The victory of Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad in the Karnataka State Cricket Association elections was hailed in every corner of India recently
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The victory of Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad in the Karnataka State Cricket Association elections was hailed in every corner of India recently. They deserve praise for putting their reputation on the line, something some of their fellow cricketers have stayed away from in the fear of losing.
Their decision to challenge the ruling group reminded one of the former India captain and batting stalwart Dilip Vengsarkar, who decided to contest for the vice-president's post in the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) elections in the 1990s.
Vengsarkar did not get voted and was naturally distraught. The next morning he resigned as chairman of the Mumbai senior selection committee. But he made up for his hasty decision by deciding to contest a few years later.
Vengsarkar, now the vice-president of the MCA, never lost again and he deserves to head the association someday even if politicians have to be urged to stay away. Kumble, Srinath and Prasad are surely aware of the big challenges ahead. It won't be easy to just assume office and call the shots. Apart from the sheer workload, cricket administration is never straight and narrow. There will be people to please and compromises to make of the holy and unholy kind. How they play on this type of wicket as it were, is to be seen.
Brijesh Patel, the former India batsman gave one the impression that he did a good job as secretary of the association, but there seems to be more than meets the eye where his stepping aside is concerned. That the trio will not have a man of his experience to show them the way has to be a factor in their challenge. Patel knew every nuance of cricket administration.
It's probably wrong to say that associations are best run by cricketers at the helm. Sure, the seasoned administrators, who get voted through their links with affiliated clubs don't always come out smelling of roses, but their expertise in day-to-day operations cannot be questioned. The Mumbai Cricket Association has several cricketers in leading positions, but is it the best cricket unit in the land? Not quite, in the opinion of some discerning followers.
It is good to hear that the new order in Karnataka cricket want to improve things at the grassroots level. A lot of talent goes untapped in India and this remains an understated bane in our country's cricket.
Kumble & Co must be given a fair chance to prove themselves. Judging them only on how they conduct the Dec 7 India vs South Africa one-dayer at Bangalore won't be fair.
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