KAPIL, ICL AND BCCI

What prompted ex-cricketers like Kapil to join ICL?
1. Kapil once remarked that cricketers must be allowed to run the cricket boards during a felicitation of Dr. Ali Bacher, a player who later turned out to be the chief of South African cricket board. He must be fed up with manner in which businessmen and politicians running the show in India.
Kapil lashes out at BCCI on NDTV
2. Till last decade money paid to ex-cricketers and domestic cricketers were very small. They were not able to lead a decent life.
3. Some of the ex-cricketers were not treated and respected properly. Kapil in a chat with The Hindu said, “Some 20 years ago I saw Mr. Chandu Borde wait two hours outside the office of a Board official to collect his daily allowance. It was appalling. I pledged that day I would not allow myself to be seen in a similar situation. Playing cricket did not mean struggling to live.” Kapil Dev says that the financial aspect is very important in today’s context - The Hindu
4. Deserving ex-cricketers were not given suitable work or position in the board.

What prompted current domestic cricketers to join ICL?
1. Partiality and interference in selection process. This is the biggest malady happening for years. Shival Yadav’s son was picked for A-Team tours ahead of some deserving players.
2. Some players like Badani and Mongia may feel that they were discarded without giving ample opportunities.
Respect spectators and cricketers – Peter Roebuck

Something about BCCI
BCCI
BCCI presidents
BCCI secretaries
Raj Singh Dungarpur
Lalit Modi
Niranjan Shah
Jagmohan Dalmiya


Actual Facts and Suggestions:
1. In this age of professionalism the board needs dedicated professionals to handle the affairs. So board must do away with businessmen and Politicians. Once during a discussion on NDTV about sports in India, Vijay Amirtraj, famous Indian Tennis player, said that neither politicians/businessmen nor ex-players are best choice for administrative positions. He added that only qualified and experienced sports business graduates should run sports administration.
2. There must be two Directors: one for cricketing affairs and another one for other things. Above the two directors in the hierarchy should be the President of the board. Cricket Director must be an ex-cricketer. He will look after appointment of coaches, selectors and pitch committees, setting up of academies etc. Administrative Director will look after scheduling matches, organizing tours, marketing of TV rights etc.
3. In last few years the domestic players are started to get good money. Ex-cricketers are paid handsome pension amount monthly.
IS Bindra retaliate against Kapil
4. Still many things need to be done by BCCI. Process and Professionalism must be injected at all levels and all areas of working.

Final Word:
Essel group’s intention was to make money. Current domestic cricketers who have joined are mostly unhappy with BCCI’s treatment. Ex-cricketers who have joined ICL were denied deserving posts and position in BCCI. Actually Essel group was trying to exploit cricketers (both past and present) disgruntlement with the board for their commercial interests. If ICL is really interested in promoting and developing Indian cricket there are many other ways. In a way emergence of ICL is a blessing in disguise. It has shaken up the BCCI. BCCI must take all steps to ensure its Product (Cricket) is best and effective, its Employees (Cricketers) are satisfied, happy and getting all necessary benefits, and its Customers (Spectators) are satisfied with a fine product. It should welcome back ex-cricketers and current cricketers who have joined ICL to its fold.
BCCI vs ICL

BCCI VS ICL

There is a cold war going between BCCI and ICL. BCCI has failed to acknowledge ICL. This article is an attempt to analyse this scenario.

Structure
BCCI is not owned by any single person or a group. It is more like a Public-sector Company even though it is a private entity. Office bearers of BCCI are selected by elections. ICL is owned by ZEE group, which is promoted by Subhash Chandra. Subhash Chandra and his legal heirs have and would continue to have all the stakes in ICL. They will appoint the office bearers.

Football Clubs
Most football matches are played between various football clubs rather than different countries. Football clubs are owned by an individual or a group. But international or first class cricket matches are played between countries (or between different provinces in a country) only. I don’t think that model (i.e. matches between clubs) is going to be succeeding in the highest level of cricket.

Stanford’s Group
Stanford has invested huge money in West Indies cricket. They conduct Twenty20 matches now. The players involved in those matches are local players. Moreover West Indies Cricket Board is in financial crisis. Even if Mr. Stanford have commercial interests ultimately it is more beneficial for the players and West Indies cricket than him. But it seems that more than concern for cricket in India commercial interest is the overriding reason for floating ICL. BCCI is not in any financial crisis, infact they are richest cricketing body in the world. BCCI and ZEE group had some differences over telecast rights for the cricket matches. Yes, the functioning of BCCI is much to be desired.

BCCI’s Dilemma
BCCI has every right to appoint or dismiss former cricketers who work for various committees. But they don’t have the right to scrap the pension and other benefits of players who had played for the country or played first-class matches. First of all, BCCI should not be scared of ICL even though there are few things to be scared. Actually BCCI fear revenue losses incase leading Indian players join ICL. ICL ambitious plans indicate that it will function as a parallel league to BCCI, not as a complementary one. Most of the BCCI’s posts are honorary ones. Almost all the administrative officers are either politicians or corporate executives. Administrative persons should be dedicated ones. Atleast persons concerned with cricketing matters like selectors, NCA Director etc should be paid.

How Can ICL Contribute To Indian Cricket?
There are many non-BCCI tournaments happening in India. BCCI have recognized those tournaments and organizations involved in it. Teams (ONGC, SPIC, MRF etc) involved in such tournaments are affiliated to state cricket associations, which are part of BCCI. Most of those tournaments and organizations are complementary to BCCI’s efforts. MRF Pace Foundation is a good example of that. One article in Cricinfo had suggested that Twenty20 be outsourced to ICL. I don’t know whether that suggestion will work out nicely or not, it is an option. They can set up an academy for Spin bowling on the lines of MRF Pace Foundation. They can set up academy for coaches and umpires.

Final Word
BCCI must professionalize their structure and working. ICL should work in a complementary way to BCCI’s efforts. ICL should not be too ambitious. BCCI and ICL should have healthy discussions now, not war of words.