The BCCI

One tends to forget that the BCCI has a lot of power over the players mainly because most of the administrators are merely concerned about remaining in power and use it only to further that agenda. Sharad Pawar seems to be made of a different mould, not afraid to wield the stick in a judicious manner. Pawar, of course is a skilled politician who appears to understand timing better than all the current Indian batsmen. While the players were busy fighting their battle through the media with an entirely inappropriate smear campaign against the coach Greg Chappell, Pawar called in former India captains to lend respectability and approval to a range of decision that firmly puts the errant senior players in their place while at the same time implementing far reaching changes to reform the BCCI.

Some of the striking pronouncements of change from Pawar’s working committee include deciding to scrap the zonal selection panel in both the senior and junior selection committee and appointing full-time paid selectors for a 2 year period, directing the selectors to pick a young team led by Rahul Dravid for the Bangladesh tour, appointing a permanent manager for the Indian team on a 2 year term, limiting sponsor endorsement to no more than 2 players, dictating that the players submit a copy of their endorsement agreement and issuing a remarkable notice to Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh to explain their remarks to the media. Last but not the least the BCCI has thrown out the current single coach system and adopted an NFL style Manager in Ravi Shastri to oversee a team of specialist coaches for bowling, Venkatesh Prasad, and fielding, Robin Singh. The latter have had success with the Under-19 and India-A teams. These two appointees along with the decision to retain Dravid as captain and the offer to Chappell to remain a BCCI employee as a Consultant at the National Cricket Academy is clear signal that Pawar has placed faith with the BCCI appointed men and sends a strong message to the players that mutinies are not allowed.

These significant changes and exercising of authority have been camouflaged by the red herring that is the restriction on number of endorsements. While everybody discusses the legality of the 3 endorsement restriction on cricketers and their loss of income, Pawar can quietly reform the anachronistic workings of the BCCI.

Sometimes one need a significant shock to the system to reform it and Sharad Pawar has correctly recognized the public mood and chosen the appropriate time to implement drastic changes. Pawar is certainly wielding a big stick, and even the past master of the BCCI, Jagmohan Dalmiya will nod in agreement when I say “Well done, Mr. Pawar your timing is exceptional.”