Analysing the BCCI Statement
Following India’s debacle at the World Cup tough measures were always on the card. BCCI President Sharad Pawar promised stern measures, and those measures were made public yesterday by the BCCI Working Committee. This is probably the biggest shake up ever in Indian cricket. India has performed poorly in the past, and tough measures have been promised before. But, most of the time they turned out to be regressive knee-jerk reactions which did little to improve Indian Cricket.
So, has BCCI learnt from its past mistakes? Will these measures herald a new era in Indian cricket? I shall analyse BCCI’s statement in detail and try to find the answer.
“The working committee appointed Ravi Shastri as Cricket Manager for the India’s tour to Bangladesh. It was further decided that Venkatesh Prasad will be the bowling coach and Robin Singh, the fielding coach for the tour.”
In my opinion appointment of specialist bowling and fielding coaches is probably the best news to have come out of the BCCI meeting. A bowling coach is necessary as its impossible for a Coach who was a batsman to help a bowler with the finer aspects of his game.
Over the past few years India has produced several promising bowlers who faded into the oblivion after an impressive beginning - Irfan Pathan being the latest of the lot. Perhaps this wouldn’t have happened if a bowling coach was there to assist these young fast bowlers.
Ravi Shastri has been appointed as a manager who would also fulfil responsibilities of a coach. My pick as a coach would have been Dav Whatmore. Whatmore has done wonders for Lancashire, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. But Shastri is a man with credential. It would be interesting to see how he performs if he is given the position of a permanent manager.
“The Working Committee has directed the Selection Committee to send a young team to Bangladesh under an experienced captain. The selection committee, after discussions has appointed Rahul Dravid as captain for India’s tour to Bangladesh, Ireland and England.”
Although Rahul Dravid has received a lot of flack for his captaincy, he is not the reason we performed poorly. He has been much criticised for the decision to bat first against Bangladesh - but I still believe that given the information he had he actually made the best decision. There is only one person in the team who can do a better job than Rahul Dravid - Saurav Ganguly. According to reports he himself isn’t too keen on a second innings as a captain. I am glad that BCCI didn’t commit the folly of sacking him, just for the sake of finding a scape goat.
However, I am disturbed by the fact that the Working Committee is interfering with team selection. The selectors must always pick the best team, irrespective of the age of the players. Yes young players must be provided adequate opportunities - but only if they deserve so. Indian cricket isn’t overflowing with talent, and unfortunately we dont have a young Michael Clarke or Kevin Pietersen. Since 2006-01-01 Kaif averaged 18.94 from 22 matches. In the same period Raina has played 10 matches and his avg is 16.37. I hope that young stars do get more opportunities but experienced and performing players shouldn’t be shunned either. Proper implementation of rotation policy is what is required.
“With a view to strengthening domestic cricket, efforts will be made to ensure that all Test / ODI Cricketers play Irani, Duleep, Challenger and some Ranji Trophy Matches. All the players will have to play a stipulated number of domestic matches when not playing for India”
Again, another very positive move. India’s domestic cricket has been languishing because top XV players are rarely available for domestic cricket matches. However, the BCCI on its part needs to schedule international carefully, so that it doesnt clash with important matches in domestic cricket. Since, schedules are decided far in advance, nothing much would change immediately. In my opinion there shouldnt be more than 80 days of international cricket in a year. Considering the financial implecations of cutting down on the number of matches played per year, I do have my doubts. The question is, how serious is BCCI about improving the level of domestic cricket?
“It was decided to scrap the present zonal representation in the senior and junior selection committees. BCCI will appoint selectors on a full time basis based upon the eligibility criteria which would include stature as a player, selection experience etc. They will be remunerated suitably and appointed for a two-year term. The BCCI will take steps to propose necessary amendments to the Constitution to give effect to the above decision.”
Non Professional Selectors and Zonal Representation has been the bane of Indian cricket for many years. Zonal representation system gave rise to Horse Trading and many deserving players were deprived. Kudos to BCCI for finally attempting to get rid of this stupid system. Hopefully, the proposed constitutional amendments would take place soon.
“Working Committee approved the Performance-based Payment to the players and decided to do away with the present gradation for Retainership.”
I am not convinced that removal of gradation is a good thing. However, providing incentives to win matches is a step in the right direction.
“Every Association will be directed to prepare fast and lively wickets for domestic tournaments.”
We have been hearing about this from time immemorial. Little has changed on the ground though.
“The players shall take prior approval of the Board before signing any endorsement contract and will submit a copy of the agreement to the Board. All the players shall submit a copy of the existing contracts with sponsors to the Board. No Sponsor can contract more than 2 players.”
This is again a smart move by BCCI. Player contracts with sponsors should not have any short term performance clauses - example : payment based on number of half-centuries, centuries and minutes spent on the crease. This may motivate the player to play for himself, rather than the team.
“A player will endorse not more than 3 sponsors / products.
The players will not be allowed to do any sponsor-related events 15 days before the tour and also during the tour.”
This clause has created a fair amount of controversy. This is where I believe that the BCCI has over-stepped the line. They have no right to limit players earnings. One legitimate area concern is that the players devote too much time to fulfil their commercial obligations. However, that is taken care of by the second part of the clause.
The number of endorsements a player gets depends on his performance. For example, after Dhoni became No. 1 ODI Batsman according to ICC Ranking he got tons of endorsements. On the other hand Sehwag has lost endorsements like Mayur due to his poor form.
This move by BCCI is just an attempt to please the Aam Aadmi. Most of the people feel that players devote too much time to sponsor related activities. But, seriously - Did we loose the World Cup because of endorsements?
The answer is no.
BCCI talked about accountability, however one person who had a significant role in our defeat has been rewarded instead of being given a rap on the knuckles. Yes, I am talking about our Coach Greg Chappell. His poor man management skills seeded insecurity among players and damaged team spirit. In words of L.P. Sahi ( Presentation counts, not performance - Accountability… just what is that? When Dravid had to play ‘messenger’ ) :
“Horror stories are emerging about Chappell’s behaviour in the dressing room and at team meetings. If a poor shot from X or a bad spell from Y cost India a match, the coach would keep talking about that lapse. “It affected the players’ morale and had such a negative impact that confidence suffered,” one of the administrators told.
“Apparently were phases in recent times when captain Rahul Dravid had to act as a ‘messenger’ between coach Greg Chappell and most players.Sounds unbelievable, but it reportedly did happen.The complete breakdown in communication meant Dravid, an introvert himself, had to face the music. It’s anybody’s guess just how much it affected him as a person and as a cricketer.
“Dravid has come through a very tough period,” is what somebody in the know told The Telegraph on Saturday, the day after the World Cup review.”
Performance of players like Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh has gone down drastically during last couple of years. Irfan Pathan is the worst sufferer though. Chappell’s experimentation with his batting position and action had terribly consequences for Pathan. Not everyone is mentally as strong as Ganguly.
While’s Chappell’s knowledge about the game can not be doubted, Indian cricket has had to pay dearly for his controlling nature and high handedness.
BCCI has also very cleverly put all the blame on players shoulder and saved itself. Immediately after Sharad Pawar came into power, BCCI held a meeting with many ex-cricketers. Many of these changes were suggested by them. However, BCCI sat on those suggestions for one and a half years.
While notices have been sent to Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh for speaking to the media, nothing has been done about the continuous leaks from BCCI and the irresponsible statements made by many office bearers.
On the whole most of the moves announced by the BCCI are positive and progressive. If implemented properly they would take Indian Cricket forward. How soon and how well they will be implemented remains to be seen.
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See if they decide to go in for a domestic coach there can be more groupism ans India is such a culturally divers population. Now if the coach is from North , and he calls sreesanth a mallu after a bad spell.. wo hoo ! This is where i feel a foreign coach will help.
They should kick out all the senior players.