Cricket passes the Test that matters

It is a funny world. One-day cricket brings in the money that saves Test cricket and that is probably the more satisfying part of the game now. Indeed that is why we must have 20-20 cricket as well for we must have a form of the game for everybody.

The weeks leading up to these last two days have been terrible, though. We have been obsessed with courts and judges and admirable as the men of justice are it is always a sad day when they have to be part of sport. We have been overloaded with definitions and fine print and are none the wiser for it. If anything we are more confused. Is the team we support ‘‘India’’ or is it ‘‘BCCI’’ and if there has been outrage from the public it was deserved. Sport stirs nationalistic emotions, it reminds us of our roots.

But cricket lovers are caught in a catch-22 situation. They want greater accountability from those that run it and yet shudder at the thought of it being handed over to the government and the ministry of sport. And I wonder sometimes if we have lost the idea of keeping it simple, another trait some can import from the playing of the game.

Cannot our legal minds work out a situation where the sport is autonomous but accountable. Those are beautiful words and they are symbols of a progressive, democratic society. Lay down the conditions and let enterprise flourish within it. It cannot be difficult if the mind is willing.

You cannot have one but not the other. Clearly the BCCI wants to be autonomous but is dragging its heels on being accountable to the public, the ultimate shareholders of Indian cricket. And there are others who would be very happy to see the day when the BCCI isn’t autonomous any more. But the combination can flourish. It does with the IITs and the IIMs and they are world class. And I think instead of dragging its heels in court on whether or not they have the power to give the telecast rights to whosoever they deem fit, the BCCI should come out with an announcement that they seek to become a centre of excellence. The signs aren’t great but it is among the easier management jobs to perform.

The current route I fear is going to help nobody. Questions can, and will, be raised on the eligibility of the BCCI to get stadiums leased at low rates on public land for example. And the BCCI stand that it cannot be accountable is messy and inappropriate and will earn them no points with India’s cricket-loving public. The biggest corporations in India are accountable. If a listed company in India wants to appoint a new director they need to get the approval of shareholders and cricket should be no different.

There is another reason I seek an end to this legal battle. It will allow, or maybe force, the BCCI to think about cricket. There are no young spinners in sight, we desperately need a world-class wicket-keeper, our best players outside the Test squad aren’t young enough, the Ranji Trophy isn’t competitive in spite of the two tier format, most of our stadiums are poor. There is much to do and that can only happen if the BCCI is asked to be accountable. The gracious thing to do would be to announce it themselves.

And then we can go back to enjoying cricket. In all forms.