Members of the Cricket Club of India (CCI), the legitimate home of Indian cricket, are in the throes of a historic decision.
Members of the Cricket Club of India (CCI), the legitimate home of Indian cricket, are in the throes of a historic decision.
They are in the process of determining whether or not to, periodically and temporarily, sacrifice some of their cherished rights in order to promote the game of cricket, for which noble cause the institution was primarily set up 75 years ago by a band of dedicated founding fathers.
Now the subject of vexed controversy among its members, the issue will be decided at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Friday, February 27.
A Notice of the EGM sent to members by Kamaljeet ('Bonny') Rajpal on the order of the Executive Committee, says the Club has been approached by the Indian Premier League (IPL) to be given exclusive use of the "whole or substantially the whole of the Club House for their invitees, guests and cricket officials for a limited duration before, during and after match days".
In exchange, IPL have offered the Club substantial seating in the stands of the Club (in lieu of the seating in the Club House) which will be offered to members on a "first come basis" free of cost.
The Notice points out that the Club's amended bye-law 145 empowers the Executive Committee to impose "reasonable restrictions on members and their entitlements during, before or after such match days, as the Executive Committee may deem fit or necessary".
It says the Executive Committee has decided to take the members' approval in the interest of corporate democracy, adding "such events and other matches achieve the main object of the Cricket Club of India viz. to promote the game of cricket."
The matter has generated heated controversy among members of the Club, many of who epitomise the tribe of whom celebrated cricket historian CLR James said: "What do they know of cricket, who only cricket know?"
The EGM will determine the future of the time-honoured jewel in the crown of Indian cricket as an international venue of the game which, unfortunately, has now degenerated into the Card Club of India.
Essentially, the controversy centres on whether members, long accustomed to witnessing matches in luxury from the beautiful landmark pavilion, should be denied this privilege and made to sit in the less fashionable public stands, while also being denied use of the Club House, albeit for a limited time, "before, during and after match days".
The meeting will determine the destiny of the tradition-filled Brabourne Stadium, the scene of many a memorable cricket match dating back to the glorious days of the Quadrangular, the Pentangular and subsequent historic Test matches.
An acrimonious clash of egos between officials of the CCI and the then Bombay Cricket Association (BCA) resulted in the building of the Wankhede Stadium in 1974, a monstrosity in terms of safety, design, operations and maintenance.
A virtual cricket ball's throw away from the Brabourne, the Wankhede, despite the laudable, righteous intent behind its creation, and its symbol as the quintessence of the pride and joy of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), is a luxury in a megapolis desperately short of open public spaces.
It has long been the cherished desire of right thinking cricket lovers that international cricket be restored to its original home.
That is now a pipedream, given the extensive repairs and expensive renovation now under way at the Wankhede Stadium.
Meanwhile, those who pride themselves in belonging to one of the leading CRICKET institutions of the world, would like to do justice to themselves and their legendary club by making a small sacrifice on a few days to hopefully bring cricket back to the hallowed Brabourne Stadium, in the hope it will become an alternate venue in urbs prima in indis.
Those not au fait with such noble emotions are willing to throw the baby out with the bath water (cut the nose to spite the face?) for reasons of pride and prejudice and temporary self-interest.
The cricketing world, in general, and Mumbaikars, at large, await the outcome of a matter concerning, essentially, a private club, with extraordinary interest.
