Looking after Number One
The BCCI continues to make decisions more associated with a drunken sailor than an institution, arguably, holding the future of cricket in its compromised hands. It has lurched from having only two Tests scheduled in 2010 to suddenly having another 8 before the end of the year.
In 2008 the BCCI and CA signed a MOU that agreed to seven one day matches in India every year. This was ostensibly to maximize the earning potential that their cricket teams represented in the immediate short term. Australia have been willing partners in this exercise and, as a consequence, have exposed their players to premature burnout. The players are not beasts of burden. These are supreme athletes at the top of their game. These are finely tuned bodies that need rest and recuperation to perform at their optimum.
Earlier this year the BCCI asked South Africa to play two unscheduled Tests. This was done so they could protect their number one status. The BCCI has now asked Australia to play two Test Matches in October this year. This is welcome news for cricket lovers. But it does not remove the perception that the BCCI is doing this for ulterior reasons. Brand India needs to be protected so that broadcasters continue to throw mega dollars at the BCCI. The BCCI also realizes that it has dined out on the illustrious careers of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman for the better part of two decades. This trilogy only has a few encores left and the BCCI wants to exploit this to the maximum.
Another compelling reason for this rescheduling is that the conversation will change from the IPL debacle to more cricket centric matters. Nothing has changed in the BCCI. Srinivasan, the secretary still owns an IPL team. He does not believe there is a conflict of interest because the BCCI ratified this ownership. This rationale suggests that anything the BCCI ratifies is to be accepted as sacrosanct. It is alleged that the Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings were privy to likely bid values before IPL 1. In the light of the current investigations there is more than a little credence to these, still to be proved, misdemeanours.
The fans in India have been cheated by administrators more interested in running the red light than the safety of other road users. The BCCI has compromised the basic fabric of cricket and we need not mince our words. Their sin may be one of omission and this may in the long term be forgivable. But if the sins are of commission then their behavior is unconscionable. The sad part is that we may never know.
Vinay Verma
Vinay is an Australian-based cricket writer, and the Editor of Seriously Cricket Chronicles. You can contact him at vinay_verma1@hotmail.com to subscribe to Seriously Cricket Chronicles.
If you are from India, and would like to subscribe to Seriously Cricket Chronicles, you can also contact, Mr. Ayaz Memon, at amemon1@gmail.com
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