Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'No difference between BCCI and UPA' that was published in Newsband

No difference between BCCI and UPA

The past scandals have not made the slightest impact on a set of officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) — including politicians — who unfailingly stood by each other to protect themselves. Lack of transparency and accountability had always been an integral part of the Board’s functioning but its credibility has been dented even more after the exposure of more scandals.

The public outrage over the mafia-like secrecy of the BCCI can only be addressed meaningfully when the ‘old boys club’ style of management is abandoned and transparency introduced. A body that has been given the right to field an “India” team should not be allowed to get away with such a scandalous lack of transparency and accountability. Transparency is the key to good governance. The very independence that was granted to protect the integrity of BCCI as an institution is now back firing. Unless transparency and accountability is introduced, the citizens of India would continue to be mere spectators of the drama within.

The spot-fixing and betting scandal in the IPL has badly dented the image of cricket in India. A massive clean-up job is required to overcome this. But this will take time as the damage done is very big, It’s very difficult to stop fixing in cricket and BCCI has its own limitations. But the Board can strengthen its surveillance and curb the menace of fixing. At the same time, BCCI will have to take strict action against cricketers who are found guilty.

It is very strange and surprising that neither the PM nor any high ranking Cabinet minister dare to utter any word against these corrupted men in BCCI cutting across party lines.

Time and again, the refrain that BCCI will not be a part of Sports Ministry is ridiculous and is tantamount to fooling the people with whose money they are eating. If they are in so hard wicket, then the word "India" in the cricket team should be taken out. Rather it should be BCCI cricket team.

BCCI is no better than our UPA II at center. Both know how to shield the corrupt and bring them back after the storm is over. Cricket is run by politicians, who are running the board just like our country. They are making moolah in all dealings like in all government activities. Only fans are taken for a royal ride for following cricket, which is already fixed by bookies.

All the hoopla around the BCCI and cricket should not die down in the coming days. The media should make sure that the pressure is right up there because of the magnitude and scale of the sorry state of cricket administration in the country. BCCI should be held accountable and should make public aware of all the steps they intend to do to clean up the chaos off the field.

BCCI is the richest cricket association in the world of cricket. Such kind of scandals and irregularities cast a very bad image in front of the cricketing world. We should devise a mechanism by which BCCI can be regulated and transparency & accountability can be insured.

India is the biggest cricketing nation in the world, but Indian cricket administration has been cornered by a few wealthy individuals. The same old set of industrialists, businessmen and politicians are playing musical chairs with the administrative positions in the BCCI. One hopes for the day when Indian Cricket administration gets into the hands of men with proven honesty, integrity and grit, like S. Venkatraghavan, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.