How the CoA has failed at fixing the BCCI
When you talk of sports administration in India, the first thought would go to how the government wanted national sports federations to fall in line and function a few years ago.
Having been inert for decades, making changes was not easy. Yet, when changes started taking place and those over the age and tenure limits had to say goodbye, it was a tearful exit. Those who had good times and enjoyed several “benefits” in their chair found it hard to accept their time was up.
Today, barring a few recalcitrant sports federations, the rest are in order and affiliated to the sports ministry. Some of the national federations which continue to act in a defiant manner are paying the price. As a result, even athletes suffer as they are finding it hard to get proper nominations for national sports awards and grants.
Looking at the changes which have come in, one can feel happy that sporting disciplines which need support from the government have behaved more responsibly in comparison to the cricket board.
Last week, when the Committee of Administrators (CoA) submitted its fifth status report to the Supreme Court, it was caustic. By asking for the sacking of the top three office bearers of the BCCI, there was a surprise of sorts.
If stonewalling needed a definition by actions, the BCCI office bearers are prime examples. It is well over a year since the Supreme Court ordered sweeping changes in the Indian cricket administration, approving the Justice RM Lodha committee report in totality.
Sadly, nothing has changed. One thought that after Anurag Thakur and Ajay Shirke, former president and secretary of the BCCI were sacked, the “new” men at the helm – CK Khanna, Amitabh Choudhary and Anirudh Chaudhry – would have learnt a few lessons.
But no, they did not.
By asking for their sacking in the fifth status report, the CoA has made it clear that they mean business. At the same time, it’s clear, the CoA has also not distinguished itself in doing the job it has been assigned. The mandate for the CoA was clear, clean up the BCCI.
Instead, it was getting into cricketing matters which were only to be handled by the BCCI. From naming the new Team India coach to players salaries and so on, the CoA had started digressing from the main task it was assigned.
The basic job assigned to CoA has not been done
So, where does this leave Indian cricket administration now? It’s a mess like before and the only difference is the team winning Test matches within three days against a lackadaisical Sri Lankan side.
It was interesting to see the CoA reveal certain interesting financial numbers. Everyone knows the word “honorary” used for sports office bearers is indeed misleading. They may not be getting monthly pay cheques but the allowances they draw for travel are lucrative.
By leaking info on what BCCI office bearers get paid in foreign exchange when they travel abroad, the CoA may have thought it has played a smart game. But then, the CoA had perhaps not calculated how vicious the BCCI officials can be as they came out with fascinating details about how much CEO Rahul Johri gets!
Comparisons were made between what Johri gets paid and what Virat Kohli draws as an annual package as part of his contract plus allowances. It must have left Johri red-faced!
The point is, playing these kinds of games is meaningless. The basic job assigned to the CoA has not been done at all and they need to take some of the blame as well.
When you have the mandate from the Supreme Court, nothing should stop you. Trying to be friendly with the BCCI officials was just not needed. What has come as a big surprise for Amitabh Choudhary, a man considered very close to N Srinivasan at one point of time, was how he has also been dumped.
If you go through the fourth status report of the CoA, Amitabh has been shown in a reasonably good light. All of a sudden, in the fifth status report, he has been painted in the same colour as the other two office bearers. Now, he has nowhere to look.
The bigger picture actually is how cleansing cricket administration has failed. State cricket units are dilly-dallying and there has been virtually no forward movement.
Office bearers are extremely reluctant to implement changes in their constitution at the state level. Barring a few units, the rest are functioning in a comatose state, though they do want money from the BCCI. Most often, their demand for money will come to host matches, be it internationals or the Indian Premier League.
What stood out like a sore thumb in the fifth status report submitted to the Supreme Court is how no time frame has been fixed for implementing the changes. Over a year has been wasted and how the BCCI elections will take place in September remains an enigma.
Within the CoA as well, new people have to be brought in as replacements for those who have moved out. Finding the right people with the right intent is imperative. Sadly, it sounds so tough.
(Courtesy of Mail Today.)