Buffer panel between coach and selectors News Archive News

Never one to miss an opportunity to complicate a simple matter, the BCCI seems to have done it again. The already confusing labyrinth called...

Written by Sandeep Dwivedi

New Delhi | June 4, 2005 12:00 AM IST

3 min read

Never one to miss an opportunity to complicate a simple matter, the BCCI seems to have done it again. The already confusing labyrinth called Indian cricket has taken another twist with the setting up of an 8216;8216;interactive committee8217;8217; to liaise with the new coach.

That committee comprises the six-man panel that picked Greg Chappell last month: former captains Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and S Venkatraghavan and BCCI heavyweights Jagmohan Dalmiya, Ranbir Mahendra and SK Nair.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said they would 8216;8216;act as a buffer between selectors and coach8217;8217;. Chappell, he said, would route his communications to the selectors through this committee 8212; though he8217;d sit in on selection meetings.

Decoding the officialspeak, it means that there will now effectively be 11 selectors and the role of the five zonal representatives is likely to be severely diminished.

The BCCI8217;s thinking, in the words of one official, was that the selectors were relatively small fry, not always able to see the big picture, and that may create a communication gap between them and Chappell.

The matter apparently led to some debate at the working committee meeting in Kovalam over the past two days. One BCCI official present called it a 8216;8216;needless bit of red-tape that can put off a coach of Chappell8217;s status8217;8217;. The coach will attend selection committee meetings, he pointed out, so he could anyway directly interact with the selectors.

The reason, as he saw it was, was 8216;8216;the obsession of top officials to have the finger in every pie and keep the cricketing greats in the fold.8217;8217;

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Nair said the committee would 8216;8216;carry the suggestions and requirements of the coach to the BCCI.8217;8217; Given that the committee comprises the Board8217;s decision-makers, this seems a case of a postman delivering a letter to himself.

The selectors, meanwhile, are willing to wait and watch before expressing an opinion. 8216;8216;There are interesting times ahead. There is no point in running down the idea of interactive committee right now but I wouldn8217;t rule out the fact that there can be some misunderstanding on some occasions,8217;8217; said one selector on the condition of anonymity.

OTHER IMPORTANT DECISIONS

8226; The Board would file a suit claiming a damage of Rs 10 crore against Netaji Cricket Club which had gone to the court against Dalmiya8217;s election as patron-in-chief of BCCI.

8226; The stand-off between the TNCA and BCCI has been sorted out through discussions. The matter is closed.

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8226; The working committee decided to oppose the move by the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh to bring the respective cricket associations under their control. BCCI will continue to help the existing associations in those states.

8226; The committee postponed the proposed discussion on the merger of Women8217;s Cricket Association of India WCAI with BCCI to the next meeting.

8226; The BCCI president was authorised to take a decision on the disqualification of Rajasthan Cricket Association president Lalit Modi after vice-president of the Board, Kamal Morarka, made a presentation before the members. It was alleged that Lalit Modi was involved in a case in USA 20 years ago.

8226; Appointment of a full-time media manager for BCCI would be made before September.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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