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Two young men versus the BCCI

C. PATHETIC CONDITIONS OF PITCHES IN INDIA

· It is fundamental principle that one cannot play good cricket on poor wickets. A good cricket pitch is a pre-requisite for any good match to be played on it. The Indian pitches have been and continue to be slow turning tracks with low bounce and nightmare for the fast bowlers. It is no wonder that India has till date not been able to produce a genuine fast bowler. The same can also be borne from the record of drawn matches on Indian pitches. On the other hand, there have been instances of abandonment of matches due to bad and unplayable pitch conditions. This not only results in cheating the crowds that turn to see the matches but also exposes the Indian team when it visits places like Australia, West Indies, South Africa having fast bouncing pitches. Unlike India which has been producing slow, turning tracks ever since the inception of the game of cricket in India, the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSF) has decided to play a leading role in upgrading the knowledge available to groundsmen for the preparation of fast and bouncy turf wickets throughout South Africa and thus ensuring a very high quality of the game of cricket on its pitches.

· India has hardly any international standards pitches despite having a large number of Cricket Playing Grounds. Little effort has been made by the BCCI to improve the conditions of pitches. In 1997, BCCI appointed Kapil Dev, former Indian Cricket Captain and current Manager of Indian Cricket Team as Chief Director (pitches and grounds). However, even that has created little difference in the condition of pitches. The comments made by Kapil Dev after his recent tour to Australia in an article reported in India Today dated 07.02.2000, further highlights the need to make serious efforts to tackle the aforesaid issue. He has been quoted to say:

"The pitches and practice facilities (here in Australia) are fantastic. In Hyderabad, we did not have even a practice pitch. Its time now for the Board to put money back (into the game)."

· There have been many instances where the Indian pitches have played great spoilers. It was not very long back when the match between India and Sri Lanka at Indore had to be abandoned on the first day itself after the pitch turned out to be completely unplayable. It was only in the second time in the history of the International cricket in which the match had to be abandoned due to the bad pitch.

D. MISERABLE GROUND CONDITIONS

Like pitches, condition of grounds and outfields is no better in India. Development of lush green grounds and outfields with smooth and even bounce and having a carpet like feel to it requires not only a lot of effort and investment but also will and determination to have International standard grounds. Fine irrigation systems coupled with regular maintenance are the pre-requisites. However, the BCCI and the Member Associations have done very little in this direction. Unlike lush green well-carpeted outfields seen in most of the Cricket Playing Nations, India can hardly boast of the same standards. The importance of smoother and greener grounds for the improvement of fielding is well established. A player cannot risk injury by diving on hard bumpy grounds. The poor fielding of most of the Indian Cricketers mirrors the present condition of the grounds in India.

E. LITTLE EMPHASIS ON IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL FITNESS OF THE PLAYERS

· It is well established that only a fit player can perform well. Even Kapil Dev, the present Coach of the National cricket team has been quoted in India Today as follows:-

"If you want to attain international standards you have got to take it seriously. If you are talented but don't have the strength or fitness, it won't work. We can't even throw. We have to learn. In one dayers, you can't hide people, you can't have Robin (Singh) in every place."

· BCCI has indeed done very little towards recruiting professionals like Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Dieticians, Fitness Trainers, etc., to help the cricketers, although they have been talking for a long time in various Board Meetings and other forums about recruiting such like professionals. As a result of which the Indian Cricket Team remains constantly plagued by injuries and fitness problems of the players. Denial of timely help in this regard may even result in completely ruining a cricketer's career. Making things worst for the players is the lure to play despite injuries and in some cases they play despite not being completely fit because they are considered indispensable.

It is not that the BCCI does not realise the importance of improving the fitness of the players. In fact the BCCI had proposed to set up a full time physical fitness centre for the purpose of providing a year round facility for the national team. The centre was proposed to be set up in Pune, Maharashtra. However, little has been heard thereafter.

· The arbitrary manner of selection and appointment of physiotherapists for the Indian Cricket Team indicates the lack of seriousness and professionalism with which BCCI views this crucial position. The appointment is made arbitrarily without any advertisements being released or any qualifications being prescribed. In 1992, Dr. Ali Irani's name was proposed by one of the members and seconded by another member. No other name was proposed and hence Dr. Ali Irani was unanimously and unopposed appointed as the physiotherapist for the Indian Team. Incidentally on another occasion the same Dr. Ali Irani was yet again selected as the physiotherapist for the Indian Cricket Team on the reason of little time left with the BCCI committee members to consider the only other application received by BCCI for the position. It is even more shocking that the professional qualifications of another physiotherapist namely Dr. Ravinder Chadha who was appointed for the period up to September, 1999 by BCCI, came under serious questioning in the minutes of the working committee meeting of the BCCI dated 20.8.1999.

F. ARBITRARY AND UNFAIR SELECTION PROCESS

The existing selection committee comprises of five selectors, one from each zone. It has been observed that many times zonal and regional interests get priority over national interests and talent of the cricketers. It is also shocking that only one member of the present five members selection committee has International cricket playing experience and the rest of the members have little / no International cricket playing experience.

It is also well established that frequent changes in the team and removal of the players due to failure in few matches leads to insecurity, demoralisation, nervousness and poor performance from the players. The Selection Committee many times does not persist with good and talented players and removes them on their slight failure. To quote Sachin Tendulkar in an article dated 13.7.97 appearing in the Indian Express:

"The Indian Selectors as well as the Board does not follow the practice of consultation with the Captain and Team Manager on the selection of the team as is being done increasingly in other test playing nations...the time has come when Indian Cricket Board and Selectors should give weightage to the views of the Team Captain and the Manager."

G. LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY OF BCCI / ITS OFFICE BEARERS

· The Office Bearers of BCCI are supposed to be holding Honorary positions (even though for most of them it may in reality be a full time job). It is indeed surprising that BCCI which has massive funds at its disposal and which is unable to perform the manifold tasks to meet its stated objects continues to be run by 'Honorary' Office Bearers. A number of Ex-Cricketers and the professionals can be utilized through full time assignments by the BCCI, provided there is a will and commitment to perform on the part of BCCI. This shall also ensure that only those people who are able to produce results hold the key positions and shall go a long way in providing accountability and transperancy.

· BCCI for the last several years has been talking about setting up a cricket academy in India and has also earmarked a sum of around rupees three crores under the Head of "Cricket Academy Fund". However, BCCI has been very casual and seems to be doing little in this regard. To quote from an article published in India Today dated 7.2.2000.

"India waits, still, year after year, for its cricket academy; India won't invite Sunil Gavaskar for nets, or Bishen Bedi: India's State in Junior Teams have no modern day qualified fitness trainers. India waits, one supposes for a miracle."

· It has been observed that a few members of BCCI have been regularly and consistently seeking leave of absence from the various meetings of BCCI. This has not only prevented them to contribute to the decisions taken in the aforesaid meetings, but also has made a mockery of their continuance on the BCCI.

H. ARBITRARY ZONAL REPRESENTATION OF PLAYERS

The system of zonal representation of players has been flouted by the players in order to find a place in the national team. It is therefore not surprising that Rohan Gavaskar, who resides in Mumbai finds it difficult to play for any of the three State Cricket Associations based in Maharashtra and plays for Cricket Association of Bengal. Only recently, Ajay Jadeja who has been registered as playing for Haryana Cricket Association was allowed to represent North Zone in Deodhar Trophy when he registered himself with the Jammu Cricket Association. BCCI consented to his being given special registration.

I. Pitiable state of Domestic Cricket / Junior Cricket in India

BCCI has been largely focussing on the International cricket and neglecting the domestic cricket. With the result the domestic cricket in India lies in shambles. Similarly BCCI has focussed on the Senior cricket and the development of cricket at junior level has been largely ignored. The comparison of matches played by the senior cricket team and junior cricket team at international level for the last few years would certify the same. The Member Associations' attitude and lack of professionalism towards junior cricket has further compounded the problems of the junior cricketers. The selection of the players at junior level is largely arbitrary. To quote from an article dated February 7, 2000 in India Today by Rohit Brijnath:-

"The BCCI is an inept outfit, content to leave Indian cricket stagnant, collecting money by the bushel, but leaving it in some unknown safe deposits rather than invest in the national game. Much like hockey, Indian cricket is being left behind, plodding ahead as the rest of the world sprints."

J. RESCTRICTION ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH OF THE PLAYERS BY BCCI

BCCI in its contract with the players has made them agree to a clause that prevents any of the team players from speaking to the press or writing about a tour till two months have past. This clause effectively protects the BCCI against any constructive criticism by the players at the right time. This also prevents the public at large to know the reasons of poor performance from the players. It is clear that by snatching the freedom of speech of the players (at the opportune time), BCCI is only preventing any uncomfortable questions being raised about its accountability / lapses.

A study of the BCCI accounts spread over the last about 17 years makes it crystal clear that the Association is doing nothing much to further the cause of growth of cricket. In fact it is essential that concrete steps are taken to change the current scenario and ensure that a proactive, cricket focused organization is put in place. For cricket to grow, for players of the future to emerge and for us to present fighting teams consisting of highly professional players at all levels at which cricket is played it is crucial that investments are made in the development and promotion of cricket. These investments have to be in building infrastructure, training, coaching, physical and psychic well being of the players by recruiting fitness trainers, physiotherapists, sports psychologist's, dieticians, amongst other professionals. It is need of the hour that cricket receive the attention and investment that it deserves. And, in order to ensure that this is done effectively, a better, more committed system is put in place.

Prem Panicker adds: For long, we fans have been grousing about the way the Board of Control for Cricket in India runs the game we love with a passion. We have been saying that something should be done to make the board accountable for its (mis)deeds.

Someone once said: 'To say 'I must do something' gets more results than to say 'Something must be done'.

Two young men in Delhi, both 26 years of age, both passionate fans of the game of cricket, took that statement to heart.

Sick of the way the BCCI was functioning (or more accurately, not functioning), they decided to file a Public Interest Litigation, aimed at hauling the BCCI to court and forcing it to answer to the public for its misdeeds.

That PIL has finally been accepted for a hearing -- and what you read above are relevant excerpts from the case as filed.

The two litigants are fighting this battle on their own steam, at their own cost. They are fighting our battle for us.

They could do with our support, yours and mine. They could do with the knowledge that they are not alone, that they have the backing of many thousands like them, who wish the game well, and who would like to see a professional outfit running the game in its country.

It is for this reason that we are carrying excerpts of the PIL they have filed -- to let you know what has been done to date, and to give you a chance to pitch in and do your bit.

Given below is the email address of Rahul Mehra, one of the two litigants. It is provided for you to write in to Rahul, voicing your thoughts, your feelings, your support.

Additionally, you could go to their site, www.sports-plus.org which contains information about the two men fighting this case, plus FAQs and other relevant information.

So it's over to you, now. Send them your support, your suggestions, through your emails. And get your friends to pitch in, too. The weight of public opinion is a factor that will have a bearing on how the case is decided -- and that means you!

Two young men have started a movement to help clean up Indian cricket -- now it's your turn, to pitch in and help. Go for it!