Ind vs Eng: BCCI has embarrassed Team India by behaving like paupers
Well before the first ball has been bowled in the India versus England Test series, the Indian cricket board has sullied the image of the nation by behaving like paupers.
Over the decades, India have been known to be very good hosts in the sporting fraternity.
The joke then was how in a multitude of sport, India did well in only one area: being good hosts and let the visitors trample over them.
Those were the days when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) functioned in a fairly transparent manner.
There was not so much money in its coffers and efforts were made to provide good hotels and arrangements at the cricket centres were clean.
As cricket itself has become a far more "professional" sport and big bucks have come into play, the essence of being a good host has to be preserved.
Sadly, with the English team already in India and preparing for the first Test in Rajkot, the statements and comments made by state cricket association officials and BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke are in poor taste.
Shirke wrote to Phil Neal of the ECB that the English team should bear all its expenses.
For the BCCI or any host Test centre to suggest that it does not have money is crazy.
All this points in only one direction that the BCCI is trying to indulge in some kind of brinkmanship with the Supreme Court.
For every little thing these days, the BCCI tries to give an impression it has no money and even domestic cricket cannot be run.
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| The Indian cricket board has sullied the image of the nation by behaving like paupers. (Photo credit: Google) |
Agreed, the Supreme Court has been rightly tightening the screws on the BCCI.
But it does not mean the bank accounts of the board have been frozen.
Some of the centres hosting the five-Test series are in very good financial health.
If you talk of Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association has held its Tamil Nadu Premier League and made good money.
Even Mohali, for that matter, is in good financial health, so there is no reason for it to cry.
People like Bishan Singh Bedi have rightly criticised the BCCI for behaving in such a shameful manner.
Former cricketers have recalled how when late Jagmohan Dalmiya controlled the BCCI, there was no question of crying about lack of funds.
He would have even gone to the extent of borrowing money personally if it were required, some say.
Now that the English team has landed in Mumbai and is training and the Indian team is in Rajkot, the series will go on as planned.
To be sure, the average cricket fan simply does not care about how the BCCI is sobbing that it has no funds. They are interested in just the game.
Everyone knows the BCCI has behaved in the most irresponsible manner vis a vis implementation of the Justice RM Lodha panel recommendations.
What the BCCI is now doing is trying to hide behind untruths that it doesn't have money to host England series.
Fortunately, the visiting side has sensed that there was no need to make an issue out of it and has said cricket will go on at any cost.
It's after a long time we are having a full five-Test series at home.
Coming as it were after the wins against New Zealand in the Test and ODI series, the stock of the Indian side is high.
Team India has revenge on their minds, having lost to England the last time they came here.
India is also aware England has come here after a shocking loss to Bangladesh in the second Test of the two-Test series.
That is definitely a psychological blow for them as they have embarked on a demanding series in India.
Spin should be the flavour once again and one should not be surprised if the pitches are tailored for it.
R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have shown great form and the rest in the bowling line-up are capable of troubling the well-balanced England side.
A lot will have to do with which side - India or England - is mentally more strong.
Under new coach Anil Kumble and inspirational Test captain, Virat Kohli, India has played with purpose and poise.
On Saturday, Kohli turned 28. Birthday wishes for him have poured in from all quarters and former India cricketers have also wished him well.
Images of Kohli's face smeared with cake and him posing with Cheteshwar Pujara convey a good feeling. Team bonding and camaraderie, it's there to see in the Indian side.
In a long series, all this will definitely count as the hosts aim to strengthen their lead in the No 1 ICC Test rankings.
(Courtesy of Mail Today.)