Ehsan Mani: ODIs can’t afford to be predictable

Talk to him about the India-Pakistan series and a resigned air envelopes him. Change the topic and Ehsan Mani, president of the Internationa...

Talk to him about the India-Pakistan series and a resigned air envelopes him. Change the topic and Ehsan Mani, president of the International Cricket Council, assumes his more natural, affable self. Especially on the topic of one-day cricket, which he is trying to change amid much controversy and debate.

The ICC, he says, has to be prepared to keep changing. ‘‘We cannot afford the game to become predictable. ODIs are now played in a set format; there’s a bash of runs to start with, in between there’s a quiet period and then again the last 10 overs see the ball carted all over.’’

‘‘Some of the changes you have heard about already, and we are looking at other suggestions. I think there’s no harm in trying to examine their merits if they can be proved beneficial to the game.’’

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Mani is in town for, among other reasons, a meeting with the ICC’s sponsors. It’s a significant time: the achievements of Narain Karthikeyan and Sania Mirza could imply a shift sponsors’ attraction to other games, sometime in the future. Mani, though, is clear that cricket has nothing to worry about for the time being.

‘‘Yes, India gives us good financial backing. But I have nothing to worry about as far as the competition (from other sports) is healthy. Sponsors always love to be attached with winners. But all said and done, cricket still has a strong market, very vibrant and it’s very difficult to say other sports might dilute the interest of the sponsors here.’’

The one issue that gets him very animated is the new law on chucking. Especially when you remind him of the controversy it has generated. ‘‘I think anyone who reads the ICC letter on this will understand it clearly. It’s not a law, but a regulation setup by the MCC, the guardians of laws of cricket.’’

MANI TALKS

		• On his tenure as ICC President: I don’t like to judge myself from achievements. If I’ve been able to make the ICC strong and leave it in better shape than when I came in, that’s enough for me. • On Sharjah’s status as a cricket venue: As far as the ICC is concerned, it’s a recognized venue. We have held two tournaments in the recent past, and it’s really up to every individual country’s board to decide on playing there. • On shifting base from London to Dubai: It isn’t for commercial reasons, it’s for practical reasons. We have to run this organization on modern business lines and in a most efficient manner.

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