One can almost visualise BCCI president N Srinivasan saying the first dialogue. In his language, competence perhaps means making money. The means don’t quite seem to matter – the end result does. And on those grounds – Srinivasan has actually been quite good.
In April 2012, the television and digital rights for all domestic and international cricket matches in India were sold to the Star Group for a six-year period from July this year for Rs 3,851 crore, giving the country’s cricket board a revenue of around Rs. 40 crore per match. The IPL continues to rake in the big bucks. The BCCI doles out money to all its affiliates, gives a pension to all former cricketers, employs them and keeps everyone happy. That’s competence.
But what about the cricket?
Under Srinivasan, India have not had the smoothest run. They have lost Test series’ at home and abroad; they have seen some of the seniors walk away – with no succession planned; they have seen an inept coach hold on to his job; they have seen a group of selectors make ill-informed decisions; they have basically seen the team being broken down bit by bit by bit. This isn’t competence, it’s a disaster.
It is understandable that BCCI president N Srinivasan inspires loyalty – who wouldn’t like a president who gives a bonus every few months – but the complete lack of opposition is beyond belief. Does no one in the BCCI believe that there is something wrong in the president and captain being such close buddies/ business partners? Does no one believe that Srinivasan is doing anything wrong? Are there no rebels in the BCCI — is there no opposition?
Part of the problem arises from the monopoly that the BCCI has over cricket. Everyone is eating out of the same not-so-humble pie. It’s big money and if you are a rebel – then you will be forced out of the mix (think Jagmohan Dalmiya and Lalit Modi who are now languishing in some forgotten corner – which is not to suggest that they were right to do what they did).
In a sense, Srinivasan is doing a Modi. He is taking all the decisions on his own, he is basically like a one-man army and the only fear is that he has fallen in the same trap as Modi. Has he started worshiping his own cult?
When the case against Modi was being prepared, the then BCCI president had come out and made a very matter-of-fact statement.
“Any organisation runs on trust. We can’t go into each and every detail. Then why have a professional staff to run the show. We can come here, sit from 10 am to 10 pm daily and do the work. It’s the job of the professionals who have been appointed,” he declared.
He had also reluctantly conceded that the reason for the IPL mess was because too much power had been entrusted with one person — Modi. “Unfortunately I have to say yes,” he said.
All the office bearers in the BCCI have somehow fallen into the same trap again. They all seem to agree that this is Srinivasan’s turn to make hay. Much like the opposition in India’s Parliament. For example, recently, IT officials conducted ‘surveys’ of around nine locations connected to alleged financial wrongdoing by a company linked to former BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s.
“The income tax department hatched a conspiracy on the direction of the Congress government,” Gadkari responded. “I have also got the names of the officials from some others who are sympathetic to me and our party. They (IT officials) should remember the Congress’s boat is sinking, and when they go and our government comes, no Chidambaram or Sonia Gandhi will be there to save them.”
If one were to read between the lines, he was simply saying that we have a chance to live peacefully and we will all get a chance to make the most of our stay in the government. The BCCI, which is also filled with politicians, now seems to function in the same way. A dispute won’t help anyone – seems to be the thinking.
But the way of functioning also reminds one of the old Soviet system – new ideas weren’t encouraged, neither was discussion. You must do what you are told or there will be trouble. It was a simple rule which encouraged obedience above all else.
Unfortunately, it also means that there is no opposition to Srinivasan’s ideas about cricket. He may know a lot about making money, but can he honestly chart out the best path for the growth of India’s cricketers? Can he do it without help? Does he only need ‘Yes’ men around him?
It is essentially the dumbing down of Indian cricket. Dhoni and Srinivasan are both smart men but do smart men always get it right? Do geniuses always become successful?
The way things are the only way to upset the BCCI’s applecart can be an outsider. The way Sharad Pawar upset Jagmohan Dalmiya’s camp and broke his hold over the system. For that you need power and clout – and enough of both to buy your way in.
For now, though, it’s all Srini… with all the trust and no opposition whatsoever.
It is understandable that BCCI president N Srinivasan inspires loyalty – who wouldn’t like a president who gives a bonus every few months – but the complete lack of opposition is beyond belief. Does no one in the BCCI believe that there is something wrong in the president and captain being such close buddies/ business partners? Does no one believe that Srinivasan is doing anything wrong? Are there no rebels in the BCCI — is there no opposition?
Part of the problem arises from the monopoly that the BCCI has over cricket. Everyone is eating out of the same not-so-humble pie. It’s big money and if you are a rebel – then you will be forced out of the mix (think Jagmohan Dalmiya and Lalit Modi who are now languishing in some forgotten corner – which is not to suggest that they were right to do what they did).
In a sense, Srinivasan is doing a Modi. He is taking all the decisions on his own, he is basically like a one-man army and the only fear is that he has fallen in the same trap as Modi. Has he started worshiping his own cult?
When the case against Modi was being prepared, the then BCCI president had come out and made a very matter-of-fact statement.
“Any organisation runs on trust. We can’t go into each and every detail. Then why have a professional staff to run the show. We can come here, sit from 10 am to 10 pm daily and do the work. It’s the job of the professionals who have been appointed,” he declared.
He had also reluctantly conceded that the reason for the IPL mess was because too much power had been entrusted with one person — Modi. “Unfortunately I have to say yes,” he said.
All the office bearers in the BCCI have somehow fallen into the same trap again. They all seem to agree that this is Srinivasan’s turn to make hay. Much like the opposition in India’s Parliament. For example, recently, IT officials conducted ‘surveys’ of around nine locations connected to alleged financial wrongdoing by a company linked to former BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s.
“The income tax department hatched a conspiracy on the direction of the Congress government,” Gadkari responded. “I have also got the names of the officials from some others who are sympathetic to me and our party. They (IT officials) should remember the Congress’s boat is sinking, and when they go and our government comes, no Chidambaram or Sonia Gandhi will be there to save them.”
If one were to read between the lines, he was simply saying that we have a chance to live peacefully and we will all get a chance to make the most of our stay in the government. The BCCI, which is also filled with politicians, now seems to function in the same way. A dispute won’t help anyone – seems to be the thinking.
But the way of functioning also reminds one of the old Soviet system – new ideas weren’t encouraged, neither was discussion. You must do what you are told or there will be trouble. It was a simple rule which encouraged obedience above all else.
Unfortunately, it also means that there is no opposition to Srinivasan’s ideas about cricket. He may know a lot about making money, but can he honestly chart out the best path for the growth of India’s cricketers? Can he do it without help? Does he only need ‘Yes’ men around him?
It is essentially the dumbing down of Indian cricket. Dhoni and Srinivasan are both smart men but do smart men always get it right? Do geniuses always become successful?
The way things are the only way to upset the BCCI’s applecart can be an outsider. The way Sharad Pawar upset Jagmohan Dalmiya’s camp and broke his hold over the system. For that you need power and clout – and enough of both to buy your way in.
For now, though, it’s all Srini… with all the trust and no opposition whatsoever.
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