THE BIG VILLIAN IN WORLD CRICKET India is one of the fastest growing co ntries in the wor!

d" #e it in the ter$s of econo$%" de&e!o'$ent" ed cation" infrastr ct re or &ario s other areas( The h ge 'o' !ation of India is the #iggest asset of the nation" one which is s!ow!% rising and gi&ing the conce't of de&e!o'$ent and 'ros'erit%" a new ho$e( In the area of s'orts" India is doing we!! ) i$'ro&ing it*s 'erfor$ances and enhancing it*s co$'etence( The co ntr% has #een earning $an% hono rs in &ario s s'orts !i+e Archer%" Bo,ing" Wresting" -hooting" -. ash" etc( And an% disc ssion of Indian s'orts and their achie&e$ents is inco$'!ete witho t the $ention of one s'ort which is an o#session of a!! Indians/ Cric+et( India has done . ite we!! in cric+et in the recent %ears( The Wor!d C ' in 0123 was for !ong" the so!e achie&e$ent that the cric+et Tea$ of India co !d #oast of( Things changed with the arri&a! of the new $i!!enni $ and new tea$s nder the ca'tainc% of -o ra& Gang !%" 4( -( Dhoni and others achie&ed great heights( This is e,tre$e!% s'ecia! for the 'eo'!e of India as cric+et ho!ds a &er% s'ecia! '!ace in the heart of each and e&er% Indian( With the rising dis'osa#!e inco$e of the Indian 'o' !ation and $ost i$'ortant!% the 5o th" cric+et of !ate" has #eco$e a &er% rewarding s'ort for the 'artici'ants( The Indian cric+et #oard/ BCCI 6Board of Contro! for Cric+et in India7 has cashed on this Indian 'o' !ation #% 'ro&iding high!% 'riced sate!!ite rights to $an% s'orts #roadcasters in order to f !fi!! the high de$and for cric+et #% the 'eo'!e( With the de$and increasing" the BCCI has s ''!ied these rights at &er% 8good 'rices9 6# siness ter$s:7 and $ade a !ot of $one%( The BCCI is now the richest cric+et Board in the wor!d( It a!so contri# tes to the $a;orit% of the re&en e fro$ cric+et e&ents in the wor!d( -o$e o'inions ha&e e&en s ggested that the Indian Board contri# tes as high as <=/ 2=> of the tota! re&en es of Wor!d cric+et( This is indeed a h ge fig re and conse. ent!% has seen the Indian Board #eco$ing the new financia! s 'er'ower in Wor!d Cric+et( B t this new!% achie&ed financia! 'ower has !ed to a !ot of $isdeeds #% the BCCI( Instead of growing into a ; st and fair $anager of internationa! cric+eting affairs" the BCCI has t rned into a # !!%( It interferes in a h ge n $#er of decisions ta+en in the fie!d of cric+et #% &ario s #odies and associations( The BCCI dictates to $ost of the 'eo'!e" associations and #oards a#o t what sho !d #e done and what sho !d not #e done( It tries to inf! ence a!! decisions of cric+et*s a'e, #od%/ The ICC 6Internationa! Cric+et Co nci!7( Do$estica!!% too" the BCCI +ee's a &er% strict contro! on the '!a%ers and a!! 'eo'!e in&o!&ed in cric+et $anage$ent( An%one going against the$ is se&ere!% re'ri$anded and h $i!iated( This $iscond ct has seen the Indian Cric+et #oard #eco$e the target of other #oards s ch as the ECB 6Eng!and ) Wa!es Cric+et #oard7 and the CA 6Cric+et A stra!ia7 who on a n $#er of occasions" ha&e raised o#;ections against the 'ractices ) actions of this #ig # !!%( B t so far" the% ha&en*t #een a#!e to cha!!enge the do$inance of the BCCI #eca se of the h ge financia! 'ower that the Indian #oard ho!ds( The BCCI has hand!ed this 'ower #ad!%( On a n $#er of occasions" it has ind !ged in nfair 'ractices" # !!ied other #oards to acce't their $andate" forced te!e&ision channe!s and #roadcasters to '!a% #% the nfair r !es 'rofita#!e on!% to the BCCI" 'ress rised and inf! enced

&ario s socia! organisations and acti&ists #arring the$ fro$ interfering in cric+eting acti&ities and dis' ted e&er% $a;or e,'ert and thin+er of wor!d cric+et in iss es that . estion their $ono'o!%( The% ha&e #eha&ed &er% #ad!% on a n $#er of occasions #% disr 'ting the s$ooth and nifor$ 'rocess of cric+et ad$inistration in the wor!d( Their actions ha&e #een considered high!% nethica! #% a n $#er of e$inent s'orts co$$entators and ana!%sts across the wor!d( The BCCI*s tantr $s ha&e #een going on for . ite so$e ti$e now # t the% ha&e rea!!% crossed a!! !ines in recent occasions( The BCCI has sha$ed a!! Indians with it*s # !!%ing and disgracef ! treat$ent of a!! other senior s'orts 'ersona!ities and res'ecta#!e nationa! s'orts #oards( This was high!ighted #% the s'at #etween BCCI and Cric+et A stra!ia when the Indian #oard ro ghed ' it*s A ssie e. a! on the -%dne%/gate iss e( It is tr e that the iss e was ignited #% the i$'ro'er cond ct of the A stra!ian Nationa! Cric+et tea$" # t the tiff was ta+en $ ch f rther #% the BCCI( On another occasion" the BCCI too+ on the ECB for not a!!owing the !atter?s '!a%ers to '!a% in the Indian @re$ier Leag e 6I@L7( B t the #iggest $atter of de#ate had #een the stand of BCCI on the Decision re&iew -%ste$ 6DR-7" a s%ste$ for $ini$ising the instances of g!aring errors $ade #% the $'ires d ring a $atch( Whi!e the rest of the wor!d was in fa&o r of the DR-" the BCCI did not s ''ort the s%ste$ and # !!ied the ICC to re$o&e the r !e of $a+ing DR- co$' !sor% for a!! internationa! cric+et $atches( The BCCI had a!so not a''ro&ed the reg !ations of the Wor!d Anti/ Do'ing Association 6WADA7 to $a+e the cric+eting s'ort $ore trans'arent and re!ia#!e( -o" des'ite an a''ro&a! fro$ a!$ost a!! other test '!a%ing nations" the Anti/Do'ing reg !ations co !d not #e i$'!e$ented( B t the $ost serio s of transgression #% the BCCI has #een the 'ro'osed change in a to rna$ent of the A t re To rs @rogra$$e 6AT@7" a sched !e of a!! cric+eting $atches #etween nations which is 're'ared and a''ro&ed #% a!! internationa! cric+eting #odies" %ears in ad&ance( In -e'te$#er B=03" the BCCI strong!% s ggested shortening the -o th African To r of India" B=03/0C #% c tting down on the n $#er of $atches to #e '!a%ed #etween the two nations( Instead" the% in&ited the West Indies Cric+et Board to to r India on a B/$atch Test series( There were re'orts that this s ggestion was $ade to ens re that the Great Indian Bats$an/ -achin Tend !+ar '!a%ed his !and$ar+ Booth Test 4atch 6and as 'er r $o rs" his !ast7 in the stadi $ of his ho$etown/ The Wan+hede -tad i$" 4 $#ai( Howe&er" there was a!so s'ec !ation that the BCCI has tho ght of shortening the -o th African To r act a!!% to ' nish the -o th African cric+et #oard 6C-A7 for not i$#i#ing to it*s instr ctions of not a''ointing for$er ICC chief/ Haroon Logart as their new CEO( The BCCI and Logart had differences on &ario s cric+eting iss es 6inc! ding the DR- and the do$inance of BCCI in cric+et7( Later after the a''oint$ent of Logart as C-A CEO" the BCCI a!so insisted that Haroon Logart a'o!ogiDe for his for$er &iews and co$$ents in the ' #!ic( How can the BCCI do thisE No res'ecta#!e s'orting #od% can thin+ of interfering in the interna! and 'o!itica! affairs of another cric+et #oard" no !ess when the% ha&e to a''oint their CEO( B t the BCCI" in a!! it*s 'res $ed a thorit% s ''osed!% did not hesitate( The BCCI ha&e a!so #ore the #r nt of criticis$ on the sched !ing of $atches of the Indian cric+et Tea$( The Indian cric+et tea$ has #een '!a%ing contin o s and non/sto' cric+et for a

!ong ti$e( The B=00 Cric+et Wor!d C ' in the Indian s #/continent was fo!!owed #% the Indian @re$ier Leag e 6within F da%s of the conc! sion of the for$er:7" which was fo!!owed #% o&erseas to rs to West Indies" Eng!and" A stra!ia which was then fo!!owed #% the ret rn to rs of the sa$e co ntries in India" Asia C '" Cha$'ions Leag e TB=" @a+istan*s to r of India" India*s To r of -ri Lan+a" New Gea!and*s to r of India" B $ore I@Ls" 0 $ore Cha$'ions Leag e TB=" ICC TB= Wor!d C '" ICC Cha$'ions Tro'h% and others 6so rceH E-@Ncricinfo(co$7( It $ight fee! !i+e I a$ si$'!% na$ing a!! the cric+et to rna$ents that co$e to $% $ind # t the fact is that a!! these $atches act a!!% too+ '!ace in a s'an of a''ro,i$ate!% B %ears( Each to r contains a n $#er of test $atches" One Da% Internationa!s 6ODIs7 and TB=s: With a!! these $atches" one can i$agine the a$o nt of stress and 'ress re that the '!a%ers are contin o s!% in( As a res !t" India*s !eading '!a%ers and ta!ents ha&e !ost their rh%th$ 6Aor e,a$'!e" co$'are the #ow!ing strength of the Indian Cric+et Tea$ three %ears ago to now7" o&erwor+ has !ed to $an% in; ries and $an% good '!a%ers ha&e #een inconsistent in their 'erfor$ance 6ta!ented '!a%ers s ch as Ga ta$ Ga$#hir" 5 s f @athan" etc( are o t of the side and tr%ing to redisco&er their swing7( -o$e of India*s 'oor 'erfor$ances !i+e the =/C whitewash in A stra!ia were a!so considered to #e so #eca se of the tiredness and fatig e of non/sto' cric+et #eing '!a%ed #% the tea$( The Indian cric+et sched !e has #een &er% hectic and tiring for '!a%ers( The $ost/acce'ted reason for this o&ersched !ing #% the BCCI is considered to #e the h ge a$o nts of $one% earned in the s'orts thro gh s'onsors" #roadcasters and other faci!ities that the Indian #oard encashes at s 're$e!% high 'rices" the reason #eing the o#session of the Indian 'o' !ation with the s'ort of cric+et( Howe&er" this has !ed to a h ge 'ro#!e$ for the '!a%ers and their we!!/ #eing as too $ ch stress and tra&e!!ing can easi!% !ead to fatig e and e,ha stion( A!so" too $ ch cric+et and $atches '!a%ed in s #/continenta! conditions or against wea+ tea$s and s s'icions of dishonest% can red ce ' #!ic interest in the s'ort( The BCCI*s 'ro#!e$s ha&e not ; st #een ad$inistrati&e # t a!so 'o!itica!( A n $#er of contro&ersies s rro nding cric+eting e&ents s ch as the s'ot/fi,ing and i!!ega! #etting in I@L F ' t the #oard in a tro #!eso$e s'ot( A rther re&e!ations of the a!!eged !in+s of the #oo+ies with $an% 'ro$inent $e$#ers of the I@L ad$inistrati&e and go&ernance co nci!s raised $an% . estions o&er the trans'arenc% and tr stworthiness of the BCCI when cond cting &ario s $atters( E,/I@L Co$$issioner La!it $odi was 'ro#a#!% the #iggest $essiah and ne$esis for BCCI 6in conte,t to the ti$e 'eriod to which %o see his ro!e7( Before B=0=" he was the #oard?s $essiah" in&enting the $i!!ion do!!ar !eag e/I@L" esta#!ishing h ge str ct res and sta#!e ret rns of $one% for the Board and re'orted!% changing the d%na$ics of the financia! affairs of the BCCI( B t after his s'at with Indian Inion 4inister -hashi Tharoor" he was re&ea!ed to ha&e cond cted a n $#er of $a!/'ractices whi!e engaging in the contracts( Acc sations !i+e 're'aring #id conditions for tea$s in s ch a wa% that the% fa&o red #ig cor'orate ho ses 6with who$ the BCCI wanted to 'artner in # siness7" engaging in #id/rigging #% disc!osing the winning a$o nt of #ids to $ore fa&o ra#!e contenders" cond cting affairs in i!!ega! $anners" etc( ha&e recent!% co$e o t( B t La!it 4odi*s re&e!ations ha&e on!% !ed to !ight #eing thrown on the genera! wa% in which the BCCI o'erated" ta+ing the ro!e of the #ig/# !!% and wor+ing on!% in order to $a,i$ise their ret rns of $one%( A rther news of the Board @resident 6te$'orari!% s s'ended in A g st B=037 N( -rini&asan # !!%ing his wa% #ac+ into the BCCI des'ite - 're$e Co rt r !ings 'rohi#iting hi$ fro$ the sa$e 6-C re;ected the a''ea! of BCCI against the

for$er?s r !ing7 ha&e on!% shown that the ad$inistrators can go to an% e,tent to sta% in 'ower( Can the BCCI @resident #e gi&en a c!ean chit #% a 'ro#e r n #% the 'eo'!e of his own organisation 6e$'!o%ees who wor+ nder hi$7 and doing that witho t an% coo'eration with the 4 $#ai @o!ice" the organisation which had act a!!% started 'roceedings against the #oo+iesE This !oo+s !i+e a $oc+er% of the ; stice s%ste$ e&en to the e%e of 'eo'!e who do not ha&e $ ch +now!edge a#o t the !aw( There were a!so re'orts of the $anhand!ing of the owners of the I@L franchisees in the 'ast #% the BCCI( Certain franchises !i+e the Ra;asthan Ro%a!s 6RR7 and Kings JI @ n;a# 6KJI@7 were ter$inated #% the BCCI 6!ater re&o+ed7 for irreg !arities in their f nctioning and a!!eged!% #eca se of their for$er associations with La!it 4odi( Other franchises r ##ed the BCCI off the wrong wa% and were a!so gi&en the stic+( Kochi T s+ers Kere!a 6KTK7 were a!so ter$inated #% the Indian #oard for s ''osed financia! irreg !arities # t the dee'er reason is considered to #e the BCCI*s dis!i+e for the owners of the franchise 6BCCI didn*t want the franchise rights to #e #agged #% the e&ent a! winners7( Later" another franchise -ahara @ ne Warriors" which was #agged #% a &er% 'ro$inent 'erson of India threatened to wa!+ o t of &ario s agree$ents and contracts of I@L #eca se of a!!eged $anhand!ing #% the BCCI( The I@L is the Gerico" the $i!!ion/do!!ar $issi!e of the BCCI ai$ed at co!!ecting the $a,i$ $ re&en es of the #oard thro gh &ario s co$$ercia! channe!s( It is the cash/' $'er 6read cash cow7 thro gh which the BCCI generates the $a;orit% of it*s s r'! s cash re&en e" which !ater he!'s to co!!ar other cric+eting Boards( When the iss e of c! # &s( co ntr% rose" it was $andated that '!a%ers can*t !ea&e their co ntr% to '!a% for c! #s who offer the$ $ore cash( -o" the Eng!ish cric+eters and A stra!ian cric+eters $ost!% +e't o t of the I@L since their #oards did not a!!ow the$ to 'artici'ate in the Indian !eag e( In the Cha$'ions Leag e TB=" it was arg ed that a!! co ntries 'artici'ating in the contest sho !d ha&e e. a! re'resentation" with e. a! tea$s fro$ each !eag e #eing gi&en a chance of winning the crown( B t so far" the BCCI has on!% a!!owed on!% 0 tea$ fro$ West Indies" 0 fro$ New Gea!and" 0 tea$ fro$ -ri Lan+a" B tea$s fro$ A stra!ia" B fro$ Eng!and and B fro$ -o th Africa 60 fro$ @a+istan on!% recent!% was added7 to 'artici'ate whi!e a!!owing as $an% as C Indian tea$s to ta+e 'art in the contest: 6in B=0B7 A rther$ore" on!% India and -o th Africa ha&e had the chance to ho!d the CLTB= co$'etition in their co ntr% with India hosting the $a;orit% of the to rna$ents( This is gross!% nfair on a!! s'orting gro nds( A!! co ntries sho !d ha&e gotten e. a! hosting chances( A!! co ntries sho !d ha&e sent e. a! n $#er of tea$s in the co$'etition( The !ogic #ehind the c rrent arrange$ent is o#&io s!% financia!( -ince the $ost of the &iewers of cric+et $atches co$e fro$ India and the $a,i$ $ re&en e is generated #% $atches in India" the Indian tea$s and gro nds ha&e #een fa&o red for the e&ent( Ver% recent!%" &ario s . estions ha&e #een raised on the identit% of the Indian Cric+et #oard/ K st what is the BCCIE Is it a 'ri&ate #od% with interests on!% to 'ro$ote the s'ort of cric+et in India 6and th s esca'e ta, o#!igations and hide fro$ the a$#it of the RTI:7 or a nationa! association that re'resents India on a g!o#a! sca!e in one of the $ost ad$ired ) i$'ortant Indian -'ortsE How can the BCCI contin e to re'resent India on a g!o#a! sca!e and c!ai$ not to #e a ' #!ic #od% # t a 'ri&ate organisationE

It is a &er% interesting / Is BCCI ; st a @ri&ate Bod% of 'eo'!e who s dden!% one da% tho ght of starting a # siness and $a+ing $one%" thro gh starting a s'ort e&ent !i+e cric+et in IndiaE Conce't a!!%" the% are a 'ri&ate #od% of ad$inistrators who ai$ to $a+e $one%( Where is the we!fare of cric+et in thatE The new Indian -'orts Bi!!" to #e introd ced in the Indian 'ar!ia$ent 6it was introd ced in the @ar!ia$ent in B=00 # t was sent #ac+ for $odifications7 has 'ro'osed to $a+e a!! s'orting associations who o'erate on a nationa! sca!e as Nationa! -'orts federations 6N-As7 with stat tor% g ide!ines on the a''oint$ent of officers and ad$inistrators" their f nctioning" their cond ct of affairs" etc( The BCCI has &ehe$ent!% o''osed this" #% co nter/;ecting that s ch !egis!ations wi!! end it?s a tono$% and a!so foi! it*s f!o rishing o'erations( K stice 4 + ! 4 dga!" who headed the co$$ittee constit ted to draft the -'orts De&e!o'$ent Bi!! B=03" said that" LBCCI sho !d #e a ' #!ic #od% of nationa! !e&e! to contin e re'resenting India in cric+et( An% cric+et #oard" nationa! ' #!ic #od% sho !d #e nder the sco'e of RTI(L Logica!!%" an% cric+et #oard entr sted with the ;o# of se!ecting the nationa! tea$ sho !d #e a ' #!ic" nationa! #od%( In its written state$ent s #$itted to the Centra! Infor$ation Co$$ission 6CIC7" the Inion 4inistr% of 5o th Affairs and -'orts $aintained on Dece$#er 0C" B=00" Lthat the BCCI was on a 'ar with other nationa! s'orts federations and had #een a&ai!ing itse!f of &ario s go&ern$ent #enefits" s ch as c sto$s d t% and inco$e ta, e,e$'tions(L Descri#ing this as indirect f nding of the BCCI" the go&ern$ent as+ed the CIC to treat the Board as an entit% financed s #stantia!!% #% the go&ern$ent" and therefore" . a!if%ing as a 8' #!ic a thorit%9 nder the RTI Act( The Centra! go&ern$ent 'ointed o t that a!! ci&ic and sec rit% ser&ices were 'ro&ided #% the Centra! or -tate go&ern$ents concerned for organising BCCI?s s'orting e&ents( The hidden costs of e,'endit re on sec rit%" &isa c!earances" and so on were #orne #% the Centre and the -tate go&ern$ents concerned" the BCCI was 'erfor$ing f nctions a+in to state f nctions and a!so 'erfor$ing ' #!ic d ties #% se!ecting nationa! tea$s and re'resenting India in internationa! e&ents( The BCCI $aintains that it is a 'ri&ate #od%( It denies to co$e nder the Right to Infor$ation Act 6RTI7" and a!so dec!ines to #e answera#!e either to the ' #!ic or to the go&ern$ent( -ti!!" it is fra$ing r !es for reg !ation of cric+et in the co ntr% nationa!!%" witho t an% a thorit%( According to a @ #!ic Interest Litigation 6@IL7 fi!ed in the L c+now Bench #% socia! acti&ist N tan Tha+ r and I@- officer A$ita#h Tha+ r" LThe BCCI cannot send na$es of its '!a%ers for getting nationa! awards !i+e Ar; na Award" Dronachar%a Award etc" #eca se according to the Centra! go&ern$ent*s directi&es" on!% go&ern$ent recognised s'orts federations can send the no$inations(L The BCCI doesn*t consider itse!f to #e one of the M0 N-As in India and th s is ine!igi#!e to send reco$$endations to the -'orts 4inistr% for fe!icitating it*s cric+eters for nationa! awards" as 'er the g ide!ines of the -'orts $inistr%( Howe&er" the BCCI?s reco$$endations were entertained #% the -'orts 4inistr% 6; st ahead of the e!ection %ear:7 The BCCI sho !d rea!iDe that it cannot ta+e on the go&ern$ent for !ong" no $atter how 'owerf ! a #od% it $a% #e( Aor cric+et to s r&i&e %o need gro nds and $aidans and $ost of these are owned #% the go&ern$ent" state or centre( A rther" the I@L is $ar+et/dri&en and is '!a%ed as e&ening cric+et cons $ing !ot of 'ower s ''!ied #% state e!ectricit% #oards nder the state go&ern$ent( In these da%s of terroris$ where a BC J < sec rit% #!an+et is a $ st" %o need the

go&ern$ent*s s ''ort at e&er% ste'( Reconci!iation with the go&ern$ent whi!e $aintaining inde'endence in its o'erations wo !d #e the #est o'tion for the BCCI( B t do the Indian 'eo'!e rea!ise the i$$ora!it% of the BCCI*s actionsE Do the% rea!!% fee! that the BCCI is right to #eha&e in the wa% it is #eha&ing or do the% thin+ that the Indian Board sho !d #e rightedE When India wins To rna$ents and $atches" the Indian cric+et fans sit #ac+ and re!a,( No#od% wants to face the iss es cree'ing in Indian cric+et/ the $is$anage$ent" the corr 'tion" the greed( 6co rtes% I@L" fi,ing" etc(7 E&er%#od% is ha''% on!% to see that the Tea$ wins $atches( The fans don*t want Indian Cric+et to !ose( If %o add that with the genera! 'erce'tion of the $a;orit% of 'eo'!e that 'ower" freedo$ and a thorit% co$es with 4ONE5" %o wi!! ha&e $an% 'eo'!e who ; stif% the actions of the BCCI on the internationa! sca!e 6$ost 'eo'!e in a co ntr% with h ge 'o&ert% #e!ie&e that $one% can gi&e the$ e&er%thing in !ife7( In so$e ear!ier instances when BCCI f!e,ed its $ sc!es in iss es s ch as L-%$onds/gateL and in Eng!and" so$e cric+et Linte!!ect a!sL ; stified it #% sa%ing that cric+et had #een do$inated traditiona!!% #% #oards s ch as Eng!and ) CA" and since now the BCCI was in 'ower" it co !d do the sa$e( This arg e$ent ree+s of do #!e standards and h%'ocris% as the BCCI had ear!ier o''osed the do$ination of ECB and CA in internationa! cric+et" and now it is f nctioning in the &er% sa$e wa% that it ear!ier o''osed(

India is a rising 'ower in -'orts( With the new!% achie&ed 'ower" there a!so co$e certain res'onsi#i!ities( As the do$inant Board" the BCCI $ st !oo+ to s ''ort ethica! and fair 'ractices in a!! $atters and f nctions and sho !d he!' 'ro$ote cric+et in $ore 'arts of the wor!d( If the Indian cric+et chooses to fo!!ow the e,a$'!e of the Eng!ish or A stra!ian Cric+et #oards" it wi!! #e a sad 'ath for so$e#od% who had sta nch!% o''osed the hege$on% ) a thorit% that the Eng!ish ) A ssies initia!!% en;o%ed( Going down the sa$e 'ath as the Eng!ish" and &er% recent!% the A ssies tra&e!!ed $ st #e a&oided( In an% '!ace" sector or ti$e" an% do$inant entit% which doesn*t e,ercise it*s 'ower right!% is $et with sta nch o''osition and end!ess attac+s fro$ others( A!so" the 'erfor$ance and f nctioning of the Tea$ is a ref!ection of the $anage$ent of affairs on a $acro !e&e!( If the s'orts ad$inistrators do not foc s on #ettering the s'orts and foc s on!% on $a+ing $one% or ho!ding to their 'ower" the Tea$ and conse. ent!% the Indian fans wi!! s ffer( The o&era!! i$'ro&e$ent and de&e!o'$ent of the s'ort of Cric+et de'ends on!% on the 'ro'er and fair f nctioning of the #odies" and ha&ing fair !aws $onitored #% the Internationa! Cric+et Co nci!( The Indians do rea!ise that the BCCI is doing wrong things and the% sho !d #e corrected( @eo'!e nderstand that it is wrong for an% 'erson in 'ower to nethica!!% do$inate others( The% nderstand that with 'ower" co$es res'onsi#i!it%( @hi!oso'hica!!%" 'ower is nothing # t a gift of the 'eo'!e who a''reciate and ad$ire %o r wor+( If %o do not wor+ we!!" the 'ower is ta+en fro$ %o (

Indian Batting !egend Rah ! Dra&id recent!% $ade a co$$ent a#o t the reason for the s ccess of cric+et in India/ LThere are so $an% fans and so $an% 'eo'!e who care dee'!% a#o t this ga$e and it is #eca se of these fans that we are who we are as cric+eters( Ad$inistrators are there #eca se of the fans and the cric+eters to r n this ga$e" so credi#i!it% of a ga$e" or a #oard" or e&en a go&ern$ent for that $atter" is i$'ortant irres'ecti&e of what %o do(L The genera! 'erce'tion is that the ad$inistration of cric+et sho !d #e c!eaned and #e acco nted for" # t there is a!so so$e hesitation #eca se $a;orit% of the s'orts in India toda% are not we!! $anaged and ad$inistered( That hesitation $ st #e o&erco$e in order to contin e on the 'ath to f rther s'orting and cric+eting e,ce!!ence( The !egis!ations sho !d #e fra$ed in a wa% to a!!ow s fficient a tono$% for the N-As as we!! as necessar% acco nta#i!it% in their o'erations( The BCCI isn*t a#o&e the s'ort of cric+et or the a thorit% of the ICC" which the Indian #od% has !oo+ed to inf! ence on a n $#er of occasions( It is not right to !et the Indian Board ha&e it*s wa% in a!! affairs( Ideo!ogica!!%" a s'ort is not a#o t winning on!%( It is a#o t '!a%ing honest!%" with dignit%" 'oise ) grace and 'ro$oting the s'ort and it*s s'irit( The consideration of $one% $ st not e&en #e i$'ortant or significant in an% s'orting e&ent or acti&it%( The BCCI &s( C-A sit ation has #een rea!!% e$#arrassing for the entire co ntr% 6It*s !i+e Indian Go&ern$ent goofing ' in so$e $atter of internationa! i$'ortance7( The BCCI has rea!!% crossed a!! #o ndaries 6it had a!read% done that ear!ier # t now it*s officia!7 and this is an nwise 'osition for the Board to #e in( The% are right" an a'o!og% $ st #e iss ed/ # t #% the BCCI for ' #!ic!% and sha$e!ess!% interfering in the interna! $atters of a fe!!ow Board" ho!ding the entire AT@ and other cric+et Boards hostage with it*s Big/Brother!% 'o!icies and $is!eading the 'eo'!e who ' t their faith and s ''ort in the$( On the nationa! !e&e!" the BCCI $ st acce't that the% are a ' #!ic" nationa! #od% and are therefore nder the a$#it of RTI and the Go&ern$ent( It is the on!% wa% BCCI can $anage to retain it*s 'osition and a thorit% as the Board of Contro! of Cric+et in India( I$$ense !o##%ing and inf! ences $a% sa&e the Board in the short r n # t in the !ong r n" there is no other wa% e,ce't $aintaining it*s ' #!ic i$age and #rand 6read( Dra&id*s $essage7( It is a!so i$'ortant #eca se the 'eo'!e of India care a !ot for the s'ort and want it to #e a ref!ection of the idea! for$ of dai!% !ife/ that it #e c!ean" trans'arent and fair!% co$'etiti&e( It wi!! not #e a &er% good sit ation if d e to the ad$inistrators? $is#eha&io r" the Indian fans s ffer( Ho'ef !!%" that ti$e wi!! not co$e: