Sensing the mood of the nation following the humiliating exit from the World Cup, the BCCI has moved swiftly and uncompromisingly.
MUMBAI: As it turned out, Friday’s rather tepid developments at the two-day conclave to review the World Cup debacle was only the lull before the storm. On Saturday, the Indian cricket board came down in a fell swoop to subdue player power and regain control of the empire, as it were.
Two stars were issued show cause notices for breach of protocol, all stars had their contracts cancelled, all stars may have to have their endorsements regulated, no star can now shirk away from playing a minimum number of domestic matches.
To counter-balance these harsh measures, there will be win bonuses, the zonal selection committee is sought to be abolished, a pool of youngsters to be created, junior cricket to be succoured.
A well-rounded attempt to boost Indian cricket, but at the end of the day, there was more stick, few carrots for the big players. Sensing the hostile mood of the nation following the humiliating exit from the World Cup, the BCCI has moved swiftly and uncompromisingly.
Remarkably, most of the measures to rein in the players had been advocated by outgoing coach Greg Chappell in various recent interviews and missives – official or clandestine – though very little found its way in the official report he submitted to the Board on Friday.
Chappell may have gone, albeit temporarily, but ChappellWay appears to have found some permanency in Indian cricket.
He has talked of star power controlling Indian cricket, he warned of money through endorsements causing players to be lazy or clique-driven, he argued for a non-zonal selection committee.
The BCCI appears to have bought all his points. But while the endorsement issue is the more contentious, one reckons the bigger development in the attempt to bring the players to heel was the show cause notices sent to Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh for speaking out of turn in the media.
That is aimed at sending a clear signal down the rank and file of Indian cricketers that they have to toe the line, irrespective of cult status or potential. It could be a defining moment.
Tendulkar has been the holiest of holies in Indian cricket, Yuvraj was touted as a possible captain in case neither Dravid nor Tendulkar gets the job. In the event, Dravid retains his position, but with his clout enhanced. In the dressing room, there can be no doubt now who calls the shots.
Dravid leads the team to Bangladesh and England which gives him time to relook at his own methods, revitalize his side. Whether this also means a restructuring of the team remains to be seen. Recalcitrant voices within the establishment talk of five or six youngsters being included for the relatively easy Bangladesh tour.
If some of them succeed, they could be on the tour to England, displacing some of the regulars.
The purge in Indian cricket may not end with just the earnings of some stars being scuttled. It could take a few heads too.
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