Any change at the helm of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can be seen as an opportunity to end the crisis of credibility that has consumed the game’s administration in recent times. Ever since the >betting and spot-fixing scandal hit the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League , and the BCCI, under N. Srinivasan, gave the impression of stonewalling any inquiry, the credibility deficit became so apparent that the judiciary took a dim view of the state of affairs. The election of Jagmohan Dalmiya was without opposition, but the elections for other posts were not free of factionalism. The BCCI’s annual general meeting was held at a time when >Mr. Srinivasan was barred from contesting for the post of BCCI chief , on account of the rule against those having a commercial interest in any event organised by the Board becoming office-bearers. With Mr. Srinivasan’s absence from the fray, the point of interest in the election at the BCCI’s annual general meeting was whether his faction would outwit the rival group of former BCCI president >Sharad Pawar . Mr. Pawar, however, could not make a comeback, as the east zone, whose turn it was to propose a candidate, chose to nominate Mr. Dalmiya. The Pawar camp managed to get Anurag Thakur elected as secretary, while all other posts went to candidates backed by Mr. Srinivasan’s camp. The outcome indicates that political manoeuvring and orchestration continues to be a dominant feature in the affairs of cricket administration in India.
Mr. Dalmiya is a seasoned administrator, who, in his earlier stint, began the process of harnessing the sport’s massive marketing potential that led to Indian cricket going through a commercial boom. He has considerable experience in running the game and organising major events at the international level too. However, he will also have to live down the unsavoury aspects of his past. He was accused of misappropriation of funds and expelled from the BCCI in 2006. Some may see him now as a >‘Srinivasan man’ , but there is little doubt that he has enough experience to chart an independent path. And the presence of Mr. Thakur as secretary is likely to be a balancing factor in the administration. The Supreme Court recently ruled that cricket administration is a public function. It has asked a three-member committee of eminent judges to recommend reforms that will help rescue the much-loved game from the whims and vagaries of individuals. The administration is now expected to stop being an opaque clique or a cosy club and transform itself into a transparent body. The question now is whether the present change at the helm will lead to such a transformation.
