“All powerful teams go through a period of transition” — this was BCCI President N. Srinivasan’s take on the future of Indian cricket team, but he gave no indication as to when the phase-out of seniors will happen.
“I do not know when it will happen. I am not a selector, but history has shown that all powerful teams go through a period of transition. It is not fair to talk of seniors right now,” Srinivasan said.
“They (the seniors) are still there, and it is for the selectors to decide what they want to do,” he told ‘ The Week’ magazine in an interview.
The Indian team is going through one of its worst phases in recent memory, having suffered consecutive Test whitewashes in England and Australia besides strong speculation of rift between skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and senior members such as Virender Sehwag in the team.
Talking about the performance of the team, Srinivasan said, “On the field, we did well in India, but our performance in Australia in Tests has led to lot of criticism. We should not make any comments while the tour is on. Let us wait and see.”
Apart from the poor show on the field, Indian cricket is also grappling with sponsorship and broadcast rows, but the BCCI chief was unfazed.
“On the broadcaster issue, the matter is before the court, so I cannot speak much except that it is a contractual matter and the BCCI has exercised its rights under the contract,” Srinivasan said, referring to the termination of the broadcast deal with Nimbus following which the company took the matter to court.
“As regards sponsorship, the BCCI has appreciated the role Sahara has played. In every relationship, there are stressful times. We have dealt with it, I think, to the sponsor’s and the BCCI’s satisfaction,” Srinivasan explained, referring to the recent row with the corporate giant during which it threatened to pull out both as India sponsor and an IPL team owner.
The BCCI is also at loggerheads with the ICC with regards to the recent Woolf Committee recommendations seeking an overhaul of the governing body’s administrative structure.
“The report talks of fundamental changes in the way the ICC is structured. It wants the number of full members to be increased from 10 to 12. It proposes a Board of Directors which includes four independent directors.
“It also proposes that the ICC director cannot hold a post in the full—member board. The role and position of full members are being reduced, which is not acceptable to the ICC,” he said.
Srinivasan brushed aside suggestions that he was arrogant in his handling of issues.
“I am not arrogant, I don’t think so. I believe in systems and processes, coming from the background that I do.
However, it is a fact that now BCCI meetings are of shorter duration, to the point.
“I have a tenure and I will move on after that. The BCCI is not my grandfather’s company,” he said.
