Selectors' decision could well be a blessing in disguise

And so the suspense is partly over. Partly in the sense that the four tainted players have not been considered for selection to the Indian team for the ICC knock-out tournament at Nairobi next month. And now there is but one person left around whom there is still some suspense - Kapil Dev. This uncertainty will also end in about ten day's time for the BCCI president AC Muthiah, who has been authorised to talk to the former Indian captain and present coach, will have to take a decision before the preparatory camp starts at Chennai on September 13. You can't have a camp without a coach, can you? Or perhaps the BCCI thinks there is nothing wrong with even this.

In a way, it is good that the tainted players have been dropped. For one thing, public opinion was firmly against them being persevered with. And secondly, their axing has given the selectors the long missed opportunity to blood youth. It is unlikely that the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Ajay Ratra, Zaheer Khan, RS Sodhi, Vijay Dahiya and Reuben Paul would have been among the probables had the four senior players been picked. As far as building a new Indian team out of the morass it is in today, the selectors' decision could well be a blessing in disguise.

But the point is has the decision been the selectors' or the board's? Selection committee chairman Chandu Borde maintained that the selectors had a free hand in picking the squad and there was no interference from the board, a view echoed by BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele. And late last night, board president AC Muthiah too sought to clarify the position in a carefully worded statement. He made it clear that the resting of the four players was purely on their lack of merit and should not be misconstrued in any other manner. ``The board's stand that it will not take any action on any player or official unless they are proved guilty of charges will remain,'' he said. He also maintained that the board had not received any directive from the Union Sports Ministry that these players should not be considered for selection. He reiterated that the BCCI had never interfered with the selection process of Indian teams and no directive was given to the selection committee on this occasion too.

Borde, while answering questions at a press conference called to announce the team, had said that ``keeping in mind the present scenario (an obvious reference to the match fixing issue) we could not consider them as we feel they will be under tremendous pressure. We want the team to be free from any tension.'' To which Lele added ``we do not think they will be in the right frame of mind.'' But Muthiah in his statement sought to correct the impression by saying that Borde's explanation should not be construed that it was because of the CBI investigation and the IT raids that the players have not been picked.

Muthiah apparently wants to convey that the board has followed its own conscience, has stuck to its stand that the players are innocent till proved guilty and has not interfered with the selection process. All the same, it is an open secret that the Board and the government were on a collision course over the issue of picking the tainted players. Increasingly, the board was under severe pressure from the government, which overall calls the shots despite all the brave talk of the board's autonomy. It must not be forgotten that the BCCI still depends upon the government for clearance of tours, up linking facilities for cricket telecasts and release of foreign exchange.

So whatever the board officials may say, the government has scored a point here. If this is not the case, then why is Union Sports Minister SS Dhindsa taking the credit openly for the dropping of the tainted players? Hailing the selectors' move in an interview to a web site, Dhindsa said ``I'm happy that the BCCI has agreed to my suggestions and have taken this step. This is a clear indication that they are willing to work in co-ordination with the Sports Ministry.''

Supporting the exclusion of the four cricketers, Dhindsa said this move would help the Indian cricket team to perform better. ``I always said that cricketers against whom the inquiry is on or those who have been raided should temporarily stay away from the game. Dropping these four cricketers might just help the rest of the side to perform better.''

Dhindsa also reiterated that if the former Indian captain and present coach, Kapil Dev is in any way involved in the scandal, he should stay away from the game. ``It won't be fair for anyone, leave alone Kapil, to continue playing even if he is remotely involved in this. I have always suggested to the BCCI to drop him (Kapil) temporarily while the inquiry is on.''

But then let us not make too much of ego clashes and prestige issues in this case. The main point to consider from a purely cricketing point is that the way is now open for talented youngsters to make their mark. In their hands lies the future of Indian cricket. What better time for Indian cricket to make a fresh start than a new season and the new millennium?