28 September,2010 06:55 AM IST | | Clayton Murzello
The 2010 Commonwealth Games organisational fiasco lends more beef to the belief that India's sports administrative ills are terminal
Indian cricket legend, Kapil Dev indicated yesterday that chalta hain and ho jayega can no longer be part of Indian sports administration's lexicon. Kapil first experienced officialdom of a different kind when he complained about food served for lunch during a youth camp at the Brabourne Stadium in the early 1970s.
When he stressed the point that as a fast bowler, he and his mates ought to be served a better fare for lunch, he was reportedly laughed at by Keki Tarapore, the official, who had managed Ajit Wadekar's team to the West Indies in 1971.
Kapil Dev (extreme right) attends the launch of the 2010 Commonwealth
Games Queen's Baton Relay outside Buckingham Palace in London on
October 29, 2009 with England cricketer Monty Panesar, (left) boxer
Vijender Kumar, shooter Abhinav Bindra and Lord Sebastian Coe,
chairman of the 2012 London Olympics Organising Committee.
PIC/Getty Images
In his last autobiography, Straight From the Heart published by Macmillan India in 2004, Kapil writes: "I intervene, 'this is no laughing matter, Sir. Nobody can fill his belly with such a small serving. And I am a fast bowler. I practise a lot and really sweat it out. That's the reason why ufffd' Tarapore laughs all the more, 'what? What did you say? Say that again ufffd Did I hear, fast bowler? You should eat more? You will get it, but please don't give me this bullshit about you wanting to become a fast bowler. Young man, India has been playing international cricket for over 40 years, but till date India hasn't produced a single fast bowler ufffd"
Kapil (51) is the only Indian pace bowler to claim more than 400 Test wickets.
The 1983 World Cup-winning captain is pained to hear about the mess surrounding next month's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Not that he believes everything in the newspapers or on television. "What's the mess," he asks before our conversation yesterday. When told about reports of the Games Village in an imperfect state, he warns, "I never ever believe what people say. I believe what I go and see. How can we determine truth only by a photograph? Media reports can be right, but I just can't believe there is nothing good happening in Delhi. There must be a positive side to the Commonwealth Games," he says.
In the same breath, he is positive that things will fall in place for the October 3-14 event. Kapil says: "I feel very sorry about whatever I read and see on television. I hope things will pan out well than what is being reported.
"We should not leave things for the last minute. We have to be better and strong administrators. At a time when India is growing in other spheres, we must be thorough in our organisation of sporting events. If not, we will never catch up with the world."
He is keen to see how India fares in track and field events. "Athletics is very important to me. Our country is emerging in certain disciplines - boxing for example. Shooting is our strength; we've always done well in shooting so I am keen to see how we carry on performing in this sport. If we can pick up a few medals in other disciplines, it would be good."
Will the India vs Australia Test cricket series to be held at the same time as the Commonwealth Games overshadow the international event?
"I don't think so. CWG is a big and interesting event. I will try and go to the Games if everything is okay. The Nehru Stadium looks good. Things appear to be better than what they were. I hope, we Delhiwallahs look after things during this period and help the Commonwealth Games as much as we can."
