Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (BCCI should think of the future) that was published in Newsband


BCCI should think of the future
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s influence over cricket has substantially changed the game. India's victory in the 1983 World Cup had widened the interest in the game, increased the sale of colour television and India went on to become conquerors in the world cricket.
The game of cricket has billion-strong fanatical following spread across all continents, Telecast rights for Indian cricket (including tournaments like the Indian Premier League) run into a couple of billion dollars. It is become clear that the authorities of BCCI have shrewd business sense. This fact has given a boost to both the game and finance derived from it in our country.
There are clashes taking place time and again between International Cricket Council (ICC) and BCCI. But one can't help but admit that BCCI has been the brain behind not only promoting the game of cricket but also keeping it alive.
But there are many cricket-playing countries which are not happy with the behaviour of BCCI. Pakistan took issue with India over the extended term for the ICC chief which BCCI had proposed. Sri Lanka is upset over the BCCI's decision not to allow Indian players to take part in the proposed Sri Lanka Premier League. Even England and Australia have started calling India a bully. They say BCCI authorities are arrogant. Maybe BCCI has certain drawbacks. But one can't deny the fact that it is Indian cricket board that gave cricket a tremendous boost and this in turn proved to be extremely beneficial to all the cricket-playing countries in the world. The Indian sub-continent should not have any problem with India because it is India that challenged the status quo which if it had not England would continue to dominate in World Cups matters. Both BCCI and Pakistan should get credit for getting the World Cup tournament to the subcontinent first, and by rotation, everywhere in the cricket world.
But it is true that BCCI must think of the future while using the powers it possesses now. For example, BCCI's refusal to agree to using technology like UDRS (The Umpire Decision Review System) to augment umpiring decisions in spite of majority being in favour of it is an unreasonable behaviour on its part. BCCI should not have shown such resistance to technology. It is true that BCCI has provided virtue to cricket but it should think of the future while taking certain decisions. BCCI is on top today. But the same may not be the case tomorrow. Hence BCCI should care for the legacy it will leave behind when it will no more be in power.

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