BCCI, politics
Sir: The way the apex body of Indian Cricket — the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) — is functioning today has drawn flak from several quarters. Many Members of Parliament (MPs) are also at the helm of affairs of the board, representing different political parties. This political involvement has raised a question mark on the future of Indian cricket. So much so, it is politics first and cricket last.
For one, now, the appointment of a new manager/coach & technical director is the bone of contention among the different groups in the BCCI. In a recent interview, secretary to the BCCI Anurag Thakur, a BJP MP, has indicated that the new director will be appointed before the upcoming Bangladesh tour. A permanent manager/coach/technical director for a specific period of contract is the need of the hour. Since, India is hoisting the 2016 T-20 World Cup, it would be better if a consensus candidate takes charge as coach of Team India. The names of ex-captains, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar are being circulated for the top job.
It is reported in some dailies that Ganguly wants a contract till the 2019 World Cup, which is unlikely in view of the difference of opinion among the two main groups of the BCCI. It is also known that members of the selection committee representing Eastern & Central Zone, Saba Karim, the former Indian WC, and Rajinder Singh Hans, the former left-arm spinner from UP, will be replaced by two new selectors. This is although the term of the present selection committee headed by Sandip Patel has been extended by another year. Such speculations are proof of the feud in the BCCI, and this is not good for the future of Indian Cricket. Politics and cricket need to be separated.
Ratikanta Mahapatra,OFS, Courtpeta Square, BERHAMPUR
IIT, Modi
Sir: This refers to the reported student unrest in IIT-Madras due to ‘stifling of freedom of expression’ by the Dean of IIT at the behest of the Union HRD ministry. The SC-ST students at the IIT have formed a group which criticised some of the policies of the Modi government. These students are not politicians, nor are they Opposition party members. But, the way they ran a campaign against the Union Government, it would appear that some political parties or leaders opposed to the NDA government are behind their actions. If we evaluate the functioning of the Ambedkar -Periyar study group, it would be clear that it was silent when major scams involving some TN leaders were surfacing during the UPA period. Now, the black money bill was passed by Parliament and those who plundered the wealth of the nation and deposited such money in safe havens abroad, are clearly disturbed. They would do their best to stop the black money hunt in its tracks. Students also might be used to run down the government and its policies.
Kulamani Mishra, CUTTACK
