Board's attitude to domestic cricket disappointing
The Deodhar Trophy being played currently in the Central Zone venues epitomises the attitude and the bad planning of the BCCI when it comes to domestic cricket
Woorkheri Raman
16-Dec-2000
The Deodhar Trophy being played currently in the Central Zone venues epitomises
the attitude and the bad planning of the BCCI when it comes to domestic cricket.
The tournament dates have been fixed close on the heels of the recently
concluded India-Zimbabwe one-day series. With the travelling time involved in
India it is impossible for the players to play all the matches even if they have
the inclination. Some young players who figured in the Indian side have been
left out of their zonal teams because they could not have joined their zonal
side in time for the first match.
The BCCI President, Dr. AC Muthiah stressed that the domestic circuit will not
be ignored and also that the top players in the country would be made to play
major domestic tournaments. True to his mandate, he sent Sharad Diwadkar, the
Executive Secretary of the BCCI to various states to collect suggestions to
enhance the importance of domestic cricket from former cricketers. Discussions
were held about the format, participation of top cricketers in the Ranji, Duleep
tournaments during the off-season. The only resultant change was in the format
of these tournaments with the Ranji Trophy restored to its original league-cum
knock out format and the Duleep once again is to be played on a total league
basis. Unfortunately, the fixtures committee seems to have missed the most
important point - the dates of the tournaments.
There is a possibility of the Duleep Trophy being interesting because the Indian
team has no engagements during that time. This is a mere coincidence for the
simple reason that the Indo-Pak has been cancelled. Had it gone according to
plans, once again the domestic season would have been as insipid and uninspiring
as the statements of one of the BCCI officials. Some of the venues for the
Duleep trophy are once again more of a deterrent not only to the game but also
to the players wanting to play. The need to play these major games on regular
test venues was stressed but the policy of distributing matches with an eye for
the future (the administrators') seems to be the top priority.
Admittedly the BCCI has been through rough times in the wake of this match
fixing controversy, but there seems to be an air of indifference prevailing upon
some of the office-bearers of the apex body. The statements of one of the
disciplinary committee's members are the limit. The chief of the BCCI has
handled the match fixing controversy with a firm hand despite being pressurised
by various quarters. The division in the BCCI with regard to the punishment of
the players found guilty is indicative of the fact that some forces are hell
bent on putting the cat among the pigeons. Eventually, the President has
prevailed over the faction, which wanted the exoneration of the tainted players.
It is a matter of pride that the BCCI has shown the way to the entire World by
going the whole hog. It is definitely a slap on some countries, which view the
integrity of the Asian countries with disdain and adopt a holier-than-thou
attitude. In fact they have done nothing but provide loud lip service.
The match fixing controversy has provided a great need for the BCCI to show its
character. It has passed the first test with credit by punishing the cricketers
though the quantum of punishment will also be debatable. Manoj Prabhakar, who
has figured in the guilty list despite pleading innocence, has cast aspersions
on some officials. Though his views have to be treated with circumspection, he
may have a point or two. After all he may be the right person to get the
information from when it comes to identifying the tainted characters. If not to
prove him wrong, this is the most convenient time for the BCCI to rid of the
various niggling issues and the nagging identities.
In the one-year period that Dr.Muthiah has been in the office he has had to
tackle controversial issues one after the other. The travails in his own
business apart, he has faced the music with courage and taken hard decisions
despite lacking the necessary support from his colleagues at times in the BCCI.
As this may be the last season under his stewardship, he might as well establish
a pattern in the planning of the domestic circuit, which is what is the backbone
of the game. Australia has retained its stature in World cricket because the ACB
has not ignored the domestic tournaments at any stage. If anything, they are
still trying to devise ways and means to bring about a right balance in
scheduling the international and national matches.
The BCCI has been interacting with the ACB and the Australian thought process in
the last six months and quite obviously ideas that suit the Indian cricket
should be absorbed and implemented. Otherwise it will just be a case where a
couple of Australians go back with thicker wallets and it will reflect badly on
an industrialist like Dr. AC Muthiah for not getting enough value for money. So
far he has shown a tough stand which has earned him a lot of support in the BCCI
and as they say, he should strike while the iron is hot.