01 October,2016 01:18 PM IST | | Clayton Murzello
Balvinder Singh Sandhu, who would have applied for a slot in the selection panel if not for the 60-year age cap, hits out at BCCI’s methods in handling the current storm
Balvinder Singh Sandhu
Balvinder Singh Sandhu, the man who claimed the first wicket for India in the epic 1983 World Cup final is sad to see Indian cricket in a state despondency at a time when a landmark 250th Test match is being played at the Eden Gardens at Kolkata.
The Board has attracted the ire of the Lodha Committee for not following reforms that they had charted.
Going ahead with their Annual General Meeting where they announced a five-man selection committee and re-electing Ajay Shirke as the secretary was met with strong objection by the Lodha Committee. mid-day spoke to Sandhu, who was keen on applying for a selector's post, but was thwarted when the BCCI came up with a 60-years age restriction.
Excerpts:
Spot fixing was taken lightly
BCCI is in this state because those who had conflict of interest failed to take responsibility. Instead of thinking rationally, the BCCI stubbornly didn't take a serious enough view of the spot fixing scandal. Had they acted on a war footing, the judiciary would not have stepped in to clean the system.
Disgruntled elements caused damage
I agree that some of the Lodha recommendations are not practical -one state, one vote for example. But from what I heard, certain people, who headed state associations complained to the Panel that Maharashtra and Gujarat get three times more in grants than other state associations and also have three votes. I also know that some disgruntled elements complained to the Panel in order to get their way. They tried to shoot from Justice Lodha's shoulder. The nine-year and 70 years age limit was a surprise punch that could knock them out of BCCI as well as their state association.
These were selfish people who refused to take a 360-dregree view on the development of cricket.
Age cap for selectors, a game
It is ridiculous that the BCCI came up with a 60 years restriction for selectors. This was a game because by doing so, they would rule out big-named cricketers who would not toe their line. No disrespect to MSK Prasad. I think he has done some tremendous work in the state of Andhra, but a national selection committee must have men of international standing and this committee lacks it.
Making non-Test players Gagan Khoda and Jatin Paranjape, both my favourite cricketers, national selectors is a strategical move as well because if the Lodha committee insists on a three-member selection committee it is easier to dispense with the non-Test men (Khoda and Paranjape).
The selection committee should have been retained for a few months till things were sorted out.
It has now reached embarrassing levels and it's a shame that India's 500th Test (vs New Zealand at Kanpur) and the 250th one on home soil which is underway in Kolkata got clouded by this controversy. We should all be proud of these landmarks but we are ashamed in some ways.
Legends panel could've helped
Well thought out moves or politics as we call it are part and parcel of sports administration but when that supersedes the basic objective of running the game smoothly, trouble is imminent.
The BCCI should have formed a panel of high profile cricketers who could reason out with the Lodha Panel on behalf of the Board and I am sure the Lodha Panel would have given them a fair hearing. By defying the Supreme Court/Lodha Panel, the BCCI seems to have shot themselves in the foot.
