BCCI chief N Srinivasan made the cardinal mistake of blaming the media for all his troubles © PTI
By Balvinder Singh Sandhu
Most cricket administrators of a bygone past were humble and had great regards for former cricketers — unlike today. A few have allowed the power they wield go to their head, pushing the noble game of cricket into quicksand because of their arrogance. Now is the time for good administrators to come together with former Test cricketers and rescue Indian cricket.
The image of the game in India has taken a huge hit. I am sure every cricketer, competent administrators and the many unsung grassroot workers would like to soon refurbish and give it a squeaky-clean look. In hindsight, the ‘Three Idiots’ who unwittingly opened a can of worms may turn out to be heroes of sorts by the dust on the raging IPL storm settles down. There stupid and greedy acts not only gave the media to launch relentless coverage of the twists and turns that ever passing hour brought in the spot-fixing controversy, but it also ripped off the façade of those powerful characters hiding behind a veil of respectability that money and position gave them.
In trying to protect his son-in-law, Mr N Srinivasan, President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), saw no evil and not willing to hear anything evil against his family member and his position as the board supremo. He continues in defiance against national outrage and against all odds to protect his territory and the interests of Chennai Super Kings. Mr. Srinivasan made the cardinal mistake of blaming the media for all his troubles. It was now the turn of media to turn on the heat. Rarely has a sports administrators been subjected to the kind of barrage Mr Srinivasan got from all parts of the media. The media turned the heat on the politicians within the BCCI, who were forced to take a stand in the election year. Mr Srinivasan was truly cornered.
Mr. Srinivasan, few would disagree of your administrative skills. But it’s my humble request on behalf of former Test cricketers that in the interest of the game to please step down from your post — at least till the time you could come back with your head high.
(Balvinder Singh Sandhu played eight Tests and 22 ODIs. A crafty bowler who moved the ball both way, he was one of the heroes of the 1983 World Cup triumph. His delivery that bowled Gordon Greenidge, shouldering arms, in the epic final is etched in every Indian’s memory. He was an useful later-order batsman who scored 71, batting at No 9, on Test debut against Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Qadir and Iqbal Qasim, and in his fourth Test 68 against Michael Holding, Andy Roberts Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall. After retirement, he became one of the finest coaches in the country and now imparts his knowledge through his site http://www.balvindersinghsandhu.com/)