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Journalism of Courage
Politician bashing is an Indian passion. After all it is only the politician who is in the business of asking for votes and testing his popularity at regular intervals. He is, therefore, entitled to be criticised. He is accountable to his electorate, to the media and to his party. Hence a question—Why should politicians get into administration of cricket?—is rightly asked about him. This question has not been raised against civil servants—both retired and in-service—police officers, businessmen, traders and even the unemployed. After all the standards of accountability applicable to them are entirely different. Those applicable to politicians are much higher.
Cricket as a sport has witnessed unprecedented popularity in India. Cricketers are unquestionably national heroes. Cricketing nationalism unites the country. Cricket has also attracted huge revenues into the game. It is, therefore, obvious that many would be attracted by the sheer popularity and glamour of the game.
The test for determining the suitability of a cricket administrator is not the principal profession to which he belongs. The real test is the level of commitment that an individual has to the sport. The extent of understanding of the game that he possesses and his ability to contribute as an administrator of the game.
What does administration of cricket involve? It involves professionalising various state associations; it requires building a huge infrastructure to support the game; it further requires involving cricket professionals in the selection and coaching of the cricketers.
Is a politician disqualified from being a cricket administrator merely because he happens to be a member of a political party or a legislative body? In fact, if a politician is committed to the promotion of the sport, his ability to utilise his resourcefulness in building infrastructure and getting resources into the game may well prove to be an asset.
The real test is, therefore, his level of commitment to the game. Mr S K Wankhede was a politician. He created a stadium in Mumbai in the days when corporate sponsorship was almost non-existent. Mr Madhavrao Scindia led a group which brought the World Cup to the subcontinent and organised it successfully. Mr N K P Salve was an unquestionably first-rate administrator of cricket. Should these gentlemen have been disqualified from being sports administrators and allowed others with lesser capacity to administer the game?
A politician per se is not qualified to be a cricket administrator. He is qualified depending upon his interest and commitment to the game. It cannot be disputed that the glamour of the game has also attracted many a politician whose commitment to the game may be marginal or even doubtful. Obviously, such persons have no business to be in the administration of the sport. But a politician whose level of commitment is much higher, can contribute effectively as anyone else.
He needs to use his resourcefulness to build in infrastructure for the game. He needs to rely on former cricketers for the purposes of cricketing advice, selection and even coaching. He needs to use his stature to keep the flock together in a state association. He needs to position himself above petty politicking of state associations and always take a larger or broader view of the game. He need not spend a life time using the game as a door opener. He may have several other pressures on his time. He must use his association to promote the game and leave such footprints behind during his tenure and then leave the field for his sucessors.
There is a general myth that former cricketers should alone administer the game. There are some former cricketers who have proved to be good administrators. The Karnataka Cricket Association is administered by a number of former cricketers. The Mumbai Cricket Association under Mr Sharad Pawar has an advisory group of former cricketers who advise the president on cricketing matters. Their experience has proved to be an asset to the game.
But there is no general presumption that most former cricketers involved in the administration of the game will be great administrators. My own experience of Delhi persuades me to a view that former cricketers are necessarily required in the selection committees; they are required for coaching. The Sports Committee which effectively organises various tournaments is required to function with the sports secretary in the administration of the cricketing activities. Other administrators must pass the litmus test of a deep commitment to the game along with an integrity in cricketing matters.
Certainly, a politician per se could not be excluded from this responsibility. After all we have succeeded in giving Delhi a world-class stadium which eluded us since 1932. Further, if Mr Pawar as BCCI president succeeds in India creating one of the best infrastructures in the world, I would have proved my point. Let it not be forgotten after all that cricket still remains the best administered sport in India. It does not depend on government for funding. India possesses one of the world’s best cricketing infrastructures. Our cricketers are the best paid ones in the world. Our board is one of the richest sports bodies globally. The game has a large viewership and India has produced a huge talent of international cricketers. Why should any one of them be cynical about Indian cricket?
Finally a caveat. What may not be of concern is the fact that some persons with political background are administering the game. The serious issue is that others with no commitment or interest in the game happen to threaten on the strength of state power. The legislations brought by the governments of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh to destroy the autonomy of the state associations and create government-sponsored sports bodies is the real danger. If these legislations come to stay, other state governments could follow suit. Cricket then would pass on to the offices of the chief ministers or their henchmen.
The author is a former Union minister and president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association
