal solutionThe ideal solution would be to interview all the office-bearers who have completed three terms or a period of 10 years in the association.
By assessing their contribution to the game, it will be easier to distinguish the non-performing officials from those who have been truthful to the position and have contributed to the welfare of the game.
The best part of the Supreme Court order is that the former Test players can now be involved in the administration. It was only the Karnataka State Cricket Association that welcomed the players to be an integral part of its system. When the cricketers’ group came to power in 1999, legends like E.A.S. Prasanna and B.S. Chandrasekhar were also given the power to vote.
Much before the recent Supreme Court verdict, the association gave voting rights to cricketers who played Tests and State players who played a minimum of 30 first class matches.
Mumbai produced more than 70 Test players. But, not even seven among them have the power to vote.
Though Polly Umrigar and Ghulam Ahmed have risen to the post of the executive secretary of the BCCI in the past, the non-cricketers always condemned the administrative skills of the players. This led to the disillusionment among top Indian players.
Now, with the structure of the managing committee changed, involvement of players in the administration will certainly change the face of cricket associations.
Theoretically, now Gavaskar or Kapil Dev could be inducted in their respective State managing committees without even contesting elections. With more and more cricketers showing willingness to join the mainstream, the changes have to be practical in order to be successful. There has to be a way to get the system in place.
The best person to make this happen is the CEO of the BCCI. Without any interference, he must take up the responsibility of appointing CEOs of each association. This way, there is no scope for malfunction.
