BCCI officials’ motto is: my way or the highway

Having seen the sabotage and attempts to ruin the cricketing season in Delhi by disgruntled office bearers of DDCA, I am not one bit surprised on seeing the trail of mail exchanged between Ajay Shirke and ECB chief Giles Clarke.

I am used to seeing the audacity of DDCA office bearers led by the ex president and ex jt secretaries to make attempts to subvert the Hon Delhi High Court’s judgement to rid DDCA of permanent parasites, who have made a life out of cricket and have spread their tentacles in every way possible, in DDCA.

There is a strategy which is common in every state association and in BCCI. The governing principle seems to be — “It is either my way or the highway. If you do not accept my views and decisions — its too bad for you. I will hold on to my post and, to my views. Take it or lump it”.

Despite Justice Mudgal having been appointed by the Delhi High Court, disgruntled office bearers of DDCA kept him on tenterhooks and put as many roadblocks in his way that they possibly could.

His four interim reports to the high court show just how attempts were made to make him fail — from removing glass ceilings of the press box to sabotaging pitch covers, from cutting internet cables to removing nuts and bolts of super soppers — he had to virtually keep preparing for all kinds of mishaps and accidents that could derail the best made plans to conduct cricket matches — even international matches.

If he appointed selectors, the latter would be issued letters as to why they had taken charge. If money had to be released, cheques would not be signed.

Which begs a question — Why should people who have been around for 30-50 years not want to give up? Is cricket, like in the case of Haryana, their personal property that can be passed on from generation to generation? How is it that small time shopkeepers, tailors, drapers, stationers, contactors, fixers, politicians etc have come to have a vice like grip on BCCI and state units?

Right from the days that I started playing for Delhi, I would routinely see the increased interference by the administrators in the affairs of the state unit. There were multiple reasons for this deliberate intrusion into cricket.

For one, cricket was always a popular game and one could be in the limelight by being associated in any manner. Second, one could gain prominence in society by presenting cricketers as trophies at personal functions and other ceremonies which would enhance the status of the administrator.

Just look at Shirke’s mail to Clarke — no sane person will understand the rationale as to why would a sensible person do such a thing. The fact is that all these guys can barely understand law or its implications but they are used to creating a ruckus and indulging in bravado.

After being removed under the new diktat by Hon Supreme Court, Shirke has now got himself nominated by the new regime of MCA, which will enable him to attend BCCI meetings, on behalf of MCA.

Love for cricket, it seems, knows no barriers. Once inside, they do not let go. Through some jugaad, they want to continue to remain in the scheme of things, not just for continuing to enjoy the fruits but also to possibly keep their past tracks covered. It is all a cosy club and all these chaps are united for positions and happy tidings.

Some legal eagles have been encouraging all these office bearers to take on the Supreme Court- playing pranks is then a small thing. In any case, these office bearers do not write their mails or articles themselves. It is their foolish lawyers and patrons who direct certain course of actio.

— Kirti Azad is former India cricketer and current Member of Parliament. Views expressed by writer are his own