BCCI takes first step towards professionalism
Almost since its inception, 71 years ago, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has functioned along conservative lines
Partab Ramchand
30-Aug-2000
Almost since its inception, 71 years ago, the Board of Control for
Cricket in India has functioned along conservative lines. On the face
of it, there is nothing wrong with adopting a traditional approach.
But the danger here is that one is bound to be rather backward in
keeping up with the progressive changes in the game. And in this,
there is little doubt that the BCCI has shown an appalling lack of
knowledge of the growth and development the game has made worldwide.
Over the years, much of the criticism of the board's functioning has
centred around one issue - a lack of professionalism in its approach.
While other countries have paid administrators, officials and
executives, BCCI functionaries continue to have the suffix `honorary'
before their designation. Now, there is nothing wrong in doing
honorary work. The officials are no doubt dedicated to the game and
the players - though there are times when the petty mindedness of some
administrators would seem to suggest that they do not possess even
this basic quality. Still a certain professional touch was lacking.
In recent times the call to make the board's functioning more
professional has grown strident. Seeing at close quarters how some of
the national cricket boards in other countries were functioning, the
disparity in the working became even more obvious. The need to have
paid officials and executives - professional experts in the field as
it were - became apparent. ``Appoint them, pay them well and then hold
them responsible if they do not deliver'' was the refrain.
The proverbial last straw came about a couple of weeks ago when Kapil
Dev complained that the board was not professional. Taking a swipe at
the BCCI for messing up the game, the former Indian captain and
current coach said ``if the board had acted earlier (in the match
fixing case), the game's reputation would not have suffered. It's a
consequence of the board not being in the hands of professionals. It's
no use having honorary people who have other jobs to do and are not
accountable to anyone.''
Whether Kapil's outburst has something to do with the latest
development or not may be a debatable point. But it does seem to be a
case of better late than never. And the board would appear to have
woken up from its long slumber if the newspaper ads published
simultaneously all over the country on Wednesday are any indication.
``The Board of Control for Cricket in India, in line with their
ambitious cricket promotion plans, is planning to strengthen their
office at Mumbai by inducting excellent, dynamic and result oriented
professionals for various functions,'' goes the ad. The posts for
which applications have been invited are general manager - media,
manager-administration and commercial, executive (umpiring), cricket
analyst, executive (international cricket) and executive (domestic
cricket).
It is well known that the board's image has suffered through the lack
of a professional mediaman. The duties of the general manager - media
have been listed as planning and conducting meets and conferences, coordinating with press and outside agencies and image building and
publicity. Image building! Well, the board certainly needs it, even if
one might add that the appointed person would certainly have a job on
his hands!
Lack of proper co-ordination has also been a bane of the BCCI. The
appointment of the manager - administration and commercial could go a
long way to solve the problem. The duties listed include negotiating
contracts, financial planning, budgeting and accounting, conducting
feasibility studies on proposals and co-ordination with internal and
external agencies on the above subjects.
Umpiring has been one of the neglected aspects in the board, despite
having various sub-committees. It is hoped that the appointment of an
executive (umpiring) will go some way in making things better on this
front. His duties include co-ordination of all umpiring activities,
co-ordination for training and development of umpires and all other
arrangements for umpiring.
A cricket analyst would appear to be a rather specialised post.
Naturally enough, his functioning is manifold - collection of
statistical information on various domestic and international matches,
processing of statistical information, preparation of various
analytical reports and co-ordination with various associations and
other boards.
The posts of executive (international cricket) and executive (domestic
cricket) have more specific duties. The former is responsible for the
arrangement for international tours, co-ordination of all
international tournaments and co-ordination with the manager/coach of
the tour while the latter is responsible for the arrangement for
domestic tours and co-ordination of all domestic tournaments.
``Candidates with inherent interest and aptitude towards cricket will
suit. Salary is negotiable'' concludes the ad. Well, so finally a
start has been made by the board towards professionalism. But then the
executives and managers who will be appointed to the posts will also
have to be given a free hand while performing their professional
duties. BCCI administrators should remember that with these people in
their respective posts, they are dealing with professionals, experts
in their various fields. If the `honorary' board officials then
interfere with their functioning, stifle their dynamism, tie their
hands behind their backs and make it frustrating for them to perform
their duties, it would serve no purpose. Such a petty minded approach
would see to it that the BCCI will continue to be in a rut while other
progressive and professional national boards around the worldwide make
handsome progress.