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Money makes the mare go

I had written on several occasions in the past, that the time would come when the Indian selectors would find it difficult to fill the places of players tried and tested, and those who declare themselves unfit due to injury. So, it has come to be. And, unfortunately, all and sundry are getting a chance to play for India. It is, indeed, a sad state of affairs, and if allowed to continue, will only prove disastrous for the game in the country.

The Indian board, it seems, is not bothered about the falling standard of the sport, and just thinks in terms of minting more and more money. Why else would they agree to play in places like Los Angeles where there exists no infrastructure to stage games of this magnitude, a lack of spectator interest, and generally no cricketing atmosphere to boast of? The game, as a result, has gradually become a circus -- pitch a tent at a suitable place and try to attract the crowds!

I remember, before the World Cup was staged in India, the Indian board had sent an observer -- and rightly so -- to have first hand information about the infrastructure prevalent in Assam. The observer submitted his report, and the association was not granted a match because they lacked the necessary infrastructure. If that was the case then, by what reasoning is it now okay to play an international tournament at a place where neither was an international match ever staged before nor did it have a good quality cricket wicket?

There seems to be no criteria for allotting matches, except to merely strike a deal and play the game. That is what the Indian board has come to. To hell with the game and those who play it. If, incidentally, Mr X is injured and becomes unavailable, so what? Mr Y can take his place. The game will go on, and who cares about its dwindling standard. Also, it matters little for them whether spectators flock to the venue or not. As long as the matches are telecast live on TV, their coffers will swell, and that's what counts.

Poor selectors! During all this time they made their job easy by picking the team from among a selected few, and not looking any further. But, with injuries taking their toll rapidly, the selectors suddenly discovered that they had to look to other unfamiliar players. That made sure they faced a dilemma. They had no alternative but to go by the statistical data available and give those who had done well on the domestic circuit the chance to make it big. Strictly speaking, I wonder how many of those they picked had actually been watched by them in action.

That apart, the board members were shocked by the treasurer's report which revealed the huge amounts coughed up for availing of the services of Bob Simpson and Andrew Kokinos. The fees of Bob could certainly be said to be money well-spent. Because of his vast knowledge, I'm sure the boys who were with him must have learnt more than a thing or two. But what about Kokinos? He may be good at his job, but where was the free time to make full use of him as a physio? The Indians were playing matches here, there and everywhere all the time.

Kokinos, in fact, ought to have been given the responsibility to work with the players during the off season, like the camp we had immediately after the World Cup. His expertise would have been more beneficial during those two months and not when the season is in full swing. No wonder injuries were aplenty -- the players hardly appear to have worked on their physical conditioning during those months, and it showed in their performances in the initial matches too.

The board has to wake up, or at least the youngsters in the governing body, who have the good of the game at heart, must ensure that the board mends its ways. Globalisation is important, but it should be done in a planned and phased manner, and certainly not at the cost of the game. Fortunately, we have people like Kishore Rungta, Brijesh Patel, Shashank Manohar, Vijay Chowgule and Prof Shetty in the board whom, I'm sure, will work in a way in which the game benefits and prospers.

Finally, I must mention that I kind of liked the recent statement made by Pakistan captain Wasim Akram. He said that the real test of a cricketer would be in Australia and that he is looking forward to playing in that series. Well, he's dead right. The caravan has to stop -- what people want to see is real cricket and not the tamasha that has been going on and on. The sooner it ends, the better.

Dilip Vengsarkar